East River Seaport still operating ?

[alberchico]

I remember seeing years ago seaplanes taking off and landing from the east river. Does that still happen? Are there any good spotting locations ? I found a link describing the seaport but no mention of any operator using it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Skyports_Inc._Seaplane_Base

[cancidas]

seasonally, yes. Shoreline aviation is the outfit that flies C-208s on floats in and out of there during the summertime.

[Gerard]

I remember seeing years ago seaplanes taking off and landing from the east river. Does that still happen? Are there any good spotting locations ? I found a link describing the seaport but no mention of any operator using it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Skyports_Inc._Seaplane_Base

As of last year it was operating. http://www.airnav.com/airport/6N7
I figure its seasonal and is closed during the winter but with Spring here it might be opened again.
When I'm hanging out at the East 34st Heliport I would see the seaplanes all the time coming in over the QBB and settling into the river. Upon departure they would
taxi out to mid-river then depart to the south, gain altitude as they pass over the Williamsburg Bridge then do a 180 and head out east (for the most part).
They are on LGA 126.050 until they pass the QBB then 123.075 in the busy East River corridor.
If you have a long lens you can get good shots from the area by the heliport and the Water Club restaurant and probably south of the Seaport along the FDR.
Good hunting.

[gonzalu]

Not sure about schedule but I witnessed a small Cessna (I presume) about two months ago landing there and "parking" at around 23rd st... I was in one of the tour/dinner boats for a corporate event.

[Derf]

Yes, it sucks there... I know of a very nice LARGE aircraft with Pontoons that parked there. They are missing tires and punctured the new aircraft. Pilot was not happy and other pilots complained about it. Hope that changes soon or they will not have any repeat customers.

[alberchico]

Thanks for the info.

I am about to purchase an Olympus camera with a 30x zoom and I will probably do some spotting in the area during the summer trying to get some decent shots

[stratoduck]

the seaport is indeed still open. in the summertime, shoreline is the main operator flying amphibious cessna 208 caravans between it and the hamptons. there have been other smaller operators that have also run C208 and piston C206's on scheduled service. occasionally, there will be an unscheduled charter, as well as a privately owner aircraft.

thursday and friday nights are busy with outbound traffic, with inbound on sunday day and monday morning.

in the winter, these planes typically travel south to due work in the caribbean.




http://www.shorelineaviation.com/Shoreline_Aviation/Seaplanes_NYC.html

http://www.aquaticaaviation.com/index.html

[Tom_Turner]

Fred - interesting story. Please email me what the "large" aircraft was if you can! (i've never seen a "flying boat" proper there - only aircraft fitted with pontoons. You can get distance shots there with a 400 lens... http://www.airliners.net/photo/Shoreline-Aviation/Cessna-208-Caravan/0261761/M/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Shoreline-Aviation/Cessna-208-Caravan/0261760/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Shoreline-Aviation/Cessna-208-Caravan/0261759/L/

Now, back in the 1960s.70s, there were two (2) seaplane bases in the Wall Street area on the East River. One of them featured scheduled service to Philadelphia and Washington DC with Twin Otters..

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Seaplane-Shuttle-Transport/De-Havilland-Canada/0120052/L/

Tom