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 embarks on a spontaneous seaplane flight with Seaborne Airlines' DHC-6 Twin Otter, connecting St. Croix and St. Thomas and experiencing a modern continuation of the Caribbean's "golden age" of flying boats.
- The article underscores the integral role of aviation, beyond major tourist routes, in the everyday life and connectivity of the "real Caribbean" islands.
- It reveals the exceptional job satisfaction and quality of life for pilots like Captain Dennis, who find a strong community and work-life balance flying specialized routes in the U.S. Virgin Islands, despite demanding qualifications.
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