Funding For The Project Was Provided By Private Donors
How would you like to see an online directory that shows you all the lakes and cabins available to you as a seaplane pilot or “Last Frontier” adventurer?
Well, look no further! We caught up with Mr, Steve McCaughey, Executive Director of the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA), who stated that the SPA is leading the charge on revamping the website to provide the most accurate (current) information including pictures of on the facilities/services available: cabin size, number of beds/type of sleeping facilities, kayaks, canoes, john boat, fishing gear, firewood stock, and so on.
This project is lightyears ahead of schedule, thanks in great part to the efforts of Montana-based SPA member Tom Bass, who personally visited each location in his Cessna 185 floatplane, took notes and pictures, and uploaded all of that to a website!
Funding for the project was provided by private donors, and the SPA is profoundly grateful for their support. It’s been a while since Mr. Bass visited some locations, so the SPA is verifying the information previously provided to ensure it's up to date and will make it their mission to update the content annually and equipment/facilities/geography change. The SPA “Alaska Lake Adventures” team is diligently working to debut the updated site at the Alaska Aviation Gathering in Palmer, AK later this year on 6 May 2023!
Mr. McCaughey concluded by stating that “these cabins, if we don’t use them or they’re not being utilized, the state will shut them down”. The current slate of cabins was either provided by the state of gifted by private owners, and the SPA is committed to encouraging more pilots to use these “remote” treasures.
“But in order to use them, they need to know what to expect before they head out into the middle of nowhere.” The SPS will be conducting a “threat of closure” assessment of seaplane bases around the country, in particular, the private seaplane bases that may be at risk so we can save them for the long-term enjoyment of the seaplane pilot and adventure community.
Fun Fact: Alaska has the second largest seaplane community in the United States, the most seaplane pilots in Florida, and the most seaplanes in Alaska!
