SEAPLANES IN SEATTLE

Brad Meier's life flying the coastlines of the Pacific Northwest

I’ve been fascinated by aviation since a very young age and have been lucky enough to call flying a profession for over 20 years,” explains 912 enthusiast and pilot Brad Meier. “All types of flying - from running cargo to dropping skydivers, airline pilot to formation aerobatics - they all have their unique, challenging and rewarding experiences.

After moving to Seattle in 2014 and while working in aerial film, I had an opportunity to fly alongside a 1956 DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver on a shoot. Designed in the late 40’s, the Beaver comes with all the classic details of the era: from its simple instruments down to the intricate DeHavilland branding on the door handles and throughout the interior. It’s not quiet by any means and the comfort level is basic yet when combined with the expansive views and vintage flying experience- I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I met the pilot and owner of the company and casually inquired what minimum experience he required to fly for him- knowing most Beaver operators require 300 hours of seaplane experience at minimum. His response was perfect: ‘Have a seaplane rating and don’t suck!’ Well, I had half of that nailed down. That short, one day encounter led to me adding a seaplane rating to my license and working the summers in Seattle flying these vintage icons of the Northwest.

The Beaver, although it’s now over 70 years old, is perfectly suited for its unique role in the Pacific Northwest. With large expanses of water and the vast wilderness north into British Columbia’s isolated, remote fishing lodges what would be a multi-day boat cruise can be accomplished in just a few hours. Even with more local destinations such as the San Juan Islands and its Orca whale pods, this vintage workhorse cuts a 3-4 hour drive and ferry down to a 45 minute flight from the city.

It’s not quiet by any means and the comfort level is basic yet when combined with the expansive views and vintage flying experience- I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Most of the flying is done over water and at low altitudes - it’s seriously unique perspective for those accustomed to looking out the window of an airliner at 35,000 feet. Being able to pick up the details of the busy Seattle area from just a few hundred feet above then out over the Puget Sound, sailboats dotting the waterway. The local mountains: Rainier, Baker, the Olympics, viewable in in all directions.

The Beaver, although it’s now over 70 years old, is perfectly suited for its unique role in the Pacific Northwest.

Fairy regularly we see pods of Orcas and the occasional Humpback whale on our flights north. The destinations are usually met with a docking that can be challenging depending on winds and currents but some locations we simply pull up to the beach and walk off the floats right onto shore.