Seaplane Base

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Tropic Ocean Airways provides scheduled seaplane service from Florida to the Bahamas. They also offer charter service and are trying to expand to the New York and mid-Atlantic area. On August 3, 2018, they landed at the Essington Seaplane Base to pick up a passenger for a flight to the New York area.

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Philadelphia Seaplane Base is a township-owned, public-use seaplane base located one nautical mile (1.85 km) south of the central business district of Essington, a community in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated on the Delaware River, west of Philadelphia International Airport.

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The township of Essington is refurbishing the Lazareeto House and the grounds. This is a proposed layout that includes plans for seaplane operations.

Overview

A seaplane base is an airport for seaplanes, typically located on water with shore-side infrastructure like ramps and cranes. Historically, seaplane bases played a crucial role in commercial and mail flights, especially between the two World Wars.

Function

Seaplane bases are designed to facilitate the takeoff and landing of seaplanes and other amphibious aircraft on water.

Infrastructure

They often include terminal buildings for passengers and cargo, concrete ramps for amphibious aircraft, and floating docks connecting to land.

Historical Significance

• Initially, seaplane bases were used for commercial and mail flights, especially between the two World Wars.
• Pan American Airways pushed for the construction of seaplane bases optimized for such use.
• The development of land-based aircraft after World War II led to a decline in the commercial use of seaplane bases.

Current Use

• Many seaplane bases in remote areas still serve as a means of providing easier access.
• Some bases are used for general aviation, while others are used for recreational activities like water sports.

Examples

• Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Alaska is one of the largest and most active seaplane bases in the world.
• Tavares Seaplane Base in Florida is a popular base and gives rise to the city's nickname, "America's Seaplane City".
• Kenmore Air operates seaplane bases on Lake Union and Lake Washington in Kenmore, Washington.
• Sands Point Seaplane Base in New York has a rich history, including its use by Pan American World Airways.
• PhillySeaplaneBase.com documents the Philadelphia Seaplane Base, a historic site used during World War II and reopened after the war.
• Miami Seaplane Base is located on Watson Island, just east of downtown Miami.

External Links

• PhillySeaplaneBase.com
• Philadelphia Seaplane Base