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Open Waters Campaign
Seaplanes are prohibited from operating on thousands of lakes, rivers and
bays across the nation. Some of those restrictions are justified, but many more have no
sound regulatory basis. That shouldn't be too surprising, since very few public
policymakers understand seaplane operations.
The Open Waters Campaign is an unprecedented effort by the Seaplane Pilots Association to
educate public policymakers about seaplane operations. Key educational points include
safety, pilot professionalism and training, compatibility with boat traffic and
residential areas, environmental impact, and noise impact.
In the past, the Seaplane Pilots Association has communicated the facts on these issues
through staff and volunteers. Unfortunately, this approach limited our reach to only a
handful of officials each year. Limited travel budgets and time limitations prevented
broad educational efforts and required careful prioritization, ultimately leaving many
worthy causes unaddressed.
Flying America's Waterways
To address these hurdles, the Seaplane Pilots Association has produced
Flying America's Waterways,
a ten-minute videotape that provides a concise overview
of seaplane operations. Today, over 1,500 copies of this video have been distributed
to members, seaplane facility managers, and public policymakers. Hundreds more are ready
for rapid distribution to address even the smallest of regulatory issues.
Flying America's Waterways is just the beginning of the Open Waters Campaign.
The Seaplane Pilots Association is developing printed supplements to the
video and studies of issues such as safety, noise, environmental impact, and
jurisdictions. So long as a waterway remains closed without cause, our job is not done.
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