The airplane driver is probably in the wrong here. The vessel to the starboard should be the stand on vessel. Bad deal, whatever.

Wayne

Yep. The boat didn't do anything erratic. He was at low speed and holding a steady course. Up to the floatplane not to takeoff into the side of him.

I totally agree. There’s only 2 boats visible in the entire area. It looked like a Coal Harbor simulator on it’s easiest setting. This pilot could waited a few seconds more before starting the takeoff slide and totally avoided the whole conflict. Or, simply turned right 3 degrees and passed behind the speedboat, which was not even speeding!

This video has me a little fired up. Seaplanes have been operating out of extremely congested and confined areas (Seattle’s Lake Union foremost) for decades without ever steering straight into a boat like that. At least that I know of. This incident should not have happened and of course it’ll give the nimbys more HP at their next meeting with the fun police, sigh.

https://youtu.be/PgBEqKr-DEM?si=3BLcAXiVtawEyecF

This footage shows how much room there was to maneuver

I'll start by saying I don't drive boats or fly seaplanes. Another website is reporting the boat driver was arrested for DUI on a boat, and operating in a restricted area where no boats are allowed because of aircraft operations. Of course this could just be another internet rumor.

Dale Moul wrote:I'll start by saying I don't drive boats or fly seaplanes. Another website is reporting the boat driver was arrested for DUI on a boat, and operating in a restricted area where no boats are allowed because of aircraft operations. Of course this could just be another internet rumor.

I’ve operated boats since I was a teenager and I flew floatplanes professionally in the pnw for more than 10 years.

We were trained, and we practiced daily, to treat every, boat, kayak, paddle-board, as if it were operated by a drunken blind person. Never assume any boat is going to maintain its current heading/speed or observe maritime rules.

To operate out of our terminal on Lake Union on a hot summer Saturday one would often have to plan a takeoff slide through dozens of boats going every which way. It was our job to not crash the airplanes whilst remaining vigilant for all the above. It was the most fun I’ve ever had.

Dale Moul wrote:I'll start by saying I don't drive boats or fly seaplanes. Another website is reporting the boat driver was arrested for DUI on a boat, and operating in a restricted area where no boats are allowed because of aircraft operations. Of course this could just be another internet rumor.

Been flying seaplanes for a while, in very busy waters too, and been sailing since I was a tiny kid

This makes sense, dude could see the airplane (with spinning blades of death) converging with him and made zero actions to avoid the accident, them being drunk would jive with that


But yeah, not a good line for a takeoff run for the beaver, seems he hit like the ONE boat on the lake


all around

Just to add to the confusion - Vancouver Harbor is controlled airspace. The Beaver was probably cleared for takeoff by Harbor Tower.

snotcicles wrote:Just to add to the confusion - Vancouver Harbor is controlled airspace. The Beaver was probably cleared for takeoff by Harbor Tower.

True, there is a control tower there. You can hear the recording of the tower giving the beaver a takeoff clearance and to note the "westbound boat", the pilot replied "check remarks", which is Canadian for "Roger".

Canadian flight regs are very clear that the pilot in command is required not to run into anything while taking off.

602.96 (1) This section applies to persons operating VFR or IFR aircraft at or in the vicinity of an uncontrolled or controlled aerodrome.

(2) Before taking off from, landing at or otherwise operating an aircraft at an aerodrome, the pilot-in-command of the aircraft shall be satisfied that

(a) there is no likelihood of collision with another aircraft or a vehicle; and

(b) the aerodrome is suitable for the intended operation.

Somewhere, I believe, there's further language to the effect that since the operation areas in coal harbor are not controllable that takeoffs there are at the pilot's discretion even with a takeoff clearance.

The tower cleared him for takeoff and warned him about the boat. But there were two boats in the picture. I wonder if his brain wasn't telling him that "I can see the boat, Im ok", when he was looking at the wrong boat. Its a busy spot. Glad everyone got out.

I really hope it wasn't a case of both parts thinking they were in the right, so f**k everyone else and it's not their problem if someone gets hurt.

I believe planes have the right of way on water. Also very limited visibility until on step and lifting off in a beaver. But always a different perspective from a computer screen on Monday morn.

I can’t blame the boat. I was taught, and firmly believe, that in a floatplane I’m faster, more maneuverable (on step), and theoretically more enlightened. Boaters usually aren’t knowledgeable about aircraft right of way but float pilots should know boats/boaters and have least confidence in their actions.

Sure, the boat was in the takeoff path but he got there fairly slowly. All I can imagine is that the Beaver pilot didn’t have good viz over the nose and all the holes lined up for that boat to escape his view, or he’d have just steered around. Or he was trying to give them a haircut…never a good strategy.

This is totally the pilot's fault. Only 2 boats there, large body of water.

He/She was probably in a rush, and went on step, putting the boat in the blindspot before properly scanning the waterline

Zane is exactly correct about the pilot's job to avoid collision, not just from being wise but also from being legally required. Boats have the right of way.

The FAA says so:
14 CFR 91.115
§ 91.115 Right-of-way rules: Water operations.
(a) General. Each person operating an aircraft on the water shall, insofar as possible, keep clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation, and shall give way to any vessel or other aircraft that is given the right-of-way by any rule of this section.

The Coast Guard says so:
Colreg 18 e
(e) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and
avoid impeding their navigation. In circumstances, however, where risk of
collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of this Part.

When slow taxiing, it makes sense to apply the rules, treat the other vessels as if you are a vessel. But that is secondary to the primary assignment of keeping well clear.

Zzz wrote:I can’t blame the boat. I was taught, and firmly believe, that in a floatplane I’m faster, more maneuverable (on step), and theoretically more enlightened. Boaters usually aren’t knowledgeable about aircraft right of way but float pilots should know boats/boaters and have least confidence in their actions.

Sure, the boat was in the takeoff path but he got there fairly slowly. All I can imagine is that the Beaver pilot didn’t have good viz over the nose and all the holes lined up for that boat to escape his view, or he’d have just steered around. Or he was trying to give them a haircut…never a good strategy.

Depends on the boat, but for the most part boats of the size and type of the one in question are FAR more maneuverable than a seaplane

USCG guide
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO% ... erence.pdf

In response to Troy referencing FAA rules:

As does Transport Canada, the ruling authority in this case. Pretty simple per CARS 602.20. The vessel / aircraft on the right has right of way.

Neither the boat nor aircraft were breaking any rules simply by being where they were as far as I can tell. There are several possibilities and much speculation as to why the pilot didn’t see the boat, but not much debate that it was his/her responsibility to give way if necessary.

Belloypilot wrote:In response to Troy referencing FAA rules:

As does Transport Canada, the ruling authority in this case. Pretty simple per CARS 602.20. The vessel / aircraft on the right has right of way.

Neither the boat nor aircraft were breaking any rules simply by being where they were as far as I can tell. There are several possibilities and much speculation as to why the pilot didn’t see the boat, but not much debate that it was his/her responsibility to give way if necessary.

Some debate


“Vessel Restricted In Its Ability To Maneuver – A vessel unable to keep out of the way of other vessels because the nature of its work is hindering its ability to maneuver”

The DHC looked nose up in the video, not the best video though, almost on step, and at speed, the boat had far better visibility and maneuverability.

+

If boater was drunk


Not a good takeoff line, but no where near 100% at fault status

Frankly, I believe there's plenty of blame to go around in this one. The boat SHOULD have seen the plane coming and maneuvered to avoid....but, I'm guessing there was more than a little alcohol involved there. I used to teach SES ops, and one of my favorite/least favorite parts of that was ops in the Chena River, winding and narrow, and well populated with drunks on jet skis. Great training, but could be scary. And, amazing what drunks will do right in front of aircraft.

There was something going on in that Beaver as well. He was obviously pretty heavy, supposedly five pax, but he was on the step quite a while, and as someone else noted, pretty nose high near the collision. Was the pilot looking inside, trying to figure out why he wasn't getting performance, or distracted by a passenger, or??

A short pilot in that left seat has very limited visibility ahead and slightly right, which is where the boat was. Nose high, trying to get the beast to fly......

But, that's no excuse. Boat or plane, the duty of the Captain is to avoid collisions, regardless of right of way or clearance.

I'd vote for TWO brief court appearances, followed by two sets of serious consequences.

MTV