Located on the west coast of Canada and close to the US border, Vancouver is regularly listed as one of the top 10 places to live in the world. Part of its appeal lies in the surrounding countryside, which includes dramatic mountains, lakes and islands.
Of course, terrain such as this presents transportation challenges and a network of bridges and ferries links many of the outlying communities with the city centre area. However, some areas are reliant on air travel for fast, reliable transportation, especially between Vancouver and Victoria, on Vancouver Island.
The rugged nature of the terrain means that it is not always practical to build a paved airstrip in some of these destinations. However, there are plenty of large areas of water, be they lakes, harbours or inlets, meaning that floatplanes are perfect for providing a link with the mainland.
In Vancouver, most floatplane operations are centred on Vancouver Harbour Water Airport (also known as Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base). The airport is located on Coal Harbour, to the north of the city centre. The actual terminal consists of a docking area for aircraft, located just to the west of Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Flying operations take place in the harbour itself, in a rectangular box known as “Area Alfa”. The harbour can get very busy with aircraft and also ferries and other vessels so air traffic control is essential. Located at the top of a 466 ft skyscraper, the Water Airport actually has the highest control tower in the world!
The Water Airport has one of the highest levels of seaplane activity in the world, and actually represents the eighth busiest airport in British Columbia, with a total of 54,741 movements being recorded in 2009. Most flights are domestic, but the airport is also classified as a port of entry by customs and can handle general aviation arrivals from outside Canada.
Scheduled air operations are dominated by two main companies. Busiest operator at the Water Airport is Harbour Air, who, with a fleet of over 30 aircraft, can claim to be the world’s largest all seaplane operator. The airline was established in 1982 as Windoak Air Service and operated a pair of de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers in support of the forestry industry in British Columbia.
The company expanded to provide charter flights and then scheduled flights between Vancouver, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. Today the company operates from two main hubs - Vancouver Harbour Water Airport and Victoria Inner Harbour Airport and serves a total of eight destinations throughout the area, including Nanaimo, Richmond and Langley.
The current fleet is split between the DHC-2 Beaver (14) and the DHC-3-T Turbine Single Otter (18). The larger Turbine Single Otter is the most common sight at Vancouver with these aircraft carrying up to 14 passengers.
Harbour Air also operates the smaller Beaver from Vancouver, carrying up to six passengers at a time. The Beaver is a regular sight in other operator’s colours too, primarily in the attractive green, blue and white livery of West Coast Air. West Coast Air was a one-time competitor to Harbour Air, but recently it was announced that Harbour Air had purchased the smaller company.
For the moment, the two operations remain distinct, although there is some overlap in destinations between the two companies. In addition to the Beavers (West Coast Air have 11 in service), a larger capacity aircraft is available in the form of the airline’s six DHC-6 Twin Otters.
The Twin Otter is mainly used on the airline’s trunk route from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour, and the aircraft boasts a capacity of 18 passengers. The Twin Otter is the largest aircraft to operate regularly from Vancouver Harbour, and makes for an impressive sight on the water.
In addition to the destinations on Vancouver Island, West Coast Air also flies north to Sechelt, Comox and Jervis Inlet. A seasonal service (May-Sept) is also offered to Whistler and the airline also provides charter flights to a variety of further destinations.
Between them, Harbour Air and West Coast Air dominate proceedings at the Water Airport, but there are a number of smaller operators providing services to other destinations. These include Whistler Air operating Beavers and Otters on flights to Whistler/Green Lake and Corilair who fly to Campbell River Harbour, also using the ubiquitous Beaver.
Further services are offered by Salt Spring Air, yet another Beaver operator who fly scheduled services and charters to Vancouver from their base at Ganges, Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring Air are unusual in that they operate from a location west of the main seaplane base by the Convention Centre.
In addition to the float plane traffic, there is also a considerable amount of helicopter traffic operating over the harbour area. Most traffic uses the Vancouver Harbour Heliport, located to the East of the Water Airport, close to the container terminal.
Main user of the Heliport is Helijet, who operate a variety of helicopters on services between Vancouver and Victoria, in competition with the seaplane operators. Main type in service is the Sikorsky S-76, but smaller numbers of other types are also operated, including the Bell Longranger and the Sikorsky S-61.
With the city surrounded by spectacular scenery and unspoilt, natural beauty the people of Vancouver are acutely aware of the need to conserve their natural environment. All of the companies operating in the harbour area have made efforts to minimise the impact of their operations, with all claiming to be “carbon neutral”.
The Vancouver waterfront includes the Convention Centre and Canada Place, both of which provide superb views over Coal Harbour and an excellent vantage point to watch the seaplane operations. At busy times there is a constant flow of seaplane arrivals and departures moving people and cargo throughout the area.
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