Flying on the DHC-2 Beaver With Gulf Island Seaplanes

The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver has been a workhorse on the West Coast of British Columbia for over 70 years. First introduced in 1948, the DHC-2 Beaver has since gained a legendary reputation among bush pilots and aviation enthusiasts for its excellent performance, reliability and iconic appearance.

As a testament to the outstanding durability and capabilities of this aircraft, many DHC-2 Beavers are still flying today, more than 50 years after the last of the aircraft was built in 1967. At Gulf Island Seaplanes we are honoured to be able to fly this wonderful aircraft, and we plan to continue for many years to come.

Thanks to its legendary reputation and longevity, the DHC-2 Beaver is often the first aircraft many of us picture when we think of a floatplane. Although the Beaver can also be found with wheeled and ski-based landing gear, the qualities of this aircraft make it an outstanding floatplane that is well-suited to the West Coast.

Now part of our floatplane fleet, here is C-FHRT serving with now-defunct Tyee Airways at Sakinaw Lake in 1976. Photo credit to Doug Martin.
With numerous upgrades and regular maintenance, many DHC-2 Beaver floatplanes are still flying today – including one of our very own aircraft registered as C-FHRT. One of our customers recently spotted C-FHRT, and remembered how they had flown in that very same aircraft over 45 years ago under a different airline at Sakinaw Lake in 1976.
C-FHRT pictured with several upgrades and a new paint job later in 2021.

Gulf Island Seaplanes offers regularly scheduled and chartered floatplane services to a number of destinations on the beautiful West Coast of British Columbia.

With countless charter destinations to choose from, Gulf Island Seaplanes is your link to bustling cities, charming towns, remote inlets and picturesque islands across Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Lower Mainland.

As part of our flight services, we also provide guests with opportunities to explore and witness the beautiful scenery and awe-inspiring wildlife of the West Coast. In partnership with Vancouver Island Whale Watch we offer whale watching day trips based from Silva Bay on Gabriola Island to be held on August 14th and 21st.

These whale watching day trips include round-trip flights from the floatplane terminal at Vancouver Island Airport to Silva Bay on Gabriola Island, as well as a three to four hour whale watching tour with Vancouver Island Whale Watch.

To find out more about these tours as well as the other partnered experience we offer to our clients, please visit our Experiences page.

Gabriola Island is just a short 12-minute flight away from Vancouver International Airport by seaplane, making it the ideal destination for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Call us toll-free at 1-800-665-2359 or email us at info@gulfislandseaplanes.com to find out how we can help plan your next adventure!