Northwest Seaplanes provides scheduled and charter seaplane service to your favorite boating, fishing, and eco-tourism destinations from South Lake Washington, in the heart of Seattle, to the San Juan Islands, Vancouver Island, and British Columbia’s Inside Passage. With our fleet of five, six passenger Dehavilland Beavers, we can accommodate your transportation needs for groups big and small. Our aircraft have access to hundreds of destinations throughout Western Washington and British Columbia only accessible by seaplane. Northwest Seaplanes offers both scheduled and charter flights to meet your every need! A family owned business with over 37 years of experience, Northwest Seaplanes is a trusted name in the seaplanes, providing the finest quality air service throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Clyde Carlson, owner and founder, started Northwest Seaplanes in 1988 providing exclusive service with two Dehavilland Beavers to Hakai Lodge which is located 70 miles north of Vancouver Island. Providing seaplane service to Hakai Lodge was not Clyde's first adventure in aviation.

Clyde started his seaplane career thanks to the GI Bill in 1968. Soon after completing his commercial pilot training, Clyde began working for Lake Union Air Service flying Cessna 206's to River Inlet Resort. As his passion for seaplanes grew, he started Western Air Charters in 1976 with a fleet of four Cessna 206's providing seasonal tourism air service for the now bustling cruise ship industry in Juneau, Alaska.

Residing in Seattle, Clyde purchased Lake Union Air Service in 1980. Soon after Clyde became the pioneer of scheduled seaplane service from Lake Union to the San Juan Islands and then Victoria, BC. By 1986, Lake Union Air became the scheduled largest seaplane in the United States offering year-round scheduled and charter flights throughout the San Juan Islands and British Columbia with a fleet of 8 aircraft.

Not long after selling Lake Union Air in 1987, Northwest Seaplanes was conceived providing seasonal scheduled and charter service to boating and trophy salmon fishing destinations throughout British Columbia's Inside Passage.

Now, with a fleet of five Dehavilland Beavers, Northwest Seaplanes is a family owned and operated business with a reputation that can be trusted!
Northwest Seaplanes employs some of the most professional and experienced seaplane pilots in the Pacific Northwest. Our FAA certified commercial pilots typically have logged an average of 8 years of experience throughout the most remote and scenic regions in British Columbia.

Because of our well-trained, professional, and courteous pilots and our meticulously maintained fleet, Northwest Seaplanes has logged over 16 years of accident and incident free flying. From our pilots to our dedicated maintenance staff, you will feel comfortable knowing you are flying with experienced professionals.

When you are flying aboard a Northwest Seaplanes Dehavilland Beaver, you are flying in the hands of the safest and most professional bush pilots in the industry!