Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
British Columbia, Canada
August 2026
|
British Columbia is Canada's western most province, with a long Pacific coastline and Vancouver Island lying just offshore from the mainland, opposite the sprawling city of Vancouver and Canada's largest seaport. Seaplane travel is particularly important here, more so than in any other Canadian province, because of the vast distances between some communities and the need to connect the mainland with the sheltered eastern coast of Vancouver Island.
With a journey from Vancouver to Vancouver Island involving more than half a day of driving and ferry travel, a seaplane flight of just 35 minutes is an attractive alternative for many travellers. British Columbia also has more than 150 large lakes, many of which are suitable for floatplane operations.
With more than 50 aircraft, the Harbour Air Group, comprising Harbour Air Seaplanes, Westcoast Air and Whistler Air, forms the world's largest all-seaplane airline. Several smaller commuter seaplane operators and numerous privately owned floatplanes also operate throughout British Columbia.
Since the 1950s, the de Havilland Beaver has been the principal seaplane type, although the major operators are gradually replacing it with the larger de Havilland Otter and Twin Otter. The single-engine Beaver and Otter are also widely used for scenic and flight seeing tours
My brief report features aircraft mostly from the main airline Harbour Air taken at Downtown Vancouver which is very accessible for photography and very busy, but the flights are somewhat repetitive. |
Downtown, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, Coal Harbour, Vancouver. |
| A typical lineup of Beavers and Otters with Harbour Air and Seair Seaplanes at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre. |
| Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GHAS '310') with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GHAQ '323') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-FPCG) with Seair Seaplanes. |
Left to right: de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GFHA '610') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FHAX '313') with Harbour Air. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GHMI) with Seair Seaplanes. |
Left to right: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 (C-GMOW) with Seair Seaplanes.
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Mk.III Turbo-Beaver (C-FPMA) with Seair Seaplanes. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GMKP '222' c/n 1374) of Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FJHA '318') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GHHA '611') with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GLCP '311') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GEND '321') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FIUZ '306') with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FHAS '312') with Harbour Air. (Originally built as a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter, converted Vazar DHC-3T Turbine Otter).
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Mk.III Turbo-Beaver (C-FPMA) with Seair Seaplanes.
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GHMI) with Seair Seaplanes. |
Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GMKP '222' c/n 1374) of Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GHMI) with Seair Seaplanes. |
| Left to right: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 (C-FLAC) with Seair Seaplanes. |
| Left to right: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 (C-GHAN) with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 (C-GUUS) with Seair Seaplanes.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FHAJ '314') with Harbour Air. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-FPCG) with Seair Seaplanes. |
Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GMKP '222' c/n 1374) of Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GHMI) with Seair Seaplanes. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GHAP '612') with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FJHA '318') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GFHA '610') with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GHHA '611') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otters (C-FLAP '319' and C-GUTW '302') with Harbour Air. |
| Left to right: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 (C-GHAN) with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FHAJ '314') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GOPP '305') with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GEND '321') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (CF-ODH '307') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-FIUZ '306') with Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GHHA '611') with Harbour Air. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-FPCG) with Seair Seaplanes. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GMKP '222' c/n 1374) of Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Mk.III Turbo-Beaver (C-FPMA) with Seair Seaplanes.
de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-GHAP '612') with Harbour Air. |
| Left to right: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 (C-FLAC) with Seair Seaplanes. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GHMI) with Seair Seaplanes. |
