The Sea to Sky Air Team

» Jim McRae
Position: Pilot
Hometown: Squamish
Years as a pilot: 27 years

Favorite Sea-to-Sky Air plane:
The float planes are my favorite because they are very versatile and capable of picking up clients in downtown Vancouver and 20 minutes later landing in a turquoise, alpine lake, teaming with fish, surrounded by B.C. Mountains and glaciers.

Most memorable moment:
A few years back, I was on a floatplane charter to a remote inlet North of Vancouver Island. I had a family of four on board; Mum, Dad, teenage girl, and boy. I landed and started to taxi towards a cabin surrounded by old growth trees with a small dock in front. While taxiing, I looked to my left and saw a large school of porpoises. I shut the plane down and the school came right up to the plane. There must have been over a hundred of them jumping and swimming right up to the side of the float. I phoned the office to tell them I would be delayed. We spent a good 30 minutes watching the porpoises, until they got bored of us and moved on. What a trip.
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» Carlo Galvani
Position: Pilot
Hometown: West Vancouver
Years as a pilot (pilots): 12

Favorite Sea-to-Sky Air plane:
FFAQ- I love flying the Beaver. I’ve always loved floatplanes and enjoy working on the water. I’ve wanted to fly the Beaver since I was a kid! It’s a great machine and has a long history on the west coast.

Most memorable moment:
I’ve had the opportunity to fly various photography flights for everything from skiing and climbing guidebooks to location scouting for ski/snowboard films. Fun flying!
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» David-John Little
Position: Chief Pilot
Hometown: Life-time Squamish Local
Years as a pilot: 10 years Bush Flying on BC’s West Coast

Favorite Sea to Sky Air plane:
FFAQ because of the aircraft history and its nice colors.

Most memorable moment:
Best flight or customer service story while working for Sea to Sky Air: Helping people get to where they needed to go during the rockslide.
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» James Kondrosky
Position: Person Responsible for Maintenance/Pilot
Hometown: Edmonton
Years as a pilot: 6

Favorite Sea to Sky plane:
DHC-2 Beaver – Historic Aircraft.

Most memorable moment:
Rockslide – helping citizens
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» Peter Balis
Position: Chief Flight Instructor/Pilot
Hometown: Hamilton, ON
Years as a pilot: 9

Favorite Sea to Sky plane:
The Cessna 172 G-WKC is my favorite. She’s the plane I’ve spent the most time in and we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well. Our Cessna 206 G-YTJ was fun to fly, and I am really looking forward to flying our Beaver F-FAQ. I’ve always wanted to fly a Beaver on floats.

Most memorable moment:
So many… The sight-seeing trips are always beauties. Charters to places like Tofino and Chilko Lake lodge are nothing short of breathtaking. But I also love teaching students the joy of flying. It’s great to see how happy they get when they get up in the air and feel the thrill of flight. And I’m not sure anything can compare to the look on a student’s face after their first solo.