Sydney Seaplanes

Last updated

Sydney Seaplanes
Sydney Seaplanes Logo.png
Founded2 August 2006
Hubs Rose Bay Water Airport
Fleet size5
Destinations6
Headquarters Rose Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Key peopleAaron Shaw (Founder and Managing Director)
Website seaplanes.com.au

Sydney Seaplanes is a domestic and charter carrier in and around Sydney and is the largest seaplane operator in Australia, operating hundreds of flights a week during the peak tourist season. Founded in August 2006 with one aircraft, Sydney Seaplanes has grown in direct response to the growing incoming Asian tourist markets and the leisure VIP market.

Contents

History

The airline was formed in August 2006 through the merger of Sydney Harbour Seaplanes, Seaplane Safaris, Southern Cross Seaplanes and two other operators. The founder and managing director is Aaron Shaw. [1] In late 2016, a new era of growth for the airline was ushered in with the new harbourside terminal being opened, with the 'Empire Lounge' restaurant/bar inside. [2] [3] [4] In 2017, Sydney Seaplanes partnered with Dr Jerry Schwartz of Schwartz Family Co. to expand the airlines fleet, placing two additional amphibious Cessna Caravan aircraft online. [5]

In 2016, the new Rose Bay terminal was opened, 'Empire Lounge' as it is affectionately known as is Australia's first purpose built seaplane terminal. With uninterrupted water views and an outdoor decking area, it is the ushering in of a new era of growth for the airline. [2] [3] [4]

It has flown celebrities around when in Sydney, including Ed Sheeran, [6] Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May, [7] Cuba Gooding Jr, [8] Sam Smith [8] and Pippa Middleton [9] [10]

Fleet

A Sydney Seaplanes DHC-2 Beaver taking off Sydney Seaplanes, DHC-2 Beaver on water.jpg
A Sydney Seaplanes DHC-2 Beaver taking off
The fleet of DHC-2 Beavers operated Sydney Seaplanes at Rose Bay terminal VH-NOO 3.jpg
The fleet of DHC-2 Beavers operated Sydney Seaplanes at Rose Bay terminal

The five aircraft fleet of Sydney Seaplanes includes the following aircraft (at August 2019): [11] [12]

*Refer below to the incident regarding one of the Sydney Seaplanes owned DHC-2 Beaver.

Sydney Seaplanes also has previously indicated plans to grow the fleet with more Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft. [13]

Destinations

Sydney Seaplanes currently operate to a number of destinations on a semi regular basis, they also offer charter services. All flights are from the Rose Bay Water Airport in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

Accidents

A major incident occurred on 31 December 2017, involving VH-NOO. The aircraft crashed into Jerusalem Bay off the Hawkesbury River after deviating from its usual flight path. All six people on board were killed in the crash (five passengers including an 11yr old girl and one crew, the pilot). The pilot was returning from Cottage Point Inn to the hub of Rose Bay. The ATSB eventually determined the pilot was incapacitated from Carbon Monoxide poisoning, caused by exhaust gasses entering the cabin through holes in the firewall. The company that maintained the aircraft Airag Aviation Services were found to have left out bolts that secure the magneto access panels to the firewall, creating the pathway.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans Australia Airlines</span> Defunct Australian airline

Trans Australia Airlines (TAA), renamed Australian Airlines in 1986, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its merger with Qantas in September 1992. As a result of the "COBRA" project, the entire airline was rebranded Qantas about a year later with tickets stating in small print "Australian Airlines Limited trading as Qantas Airways Limited" until the adoption of a single Air Operator Certificate a few years later. At that point, the entire airline was officially renamed "Qantas Airways Limited" continuing the name and livery of the parent company with the only change being the change of by-line from "The Spirit of Australia" to "The Australian Airline" under the window line with the existing "Qantas" title appearing above.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Airport</span> International airport serving Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is an international airport in Sydney, Australia, located 8 km (5 mi) south of the Sydney central business district, in the suburb of Mascot. The airport is owned by Sydney Airport Holdings. It is the primary airport serving Sydney and is a primary hub for Qantas, as well as a secondary hub for Virgin Australia and Jetstar, and a focus city for Air New Zealand. Situated next to Botany Bay, the airport has three runways. Sydney Kingsford Int'l Airport covers 907 hectares of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna 208 Caravan</span> Family of utility transport aircraft

The Cessna 208 Caravan is a utility aircraft produced by Cessna. The project was commenced on November 20, 1981, and the prototype first flew on December 9, 1982. The production model was certified by the FAA in October 1984 and its Cargomaster freighter variant was developed for FedEx. The 4 ft (1.2 m) longer 208B Super Cargomaster first flew in 1986 and was developed into the passenger 208B Grand Caravan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moorabbin Airport</span> Municipal airport serving Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Moorabbin Airport is a mostly general aviation airport for light aircraft located in between the southern Melbourne suburbs of Heatherton, Cheltenham, Dingley Village and Mentone. It also receives commercial airline service. The airport grounds are treated as their own suburb, and share the postcode 3194 with the neighbouring suburb of Mentone. With a total of 274,082 aircraft movements, Moorabbin Airport was the second busiest airport in Australia for the calendar year 2011.

Empire Airlines is a passenger and cargo airline based in Hayden, Idaho, near Coeur d'Alene. It operates over 120 scheduled cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Empire also started passenger service within Hawaii, under the name "Ohana by Hawaiian", which was run from 2014-2021. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport. The company slogan is We Can Do That.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harbour Air</span> Floatplane airline in British Columbia, Canada

Harbour Air Seaplanes is a scheduled floatplane service, tour and charter airline based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The predominantly seaplane airline specializes in routes between Vancouver, Nanaimo, Victoria, Sechelt, Comox, Whistler and the Gulf Islands, primarily with de Havilland Canada floatplanes. Harbour Air operates de Havilland Beavers, Otters and Twin Otters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Coastal Airlines</span> Canadian regional airline servicing British Columbia

Pacific Coastal Airlines is a Canadian regional airline that operates scheduled, charter and cargo services to destinations in British Columbia. Its head office is located in the South Terminal of Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia. Its main base is Vancouver International Airport.

Baron Aviation Services is an American cargo airline based in Vichy, Missouri, United States. It was established in 1973 and operates small package express cargo services on behalf of FedEx Express. Its main base is Rolla National Airport, Vichy, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenmore Air</span> Airline of the United States

Kenmore Air Harbor, Inc., doing business as Kenmore Air, is an American airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Kenmore Air Harbor in Kenmore, Washington, United States, north of Seattle. It operates scheduled and charter seaplane and landplane service to destinations throughout western Washington and southwestern British Columbia, as well as seaplane "flightseeing" flights around Seattle. In addition to its corporate headquarters, seaplane maintenance facility and terminal in Kenmore, the airline has hub operations for seaplanes at its terminal on Seattle's Lake Union and for land planes at Seattle's Boeing Field/King County International Airport. It also operates a maintenance facility for its landplane fleet at Boeing Field.

Coastal Aviation is an airline that operates out of Julius Nyerere International Airport, Terminal 1, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It services many areas in Tanzania, but also operates regionally to neighboring countries, including Kenya and Rwanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitsunday Coast Airport</span> Airport in Queensland, Australia

Whitsunday Coast Airport, also known as Proserpine Airport, is located in Gunyarra, Queensland, Australia, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of Proserpine. The airport serves the mainland and offshore islands with flights to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne (Jetstar).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Air Cargo</span> Airline of the United States

Mountain Air Cargo (MAC) is an American cargo airline based in Denver, North Carolina. It is a major contract carrier for FedEx Express, operating in the eastern United States and the Caribbean region. Previous turboprop operations in South America have been discontinued by FedEx, which now operates jet aircraft in that area. MAC is one of the largest feeder airlines in the United States. Its main maintenance facility is at Kinston Regional Jetport. All of the ATR, C208, and C408 aircraft operated by Mountain Air are owned by FedEx Express, and are operated by MAC on a "dry lease" basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penobscot Island Air</span> Airline of the United States

Penobscot Island Air is a small regional airline based at Knox County Regional Airport, Maine, United States (RKD) operating from a private terminal. The airline operates scheduled service to the islands in Maine's Penobscot Bay and offers private charter land and seaplane flights throughout the region.

Loch Lomond Seaplanes is an airline based in Scotland. After receiving approval from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and Clydeport to launch services from Glasgow Seaplane Terminal, by Glasgow's Science Centre on the River Clyde in Glasgow city centre its maiden scheduled service from Glasgow to Oban began in August 2007, making it Europe's first city centre seaplane service It is Scotland and the United Kingdom's first commercial seaplane service Loch Lomond Seaplanes Ltd holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type B Operating Licence, it is permitted to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with fewer than 20 seats and/or weighing less than 10 tonnes. It also has a base outside the hotel Cameron House, Loch Lomond, hence the operator's name. Their aircraft have featured on British television several times, including on BBC's Countryfile, ITV's Emmerdale and NBC's Running Wild starring Bear Grylls and Ben Stiller

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shellharbour Airport</span> Airport serving the Illawarra region and Wollongong, Australia

Shellharbour Airport, formerly Illawarra Regional Airport, also referred as Albion Park Aerodrome or Wollongong Airport, is an airport located in Albion Park Rail, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport</span> Airport serving Panama City, Florida, United States

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is a public airport 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Panama City, Florida, United States, in Bay County. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District, and is north of Panama City Beach, near West Bay. It replaced Panama City–Bay County International Airport, which was located in Panama City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seair Seaplanes</span> Scheduled and charter airline based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Seair Seaplanes is a scheduled and charter airline based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The airline flies routes between the Vancouver International Water Airport and the Nanaimo Harbour Water Airport, as well as other Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia, exclusively with float planes.

Tradewind Aviation, LLC, doing business as Tradewind Aviation and Tradewind Shuttle, is an American airline headquartered at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Oxford, Connecticut, United States. Tradewind Aviation provides private and scheduled service in the Northeast, Southeast, and the Caribbean, as well as aircraft management services. The air charter company is best known for its Westchester to Nantucket summer ticket books, and its Puerto Rico to St. Barths scheduled service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Sydney Seaplanes DHC-2 crash</span> Australian plane crash

On 31 December 2017 at about 3:15 pm AEDT (UTC+11:00), a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver configured as a floatplane crashed into Jerusalem Bay off Cowan Creek, on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia. The aircraft, operated by Sydney Seaplanes, was carrying five passengers and a pilot, all of whom were killed in the crash. It was returning diners from Cottage Point Inn restaurant to Rose Bay Water Airport. The ATSB believes it probable that the pilot's performance was adversely affected by carbon monoxide poisoning. Post mortem tests on the bodies of the victims showed raised levels of CO in the blood, and a crack in the exhaust system was seen as the likely source of the gas.

Aviair Pty Ltd, previously known as Slingair Heliwork, is an airline and air charter company based in Kununurra, Western Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of HM Consolidated Pty Ltd. It operates air charter services and regular passenger services. Its main bases are Kununurra Airport, Broome International Airport and Karratha Airport.

References

  1. ↑ Karen, Sasha (13 November 2016). "Sydney Seaplanes CEO: 'The sky's the limit for my business'". www.mybusiness.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Sydney Seaplane Terminal Re-Opens in Rose Bay". Broadsheet. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 Chandler, Jasmin (2 June 2017). "Preview the New Sydney Seaplanes Terminal and Empire Lounge". Crossley Architects. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Empire Lounge, Sydney Seaplanes Terminal". www.seaplanes.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  5. ↑ "Historic day for Sydney aviation as Jerry Schwartz partners with Sydney Aviation Holdings to add to the city's glorious seaplane heritage" (PDF). Schwartz Family Holdings. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  6. ↑ "UK businessman, his family and pilot die in Sydney seaplane crash". The Irish Times . Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  7. ↑ "How celebs see the northern beaches". Daily Telegraph . 17 November 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Six people killed in Sydney seaplane crash". South China Morning Post . 31 December 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  9. ↑ Clarke, Jenna (31 May 2017). "Pippa Middleton and James Matthews spotted honeymooning in Sydney". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  10. ↑ "Pippa Middleton and James Matthews Begin the Third Leg of Their Glam Honeymoon". Vanity Fair . 31 May 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "RegoSearch | Aircraft Registration Search". www.regosearch.com. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "16Right - Australian Aircraft Register Search". www.16right.com. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. ↑ "How Sydney Seaplanes chief Aaron Shaw created an $8 million scenic flights company that's "made for Instagram"". SmartCompany. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.