Harbour Air Cessna Grand Caravan, C-GHAN, arriving in Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre dock for passengers to clear Canadian customs. The aircraft was operating trans-border flight #1612 from Lake Union (W55) is Seattle, Washington. This 55 minute downtown-to-downtown service was suspended for about two years as a result of Covid-19 flight but resumed in the summer. Many of the passengers work in the tech sector in Seattle or Vancouver. Harbour Air imported the aircraft to Canada in late March 2022.

Of Harbour Air's fleet of 14 Beavers and 22 Otters, only one of each type are adorned in this eye-catching Canada sesquicentennial colour scheme, applied in 2017. This is an early DHC-2 frame, of 1949 vintage.

First delivered to the US Army's Arctic Test Center at Fort Greely, AK as U-1A 58-1720 in 1959, this Otter was civilianised as N41755 in 1974 and converted by Aeroflite to Vazar turbine standard at Vancouver for Harbour Air over winter 2005/06.

Another subdivision of Harbour Air is Saltspring Air, specialising in serving Salt Spring Island, BC and the other Gal Islands in BC. This Otter is notable in that it has maintained the same registration ever since first being delivered to McMurray Air Service, Uranium City, SK in 1959.

The Whistler Air division of Harbour Air provides services to Whistler, BC and sightseeing over the Coastal Mountains, Garibaldi Provincial Park and Pemberton Ice Cap. First delivered to the US Army as U-1A 59-2224 in 1960, it was badly damaged on take off in Vietnam in 1969. In 1973 the wreck was sold for a mere $272, being rebuilt and sold to Kodiak Western Airlines. In 1986 it met with another serious accident while operated by Bering Air in Alaska. Rebuild and turbine conversion didn't happen till 1999, when it joined Whistler. Winter 2002/03 even saw a period of operations in Antarctica.

Painted in a smart new colour scheme, at rest on its Coal Harbour berth between services. Gulf Island's primary destination is Gabriola Island, BC. This is a 1958 Beaver which started out as US Army L-20A 57-2562

What a delightful scene, viewed from the harbour promenade.

Enjoyed a great sightseeing ride on this Otter the day before the photo. It was first delivered to the RCAF in 1960 as 9402 and was eventually turbine-modified at Harbour Air's Vancouver airport facility over winter 2002/03, at which time their standard panoramic window conversion was also carried out. Between the yellow-trimmed Harbour Air scheme applied at that time and the current blue/yellow livery, it operated for a period in special Royal Roads University colours.

Gulf Island's Beaver C-FOCN moving out for departure as Seair's C-FZZJ arrives

Beaver vs speedboat! Began life as US Army L-20A 58-2025 in 1959

The view as we begin our sightseeing flight aboard Otter C-FHAA, with the Vancouver cruise liner terminal behind. The Beavers are C-FWAC, C-FEBE and C-FFHA, the Caravan C-GIGO

First delivered to the US Army as U-1A 55-3273 in 1956, this Otter saw service in Vietnam before being rebuilt in Canada as CF-BEU. After service with a range of Canadian operators, it became N81FW on floats with Fresh Water Adventures in 2005 before acquisition by Harbour Air in 2006. That winter they converted it to Vazar DHC-3T standards at Vancouver airport and it joined their growing fleet in 2007 as C-FHAD, initially in the then-current yellow colours but without titles, which weren't added till 2010.

Acquired from Air Madagascar (5R-MVC) in 2018

This 1969 Twin Otter joined Harbour Air in January 2022, using a registration previously allocated to an Aero Commander

Harbour Air has two Caravans but only this one carries their standard colours

Backed by Queen Elizabeth, C-FHAJ began life in 1961 on delivery to the Union of Burma Air Force as UB-657 as one of nine shipped to Burma in crates. Six were repatriated to Canada in 1989 and this one was purchased by the Aros Parachute Club of Sweden after conversion to Vazar turbine, becoming SE-KOX. Next registered N406H to Wipaire in 2005, it joined Harbour Air next year as floatplane C-FHAH in their yellow-trimmed colour scheme. In 2007 it became 9H-AFA with Harbour Air (Malta) to operate between Valetta and Gozo, then shipped home by sea to rejoin the main fleet in 2012, now as C-FHAJ

New with Seair in 2013

Resplendent in special national colours, this is the oldest Otter still flying. As the third DHC-3 to come of the line in 1952, it was delivered in December to Arthur Fecteau, a veteran French Canadian bush pilot based in Senneterre, Québec. After eventually passing to Harbour Air, it entered their Vancouver airport facility in 2000 for turbine conversion, and despite its grand old age, with its modern avionics and power-plant it is one of the best equipped Otters still flying.

Looking smart in its latest colours as it returns to its berth, this is one of around a dozen Beavers that have recently been in service with Harbour Air

In a fleet dominated by DHC floatplane types, two Cessna Caravans also operate, this one in non-standard colours