Vancouver boasts what is, arguably, the busiest seaplane ‘airport’ in the world. It also lays claim to the highest control tower currently in use in the world – a purpose-built ‘glass-house’ on top of a nearby skyscraper.
Operations are currently centered on a facility in Coal Harbour, though this is due to be replaced by a purpose-built terminal at Canada Place – if financial terms can be agreed between the relevant parties! The current main operators are Harbour Air, with Beavers and Turbo Otters, and its sister company West Coast Air, using Twin Otters.
Whistler Air Services are using a Cessna 208 Caravan into Coal Harbour, and Saltspring Air Beavers use a wharf about 400 meters west of the main docking area.
I logged more than 20 different seaplanes over the five days I was in Vancouver (May 2011). As befits a ‘conventional’ airport, there appear to be several distinct ‘waves’ of flights operating – an early morning ‘rush’, followed by a fairly quiet spell during the early afternoon, before ‘madness’ sets in late afternoon/early evening. Even in the ‘quiet’ periods, there are about five movements an hour – there is always something going on.
I hope you can get an idea of what happens from the following images!
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| The Coal Harbour facility. |
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| Whatta lotta Ottas! |
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| Operations are controlled from what is reputedly the world's highest control tower, located on the top a nearby skyscraper. |
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| Harbour Air de Havilland Canada DHC3T Turbo Otter C-GHAZ |
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| Harbour Air de Havilland Canada DHC3T Turbo Otter C-GLCP |
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| One in... one out... |
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| Air operations have to be closely coordinated with the shipping movements in the busy harbour, in this case Holland America Line's MV Zandam setting sail for Alaska. |
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| de Havilland Canada DHC2 Beaver C-FOCN of Harbour Air about to touch down. |
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| DHC2 Beaver C-FAXI |
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| Piston power, the 450hp Pratt and Whitney Canada Wasp Jr radial engine fitted with a three-bladed propeller for improved performance. |
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| de Havilland Canada DHC6 Twin Otter C-FGOE of West Coast Air. |
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| de Havilland Canada DHC6 Twin Otter C-FGOE of West Coast Air. |
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| de Havilland Canada DHC6 Twin Otter C-FGQH of West Coast Air. |
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| de Havilland Canada DHC6 Twin Otter C-FWTE of West Coast Air. |
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| Two out...... |
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| The first Twin Otter commences its take-off run. |
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| Saltspring Air DHC2 Beaver C-FAOP |
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| Saltspring Air DHC2 Beaver C-GHMI |
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| Saltspring Air DHC2 Beaver C-GHMI |
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| Saltspring Air DHC2 Beaver C-GHMI |
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| Approaching Coal Harbour from over Stanley Park, Cessna 208 Caravan C-GSFA of Whistler Air Services. |
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| Cessna 208 Caravan C-GSFA of Whistler Air Services |
Love all the Seaplane pictures
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