Insurance that stands with you and the people you care about Providing peace of mind & security Serving clients in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, BC and Yukon longlake@longlakeinsurance.ca 1-877-493-7143 www.longlakeinsurance.ca Community Minded, Prairie Proud,Western Canadian Rooted Home, Auto, Farm, Commercial, Travel, Health s Ins nd stan and an you y Serving c Manitoba, longlake@long www.longlakeinsurance.ca Comme Providi iding peace of m of mind & security FLOAT PLANES simply a variation of flying on wheels. It is a discipline that demands constant awareness of an environment that is always changing. Unlike a prepared runway, a lake offers no fixed point of reference. Conditions shift not only day to day, but hour to hour. For Charbonneau, one of the most significant adjust- ments is the level of decision-making required when arriving at a lake. “When you show up at your landing area or the lake that you’re going to, now you have to decide: ‘Am I able to actually land there or not? Am I going to be able to take off out of there as well?’” That second ques- tion, whether a safe departure will be possible, is critical. Conditions can change quickly, and what works on arrival may not hold by the time it’s time to leave. The skills required extend beyond traditional flight train- ing. “Being observant and having spatial awareness will come particularly in handy,” Bouchard said. “Recognizing hazards in the terrain and water surface – and below the surface – is paramount.” He also points to the impor- tance of practical knowledge. “One should also know a few versatile knots, as well as understand basic nautical concepts. You are essentially the captain of a water ves- sel once on the water.” For both pilots, that combination of technical skill and environmental awareness is part of what makes float fly- ing so rewarding. “Bush flying is the last form of free aviation out there,” Charbonneau said. Without the structure of controlled airspace or fixed runways, pilots take on a greater level of responsibility for each decision they make. Bouchard describes a sense of purpose through the rhythm of a single day: a cool August morning, fishermen waiting at a cabin, fuel and propane loaded because no leg should go empty, mist lifting from the water. A smooth touchdown, a quick turnaround with bacon and eggs at the dock and fresh walleye fillets on the way home. Then the day turns. The wind rises. A lightning fire spreads. Firefighters and gear are loaded for a lake no one knows. Smoke obscures the surface. The shoreline is rocky. The pilot is knee-deep in water, rope in hand, se- curing the aircraft to a tree before the wind shifts again. By dusk, after mud, ash, detours and a difficult landing back at base, his assessment was measured: “It was a good day.” For both pilots, that phrase reflects a shared understand- ing of the work. A “good day” is not defined by ease, but by preparation, sound judgment and the ability to adapt, whether carrying forward a legacy or supporting the com- munities that depend on it. When asked what they would tell someone consider- ing this career path, both emphasize commitment and self awareness. “If it’s something that interests you, you’ve just got to pursue it,” Charbonneau said. Bouchard adds a note of balance: “Be prepared to get out of your comfort zone without pushing your limit to the breaking point.” And ul- timately, he said, “If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.” It’s a mindset grounded not in pushing through condi- tions, but in knowing when to hold back. “Don’t be afraid to have to spend a night in the bush if it means coming home safe the next morning.” That variability is the job. Conditions shift, plans change, and every approach demands a fresh assessment of the water, the wind and what comes next. The questions don’t end at touchdown; they carry through every movement on the surface and into the next takeoff. What defines the work isn’t the unpredictability, but the responsibility it demands: reading conditions, respect- ing limits and making the call that keeps the aircraft, its passengers and the communities they serve connected and safe. Issue 1 – Summer 2026 27
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.