Insurance woes, fuel costs restrict annual seaplane festival
August 15, 2011, 04:08 pm
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum's annual Seaplane Homecoming, a festival held in Depot Park in Hammondsport, New York, typically features sea plane rides on Keuka Lake for visitors, but safety concerns and rising fuel costs have forced pilots to cancel their participation this year, according to the Steuben Courier.
Pilot insurance for the event is complicated and can be expensive, which is part of the reason pilots were forced to scale back their participation this year. Organizers noted that, while the festival will still be held, instead of lasting a full weekend, it will take place on just one day, and Curtiss Museum Director Trafford Doherty expects to see a lower turnout.
"The rides were important," Doherty told the source. "They brought a lot of people in, and we’re going to miss it for sure. I think everyone’s going to miss it. For 2012, we’ll be looking at possibly underwriting the cost of the gasoline so we can get the rides going again."
The Seaplane Pilots Association, which serves over 7,000 seaplane pilots, was incorporated in 1971 and exists as a great resource for pilots who specialize in aquatic aviation. The organization provides a wealth of information about accessible waterways, updated regulations and networking resources for pilots.
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