News Archive

New SPA ‘Water Landing Directory’ now available, includes listing for Pennsylvania Lake just opened to seaplanes

The latest edition of the Seaplane Pilots Association’s Water Landing Directory is now available. Among the highlights of the fifth edition is a listing for Raystown Lake in central Pennsylvania, which has just been opened to seaplane operations.

“SPA’s Water Landing Directory, 5th Edition, is the most comprehensive on the market,” said Robert A. Richardson, SPA executive director. “We canvassed federal, state, and local water resource management agencies in a major effort to update and expand our listings. This newest directory contains six percent more information than the previous edition.”

For ease of use, everything pertinent to a landing area is categorized by state. Each state listing begins with a digest of federal, state, and local regulations governing seaplane operations. Telephone and fax numbers are included for each of the regulating agencies.

Individual water landing areas and seaplane bases are categorized by city. The listings include everything a seaplane pilot needs to know such as location with reference to latitude/longitude and local radionavigation aids, hours attended, telephone numbers, landing lanes, mooring facilities, and services available. Many listings include easy-to-read illustrations.

SPA’s Water Landing Directory also includes flight-planning charts that allow seaplaners to “eye ball” possible cross-country routes. Especially valuable to pilots operating non-amphibious aircraft, the regional charts show graphically the water landing areas with fuel and seaplane-accessible customs facilities.

SPA’s Richardson highlighted the listing for a new seaplane destination, Raystown Lake water landing area near Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

“Near the geographic center of Pennsylvania, this water surface is ideally positioned for all seaplaners to enjoy,” said Richardson. “We’ve been working for over five years to open this splendid lake to seaplanes.”

Richardson said that opening the lake was a “major victory” because Pennsylvania has relatively few water landing areas. He offered thanks to Jeff Krause, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers biologist, for his successful efforts to make Raystown Lake seaplane accessible.

According to SPA’s Water Landing Directory, Raystown Lake offers multiple landing lanes. Both tiedown and beaching/mooring facilities are available. Local attractions include a water park and multiple restaurants and lodging facilities. Camping is also available.

The Water Landing Directory is “cockpit friendly”—conveniently sized at 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches for use in the aircraft and spiral-bound to lay flat when open.

SPA’s Water Landing Directory, 5th Edition, is available through the Seaplane Pilots Association at $19 for SPA members, $38 for non-members. Call 301/695-2083 or visit the SPA Web site at www.seaplanes.org to order.

The Seaplane Pilots Association represents some 6,500 members worldwide.

98-3-030

August 13, 1998