Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre
British Columbia, Canada
August 2026
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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' previously U-1A 57-6136) with Harbour Air. |
Left to right: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter (C-GHAQ '323' previously U-1A 57-6131) with Harbour Air.
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-FPCG c/n 1000) 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' previously U-1A 58-1720) with Harbour Air. Following delivery, this aircraft was assigned to the US Army's Arctic Test Center at Fort Greely, Alaska, where it operated in the demanding Arctic environment. In 1974, it entered civilian service and was registered in the United States as N41755. It was later registered in Canada as C-FHAX and converted to a Vazar DHC-3T Turbine Otter. |
| Left to right: de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GHMI c/n 1215) 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' previously 9415) with Harbour Air. Delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on October 31, 1960, the aircraft was designated a CSR-123 search-and-rescue utility transport and assigned the military serial number 9415. During its military career, it served with several auxiliary and reserve units, including Nos. 400, 402, 406 and 411 Squadrons. Following a farewell tour in 1981, the aircraft was retired from service and sold at auction in 1982.
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' previously U-1A 59-2224) 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 previously US Army L-20A 58-2042) 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. Delivered on November 21, 1961, to the Union of Burma Air Force with serial number UB-657 (later re-serialled as 4657 under the Myanmar Air Force). |
| 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' previously RCAF CC-123 9423) 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' previously 59-2217) 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. It spent 47 years operating as a commercial bush plane before being converted into a Vazar Turbine Otter.
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. |
