Floatplane / Seaplane services in Victoria

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Baro

Maybe there's something wrong with my nose, and I'm one of those fussy people who hold their breath and roll their eyes at anyone smoking, but I haven't smelled any such exhaust in the harbour. Then again I've been to the breakwater a few times when the cruise ships have been in and haven't keeled over from that either or even smelled anything, other than the ocean.

My nose, and all. I can't think I've ever had the urge to say or have heard people state with a similar urge something to the extent of, "Boy, it's really stinks down here on account of all the seaplanes."

[tedward]

Originally Posted by Bob Fugger

"Boy, it's really stinks down here on account of all the seaplanes."

LOL, as someone who lives two blocks away from the water and walks over the causeway twice a day I have to say the only smells I notice in the area are horse dung and the occasional waffle when the waffle guy is set up. The seagulls @ 4:00 am are more annoying than all the float planes, boats and tourists combined.

[LJ]

It's a good thing there are no boats, seadoos, or float planes utilizing Shawnigan Lake, that would drive poor Tony around the bend.

BTW I was at Shawnigan Lake on Saturday, the police boat was very busy chasing unmufflered fast boats down.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Originally Posted by Bob Fugger

My nose, and all. I can't think I've ever had the urge to say or have heard people state with a similar urge something to the extent of, "Boy, it's really stinks down here on account of all the seaplanes."

Well let me tell you then, I have found before that it's really stinks down there on account of all the seaplanes (!). Yes, I have found it to be quite polluted at times around the harbour because of the sea planes.

[Holden West]

The stench of kerosene can be very strong near the harbour depending on the winds. I don't mind the rare encounter but I wouldn't want to live near it.

[Bob Fugger]

I don't get (smell) it. I've eaten outside at both RFBF and also The Flying Otter and I can't say I've ever smelt it enough to comment on it.

[G-Man]

I love the kerosene smell of the seaplanes. Or really of any planes. I like planes.

[snaptee]

Jet A-1 and B are quite fragrant. It's a sweet smell. As for liking the smell of all plane exhaust, I'll take a pass on avgas.

In the afternoon when winds are coming in from the SW you can often smell them.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by snaptee

Jet A-1 and B are quite fragrant. It's a sweet smell. As for liking the smell of all plane exhaust, I'll take a pass on avgas.

In the afternoon when winds are coming in from the SW you can often smell them.

Nothing is as fragrant as walk along the Songhees Walkway on a hot summers day, when the tide is out, and the aroma of rotting seaweed fills the air.

[MarkCB]

^I walked it yesterday... and maybe it was just a combination of this thread in my mind and a the wind blowing in the right direction, but I smelled airplane fuel strongly when a plane came in. It was kind of gross to be honest. But let's put this in perspective: this is the inner harbour of an island city. If seaplane traffic shouldn't land here, where should it go? This location is the working heart of the city. And historically an industrial, working harbour. Bet you won't hear the heritage crowd championing that fact, though.

[VicHockeyFan]

Harbour Air irons out Vancouver deal

...Harbour Air will now collect $9.50 per one-way flight from passengers on behalf of the flight centre, Wright said. An earlier plan would have meant a higher rate.

An estimated $2 million will be spent to build the 370-foot-long addition, designed to Harbour Air's specifications, and to carry out tenant refits at the new location, he said. The addition is expected to be in place by December and will be able to accommodate a dozen float planes...

Oh, the lazy reporting here. Don't worry, I did the Google work for the author, the "earlier plan" rate was $12 per trip. So they reduced that a bit, and got some type of $2M addition added. Payment for that addition will take about 3/4 of a year of fees.

I think this is the cost BEFORE the dock fees:

Sked 200 : Carbon Offset $0.50
Sked 200 : Fuel Surcharge $5.00
Sked 200 : Web Fare - $4.00 $155.32
+ Harmonized Sales Tax $19.30
Sub Total $180.12

So it's $200 one-way now. There are some occasional web specials.


Here's the Helijet rates before HST:

Full Off-Peak: book online in H class
$149.00 (found off-peak, weekends)

Summer Weekday Fare: book online in B class
$179.00

Full Fare:
$249.00 = $557.76 RETURN with HST

Full Fare Peak:
$279.00 (found on winter peak hour flights)

[Mike K.]

...another reason why I never fly and would rather take my car over to the mainland, despite that cost adding up to $130 return.

[aastra]

Here are the grand totals for my most recent flights (between July, 2011 and August, 2012):

128.24
128.24
128.24
49.84
94.64
117.04
117.04
94.64

AVG:
107.24

[Mike K.]

What's up with the $49 fare?

[spanky123]

Harbour Air often has specials during off peak times. Regular fare is $180 inc taxes and that covers about 90% of flights.

[aastra]

That was the Easter egg fare that I mentioned earlier in this thread. It was a $39 "SuperSaver Get Away Web Fare". Even after all of the carbon/fuel/tax nonsense, the grand total ended up being less than $50, which I'm pretty sure is the least I've ever personally paid for a floatplane flight stretching all the way back to 1995 or thereabouts. Check those web fares because at any time you may see a deal.

[G-Man]

^^ Why I fly YYJ to YVR. Cheaper and more reliable.

[aastra]

I don't know, you have to figure in your cost/time/effort to get to YYJ, the airport Skytrain charge heading into town from YVR, and your cost/time/effort to get back to town again from YYJ. How much do you figure that costs you on average? Must be $20-25?

[G-Man]

Yes about 25 dollars on top of the return flight cost but when your flights are costing you about 40 - 70 more each way and then you multiply that by many meetings it saves a lot of money over the course of the year.

[aastra]

For me it would cost about $25,000 more because I would need to have a car.

[Mike K.]

Why would you need to have a car?

[aastra]

Are you saying G-Man is bussing it to YYJ and back? If he's taking a taxi then his estimates of $ can't be right.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by aastra

For me it would cost about $25,000 more because I would need to have a car.

They stopped taking cars on Harbour Air in around 1988.

[G-Man]

Aastra is correct. My numbers are based on taking my car to YYJ and using Skytrain in Vancouver.

[aastra]

So what does it cost you to park at YYJ all day? Is it $15? Add another $12.50 for the skytrain return fare plus the YVR AddFare charge, and throw in another arbitrary $5-10 for gas on the Victoria side and the time spent driving and such, and in the end you're paying close to $35 for the privilege. I suppose you can save a bit from that if you buy a day pass for your skytrain usage.

I'm not bashing it, it sounds pretty good if you've got access to a car and if the flight is cheap enough. But I think the floatplanes are still my preferred option simply because they're more convenient, assuming that I can keep my average cost down by getting a few decent web fares over the course of the year.