Re: Seaplanes and the Critical Area Commission

[robert richardson]

Jerry,

As Essex Skypark resident seaplane owner/operator, let me answer your questions.

First, Maryland is very seaplane friendly and Chesapeake Bay on both sides are a seaplane pilot's's dream playground. MD Aviation law bars seaplane operations in only nine (9) areas on the Bay. You can & I have regular done splash&gos in the SFRA. The main risk is from boats, jet skiers, waves, power lines, and floating debris.  I maintain a publicly accessible Google overlay map of Mid-Atlantic Seaplane friendly Locales. It is made of locales that I have been to or had reports from.

Second, The two "public seaplane bases - W48 and M06 - date back to before WW2.   There is an active pvt SBP across from W48 at Breezecroft (23MD) which is tied to 05MD which was setup & registered by a SeaBreeze pilot that lives on the point.    You might want to contact him as to what it took.

Third, I, as  several other SeaRey pilots, have floating docks and ramps down in the lower Bay.  Mine floating dock is in an inlet of off St Clements Bay.  There are no  Buffer or other Critical Area issues related to seaplanes. Basically, any docking arrangement/restrictions would be the same as for any powerboat.  There are thousands of docks and boats lift throughout the bay. So check with your local boat dock contractor.   

Finally, while there is no MD or DE SPA state coordinators, we do have a very active group of Delmarva seaplane pilots. Let me introduce you to Helen Woods over at Bay Bridge Airport that maintains the Chesapeake Bay seaplane google distro group (both CCed).  That will hook into the Chesapeake seaplane flying community.  

If you want to know what is what on the Virginia end of the Bay, let me introduce to Don Maxwell (CCed) who flies his SeaRey out of Howell on the James River.  He hold regular seaplane splash-ins.

PS - if you want to see what it is like to play on the water across the Bay, check out my YouTube Channel.

Rob Richardson
My MD "Phaeton" SeaRey
Richar...@gmail.com

Cell - 410-991-3049

On Fri, May 3, 2019 at 10:47 AM Mandy Frail <mandy...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Jeremy, 

Thank you for your interest in Essex Skyupark.

I am copying several members of the Essex Skypark Association to reply to your inquiry.

This is a busy weekend at Essex Skypark since we are holding our annual Pancake Breakfast.

Please excuse us if our responses are delayed.

You are certainly welcome to attend. 

Best Regards, 

Mandy Frail 

Secretary, 

Essex Skypark Assocation 

On Thu, May 2, 2019 at 2:24 PM Jeremy DeBons <jade...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

I have a straight-float seaplane down in St. Mary's County MD and am trying to do seaplane instruction.  Can you share any information or lessons-learned with me regarding your registration of the seaplane base and if you had any Buffer or other Critical Area issues?  I imagine you worked through them at the county and state level, so I'd love to know how!

Thank you very much,

Jeremy DeBons

[Steve Harris]

All

     My name is Steve Harris, I am the Virginia Seaplane Pilot’s Association President and Virginia SPA Field Director. We will be having our spring Splash-in on Lake Anna May 18/19. The event info is listed on the SPA calendar. We would love to have some of your members stop in for the event and say hello. We partnered with the Chesapeake Seaplane Pilot’s to boost the number of active flyers. Virginia is also very Seaplane friendly and we hold several splash-in throughout the year. If the wx is good we normally have 12-15 planes at Lake Anna. If you would like more info on VA or any of our events feel free to give me a call.

Steve Harris

Sand Dollar Seaplanes

Sandollarseaplanes.com

301-606-0723 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Craig Woodberrry]

To echo Steve’s comments we would love to have you. We have plenty of room and next year we should have even more!!

Craig Woodberry. 

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[Jeremy DeBons]

Rob,

Thank you very much for the links and detailed information. I am based at MD01 and the county Land Use and Growth Management office told me point blank that there couldn't be an airport there because it was in the RCA. If there was an airport, it would be an illegal use of the property and I most certainly could not do flight instruction.  The Sweikars have used the airport and seaplane base for almost 30 years.  I decided to stop talking to the county until I figured out what other people have done.

I'll be out splashing around this weekend and hope to see you at the Lake Anna splash in.  I'll be in a green and white PA-12, N3635M.

Jeremy

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