Seair Seaplanes is a scheduled and charter
airline
An airline is a company that provides civil aviation, air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or Airline alliance, alliances with other airlines for ...
based in
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. It occupies almost the entirety of Lulu Island (excluding Queensborough), between the two estuarine distributaries of the Fraser River. Encompassing the adja ...
, Canada. The airline flies routes between the
Vancouver International Water Airport
Vancouver International Water Airport is located adjacent to Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
It is classified as an airport and as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Serv ...
and the
Nanaimo Harbour Water Airport
Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome is a seaplane base (SPB) serving the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the Nanaimo Harbour, right downtown.
It is registered as an aerodrome, formerly classified as an airport, and an a ...
, as well as other
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are a group of islands in the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia.
Etymology
The name "Gulf Islands" comes from "Gulf of Georgia," the original term used by George Vancouver in his ...
in the
Strait of Georgia, exclusively with
float planes.
Destinations
As of September 2019 Seair Seaplanes serves the following destinations
in British Columbia:
*
Galiano Island
Galiano Island ( Hul'qumi'num: ''Swiikw'') is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the west side of the Strait of Georgia, the island is bordered by Mayn ...
(
Montague Harbour Water Aerodrome)
*
Mayne Island
Mayne Island is a island in the southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia. It is midway between the Lower Mainland of BC and Vancouver Island, and has a population of 995. Mount Parke in the south-central heart of the island is its highe ...
(
Mayne Island Water Aerodrome
Mayne Island Water Aerodrome, formerly , is a defunct aerodrome that was located at Miners Bay adjacent to Mayne Island in British Columbia, Canada. Mayne Island is one of the southern Gulf Islands.
Airlines and destinations
Although the aerod ...
)
*
Nanaimo (
Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome
Nanaimo Harbour Water Aerodrome is a seaplane base (SPB) serving the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the Nanaimo Harbour, right downtown.
It is registered as an aerodrome, formerly classified as an airport, and an ...
)
*
Pender Island
Pender Island ( Saanich: ) is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located in the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Pender Island is approximately in area and is home to about 2,250 permanent residents, as well as a large seasonal popula ...
(
Port Washington Water Aerodrome
Port Washington Water Aerodrome, formerly , is located adjacent to Port Washington, British Columbia, Canada. Port Washington lies at the north end of North Pender Island in the Gulf Islands of the Gulf of Georgia.
Airlines and destinations
F ...
)
*
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States
* Richmond, London, a part of London
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, ...
(
Vancouver International Water Airport
Vancouver International Water Airport is located adjacent to Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
It is classified as an airport and as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Serv ...
)
*
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island or Saltspring Island is one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia between mainland British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island.
The island was initially inhabited by various Salishan peoples before being settled by ...
(
Ganges Water Aerodrome
Ganges Water Aerodrome is located southeast of Ganges on Saltspring Island in British Columbia, Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean ...
)
*
Saturna Island
Saturna Island is a mountainous island, about in size, in the Southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated approximately midway between the Lower Mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island, and is the most easterly of the ...
(Lyall Harbour)
*
Thetis Island
Thetis Island (population: 379) is an island and unincorporated community off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, lying between Vancouver Island, which is to the west across Stuart Channel, and the west from the north tip of Galiano Island ...
(Telegraph Harbour)
*
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
(
Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, Vancouver Harbour Water Aerodrome or Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base , is a registered aerodrome located at Coal Harbour in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The flight centre is within walking distance of ...
)
In addition to scheduled flights, Seair operates scenic flights, scheduled tours, and private charters. Small amounts of cargo may also be carried.
Seair had plans to begin a service to the
Victoria Inner Harbour Airport
Victoria Inner Harbour Airport or Victoria Harbour Water Airport is located in Victoria Harbour, adjacent to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Transport Canada and is staffed by the Canada ...
on May 25, 2011, but the service did not debut.
Fleet
As of September 2019 the Seair fleet consists of 14 aircraft equipped with floats:
Accidents
*On 28 December 1999, a Cessna C-208 Caravan (C-FGGG) operated by Seair crashed shortly after takeoff from the
Abbotsford International Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot received serious injuries. Two passengers were also seriously injured and three passengers received minor injuries.
*On 22 September 2000, a DHC-2T Turbo Beaver (C-FOES) operated by Seair crashed 18 nautical miles northwest of
Clearwater, British Columbia
Clearwater is a district municipality in the North Thompson River valley in British Columbia, Canada, where the Clearwater River empties into the North Thompson River. It is located north of Kamloops. The District of Clearwater was established o ...
. The two occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
*On 29 November 2009, a DHC-2 Beaver operated by Seair crashed off the coast of
Saturna Island
Saturna Island is a mountainous island, about in size, in the Southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated approximately midway between the Lower Mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island, and is the most easterly of the ...
. The accident occurred at approximately 4:10 p.m local time. Six passengers (including one infant) died, but the pilot and one other passenger survived.
*On 26 July 2019, a Cessna 208 Caravan (C-GURL) registered to Seair crashed near Addenbroke Island, about north of
Port Hardy
Port Hardy is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-east end of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy has a population of 4,132 as of the last census (2016).
It is the gateway to Cape Scott Provincial Park, the North ...
. There were nine passengers on board and one pilot. Three passengers and the pilot were killed and five passengers suffered serious injuries.
See also
*
List of seaplane operators
References
External links
Official website
{{Airlines of Canada
Canadian companies established in 1980
Regional airlines of British Columbia
Seaplane operators
Airlines established in 1980
1980 establishments in British Columbia
Companies based in Richmond, British Columbia