Sometimes the urge to fly strikes when I least expect it. It’s always there, mind you, but sometimes it lies dormant while my attention is elsewhere, only to suddenly resurface. Take yesterday morning, for example. I was lounging in Windbird’s cockpit, sipping coffee and enjoying the warm Caribbean breeze while planning an upcoming sail to Vieques, when an unmistakable sound reverberated across Christiansted Harbor and set my heart aflutter. A de Havilland Twin Otter on floats raced across the old schooner channel, skipping across the waves, then lifted into the trade winds and banked to the north. Just like that, I had to fly! Alas, I didn’t know anybody on St. Croix whom I might talk into lending me a light plane, but I nevertheless worked up a plan to get into the air. I threw on some long pants and shoes for the first time in a month, grabbed my airline badge and motored our dinghy across the harbor to Seaborne Airlines’ historic seaplane base.
Hopping the Virgin Islands by Seaplane
Key Takeaways:
- The author recounts a spontaneous seaplane flight on a Seaborne Airlines DHC-6 Twin Otter in the USVI, highlighting the vital role aviation plays in daily Caribbean life for locals and expats.
- The article details the unique operation of Seaborne Airlines, the only Part 121 seaplane operator in the U.S., connecting St. Croix and St. Thomas with the rugged, iconic Twin Otter.
- It emphasizes the high job satisfaction and quality of life experienced by the specialized seaplane pilots, who enjoy a rare balance of challenging work, community, and home life in the Caribbean, despite the demanding entry requirements.
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