Applications are now open for our 2025 Freedom to Fly Floats Scholarship.  Details and the application form are available in the "Scholarships" section of this website.

The BC Floatplane Association congratulates Emma Youden, 2024 recipient of a $3000 seaplane rating scholarship.

Emma first took to the skies with the Air Cadets, earning her Glider License out of Comox, soon followed by her Private Pilot License with Vital Aviation in Nanaimo.  Emma is now attending Prairie Aviation in Alberta where she has completed her Commercial Pilot License, night rating, multi-engine, and IFR, with a healthy mix of tailwheel and aerobatics training.

Once she completes her float training, Emma plans to fly hunting and fishing charters in Northern Manitoba.  Her long term goals include humanitarian flights in remote Africa.

"I've always wanted to fly air ambulance as a means of helping others.  While travelling, I fell in love with bush flying and realized how inaccessible some communities are.  What inspires me to fly is my desire to have a career where I can connect remote locations with the rest of the world."

The Washington Seaplane Pilots Association is hosting their annual fundraising dinner "Grounded Hogs" on Friday, February 21st at the Museum of Flight next to Boeing Field in Seattle.

This year's event features Peter Killin and Rick Matthews, Martin JRM Mars water-bomber pilots from Coulson Air in Port Alberni.

https://www.washingtonseaplanepilots.org/events/gh2024

We are excited to share that Lien Tran, recipient of a 2024 BC Floatplane Association Scholarship, completed her float rating on August 14th with Airhart Aviation in Kelowna.

Accompanied by her partner Scott McGillivray, the two completed their ratings in one of Airhart Aviation's Cessna 180's on Edo 2870 floats. Their journey was marked by memorable flights and the thrill of mastering new skills.

Reflecting on her experience, Lien shared: "In float flying, every takeoff and water landing feels like another step closer to true freedom, as there are so many new places to explore. I had never flown anything bigger than a 172. Learning from two Airhart instructors (Kyle and Caleb) gave me different perspectives on both floats and the more powerful aircraft. I could not have done this without the support of everyone around me, especially the generosity of the BC Floatplane Association."

Lien and Scott have acquired a set of CAP 2000 floats for their 1966 Cessna 172 and they look forward to splashing-in with other BCFA members in 2025.

There is a Celebration of life for past BCFA President Ken Martin at the Kamloops Flying Club

Saturday September 10th @ 1:00 pm

Please save the July 9 2022 weekend as the AGM date.  We were hoping to hold this year’s AGM at the Courtenay Airpark and Seaplane Base but winter damage to the float dock and dock fuel system require a change in plans. At this point it is unknown when the seaplane base will be back in operation, but we hope to arrange a future AGM at this great location.

We are in the process of making plans to hold this year's AGM at the Pitt Meadows Airport.  The meeting will be held the afternoon of Saturday July 9, to be followed by a BBQ, and informal fly-out on Sunday to one of the nearby lakes.

There are still a number of variables to make this year’s fly-in AGM happen,  but we are optimistic that the conditions will fall into place to have a fun 2022 fly-in AGM.

https://goo.gl/maps/qk8k8ZrJah8rj4aR9

Due to the wildfire situation in BC, the BCFA meet at Northwood Lodge has been postponed. We are looking at having a meeting in September, plans to be announces as soon as possible. Thank you all who expressed interest in the meeting. We have had trouble with July meetings several times over the past few years due to weather and forest fires and will look at possibly moving the date for future meetings. Watch the website and your email for more information about a September meeting

BCFA is arranging for a bronze plaque in memoriam of Ken Martin. It will be installed at the Kamloops float plane ramp in the near future. BCFA is accepting donations to help pay for the plaque and installation - check here