Meet the Hosts

Meet the Hosts

Author: Seaplane Pilots Foundation June 2, 2021 Duration: 52:03

Tune in to this episode of the Water Flying podcast to learn more about your hosts Abbie Kellett, Assistant to the Executive Director and Steve McCaughey, Executive Director of the Seaplane Pilots Association.

We'll share our aviation journeys, passion and what brought us to the Seaplane Pilots Association.


There’s a particular kind of freedom found where the runway ends and the water begins, and that’s exactly where the Water Flying Aviation Podcast lives. Produced by the Seaplane Pilots Foundation, this weekly series is for anyone captivated by the unique world of amphibious aviation. Each episode feels like hanging out in a busy seaplane base, swapping stories and practical knowledge. You’ll hear from certified flight instructors breaking down tricky water operations, engineers from manufacturing companies discussing what’s new in floatplane design, and pilots sharing tales from remote lakes and coastal harbors across the globe. Conversations here are grounded in real-world experience, covering essential safety discussions, maintenance tips, and the latest news that matters to the community. Whether you’re an active pilot, an aviation enthusiast dreaming of your first splash-down, or simply someone fascinated by travel and unique cultures tied to waterways, this podcast offers an authentic and engaging perspective. It’s more than just technical talk; it’s about the people, places, and sheer joy that define water flying. Tune in for a regular dose of insight and adventure, directly from those who live it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 120

Water Flying Aviation Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Jon Brown - 19,000 Seaplane Ratings and Counting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:03
Having conducted over 19,000 seaplane checkrides; more than anyone else in history - Jon Brown is a true seaplane legend. In this episode of Water Flying, Jon joins Steve McCaughey for a reflection on his 48 years as a s…
Seaplane Photos - Capturing the Magic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:28
Photos of seaplanes have a magical allure that attracts people to them like a magnet, and this is a well known secret among marketing agencies, movie & tv producers and aviation magazines like AOPA Pilot, EAA Sport Pilot…
Seaplane Flying in Louisiana with a Legend - Charlie Hammonds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:33
Charlie Hammonds joins Steve to discuss the little known history of the massive floatplane community that used to exist in Louisiana. Over 300 seaplanes worked the oil fields with extremely demanding conditions including…
Underwater Seaplane Escape Training with Kaylab Verdin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:53
Kaylab Verdin from Fire and Medical Training Centre in Houma, Louisiana joins Steve McCaughey to talk about the AUET (Aircraft Underwater Escape Training) for seaplanes that they provide in their Triton training system.L…
Can You Fly A Straight Floatplane Across the United States? (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:26
SPA Lifetime Member Dave Wellman returns for a fascinating account of his attempt to fly a straight float Cessna 172 across the United States. In part 1 of Dave's journey, we discussed the inception of the idea, the plan…
Can You Fly A Straight Floatplane Across the United States? (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:15
SPA Lifetime Member Dave Wellman joins us on this episode of Water Flying to explore whether or not it is possible to fly a straight float seaplane across the United States.This is the first of a two part episode explori…
Seaplane Volunteer Opportunities in 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:23
SPA's event and volunteer coordinator Carter Clay, joins Steve to discuss the opportunities, and many of the needs the Seaplane Pilots Association has for volunteers in 2023.Volunteers are the real horsepower of non-prof…
Seaplane Pilots Association - 2022 Year in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:23
Seaplane Pilots Association Chairman Steve Williams joins Steve McCaughey for a 2022 "Year in Review." As the last episode of the year we always like to take time to provide a very condensed and shortened version of our…
5,000 Mile Seaplane Adventure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:12
Steve McCaughey is joined by Peter Christie, Slade Rosamond, and Carter Clay to discuss their lessons and experiences learned flying with Steve on a 5,000 mile seaplane cross country. The Super Cub's first stretch was fl…
Rust's Flying Service - The Largest Seaplane Service in Alaska [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
Todd Rust the owner and operator of Rust's Flying Service the largest seaplane operator in Alaska joins Steve for a fascinating discussion of the history of Rust's and the unique experiences that you can have when flying…