SEAPLANE BUSINESS INITIATIVE PROJECT
What will the future look like in your coastal community?
Aviation industries and coastal communities across the world are facing a range of issues including sky rocketing gasoline prices, ever stricter land resource consent restrictions, spiraling property costs, impractical airport restrictions, exploding populations, deteriorating rail systems, increasing over crowding of road ways, and the challenge of long term business viability.
Seaplanes offer many solutions to all the above issues.
Many people are also trying to understand how to respond or adapt to these pressures, as well as seeking the best seaplane information available.
As a flow in effect, broad-scale change is expected and coastal people are beginning to think, plan and make informed decisions about their future.
Through this Seaplane Business Initivative (RFI) project, We Love Seaplanes is assistting communities to better understand the trends and drivers of change, and their possible implications.
You are invited to join the SBI forum to explore what the future might look like in your region. Contributors will present a range of topics for open discussion and you will be able to take away information that will assist planning in your future seaplane business.
SEAPLANE BUSINESS STRATEGIES (SBS)
SBS 0 - Seaplane Advertising - SA
SBS 1 - Beachstorming - BS
SBS 2 - Unique Seaplane Photography - USP
SBS 2 - Local Seaplane Rides - LSR
SBS 3 - Romantic Seaplane Love Flights - RSLF
SBS X - Seaplane Sky Diving
SBS 4 - Inaccessible Tourist Area Seaplane Flights - ITASF
SBS 5 - Seaplane Fishing Charters - SFC
SBS 6 - Seaplane Air Taxi - SAT
SBS 7 - Seaplane Island Transfers - SIT
SBS 8 - Commuter Seaplane Service - CSS
SBS 1 - Beachstorming
Beachstorming - to dazzle passengers with short local flights by combining the beauty of nature with the magic of flight and the once in a life time thrill of a water landing.
'Roll up - Roll up - Down the ramp & into the damp - with a splash of spray we're away - its nice up here, looks nice down there!'
MARKET
- Passerbys, primarily locals
REQUIRES
- Seaplane & single pilot
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- Can be based at prime location on any beach
- Can be based at highly travelled tourist spot/next to busy road
- Requires no facilitates at point of busines
- extremely low set up cost
- high visibility
- easily relocatable
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
- Up to Three passenger seats
SBS 2 - Local Seaplane Flights
Local Seaplane Flights cater to the Tourist who is traveling through the local area for pleasure.
MARKET
- Tourists
REQUIRES
- Seaplane, single pilot
- Minimal facilities such as a mobile office or small hut
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- As for Beachstorming above
- Can be located on tourist thoroughfares
- Tourists can see all local attractions in one go
- Benefits from Tourists spending mindset
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
- Four passenger seats
SBS 3 - Romantic Seaplane Love Flights
Seaplanes are special and romantic. Romantic Seaplane Flights are designed for those clients head over heels in love with their once in a lifetime partners whom they are trying to impress on their first dates, take their breath away when they propose, or reconfirm their vows on their anniversary.
MARKET
- Love birds
REQUIRES
- Seaplane, single pilot
- Minimal facilities such as a mobile office or small hut
- Benefits from a secluded romantic beach, island, river or restaurant
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- As for Beachstorming above
- As for Local Seaplane Flights above
- Captures the unique romantic feel of seaplanes
- Allows the lovebirds to be dropped off in seclusion
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
- Two passenger seats
SBS4 - Inaccessible Tourist Spot Flights
Much to the relief of the wildlife living nearby, some of the jewels of nature are scattered in inaccessible locations where never a train, car or often boat can ever travel.
MARKET
- Serious Tourists
REQUIRES
- Seaplane, single pilot
- Minimal facilities such as a mobile office or small hut
-
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- As for Beachstorming above
- As for Local Seaplane Flights above
-
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
-
SBS 5 - FISHING CHARTER FLIGHTS
MARKET
-
REQUIRES
- Seaplane, single pilot
- Minimal facilities such as a mobile office or small hut
-
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- As for Beachstorming above
- As for Local Seaplane Flights above
-
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
-
MARKET
-
REQUIRES
- Seaplane, single pilot
- Minimal facilities such as a mobile office or small hut
-
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- As for Beachstorming above
- As for Local Seaplane Flights above
-
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
-
MARKET
- Serious Tourists
REQUIRES
- Seaplane, single pilot
- Minimal facilities such as a mobile office or small hut
-
SEAPLANE ADVANTAGES
- As for Beachstorming above
- As for Local Seaplane Flights above
-
OPTIMAL SEAPLANE SIZE
-
SEAPLANE BUSINESS STRATEGY 5 - Onshore Industry Support
A number of successful seaplane businesses support onshore primary industries and carry more, faster, to further isolated resource gathering centers than any other form of transport.
ADVANTAGES OF SEAPLANES
- Zero infrastructure at destination
- Transport heavily loads
- Long range
- Fast
PEARL HARVESTING
Seaplanes have successfully supported Australia's Paspaley Pearls wide spread pearling operations in isolated on shore communities for over thirty years now. Grumman Mallard's from the forties refitted with modern turbo jet engines are the crucial link between the companies wide spread operations.
This article discusses a GIA Alumni Pearl Tour of Paspaley Pearls