Engine off

Posted by on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 8:06 am

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The Beaver is known for its blunt nose.  Without its engine it is even more blunt (if that is a proper term).  We had the engine removed to fix a bearing problem and it will soon be returned to the aircraft and will be ready to go as good as new this spring. 

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Loaded and secure

Posted by on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 6:29 am

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We are often asked what the “orange net” is for when folks look into our airplane.  It is a cargo net.  We use it to secure the loads onboard to prevent shifting and to keep the exits clear. 

Everything onboard must be secure.   Inevitably even after I ask that everything is put on the scales to be ...read more.

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Float plane safety

Posted by on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 5:55 am

Flying off the water provides an experience slightly different to flying jets off paved runways.  I have flown many times in jets and notice that very few passengers pay any attention to the passenger safety briefings provided by the cabin crew.

On board our aircraft we give passenger briefings outlining emergency exits and procedures and it is hard not to ...read more.

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Must be a weekend

Posted by on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 6:48 am

Yesterday we had a relatively busy day – lots of ins and outs with a busy Saturday the next day too.

Well, we manage to fly in some pretty extreme conditions but safety is our biggest concern. The extremly high winds on Friday made it a “hurry up and wait” day. Of course these winds were not forecast.

IMGP4323 ...read more.

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The toughest landing

Posted by on Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 7:42 am

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When conditions are like this, landing a seaplane is tough.  Glassy water requires precise technique and skill. 

Landing on a lake with no wind is like landing on a mirror because there is no depth perception.  The pilot must have a proper rate of descent and use visual reference to shorelines, islands or rocks since he cannot ...read more.

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