Penobscot Island Air has provided passenger service, mail, UPS and Fedex, grocery and freight delivery, sightseeing and emergency trips for island communities since it took over the duty from the previous air service in 2004. Now, the flying service is expanding its offerings with the addition of an amphibious float plane to its little fleet.
“I’ve wanted one of these for a long time,” grins owner Kevin Waters. “Being in Maine and around the water, we’ve been looking at doing this for awhile. Why this plane, this time? Because it’s a Cessna 206, like the others.” He glances out the window at two other planes, one powering up for a trip to Matinicus. “Same parts, same training. That helps make it affordable.” Kevin confesses that, although adding the float plane is a carefully considered business decision, it’s also something of a childhood dream. “It’s pretty exciting.”
“This gives us the flexibility as a company to provide additional service,” says Waters. “It allows us to go inland to some of the lakes; we back up Katahdin Air Service in Millinocket, and they back us up.”
Waters adds that, “We could potentially serve Isle au Haut now. They don’t have an airstrip, but they have a lake.” He explains that, from time to time, organizations such as home health care nursing agencies ask whether PIA flies to Isle au Haut, and he’s always had to say, “No,” because that island has no airstrip.
As an air-taxi company, Penobscot Island Air carries passengers and freight to and from Matinicus (which depends upon the service exclusively during the winter months) as well as other islands and coastal communities such as Stonington. Waters describes a few of the non-commercial services that an air service such as PIA can also render, especially once they have the “amphib” on the line. They’ve already signed an agreement with Knox County Emergency Management to provide resources for “emergency preparedness and disaster.”
“We’re on a list at the Department of the Interior, Office of Aircraft Services; when these agencies require equipment, we’re among the private contractors who are pre-qualified and can be hired. That means our pilots, our radios, our maintenance schedule all exceed the FAA’s minimum standards. We’re above what we have to be to fly regular commercial. So, if U.S. Fish and Wildlife needs us, or NOAA, the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Justice, EPA…if they need something, we can do more of that now.” He describes working with the University of Maine a few years ago on a seal-tracking project, and how NOAA has a right-whale project coming up.
“Floats give us additional capabilities for over-water operations,” Waters explains. “This means we could fly with a lower ceiling. We can also be more useful for search and rescue.” He describes how, when a Port Clyde fishing boat went adrift not long ago, PIA was called to help look for it, but couldn’t assist much with the equipment they had. If the sea conditions were right, the air service could potentially deliver necessary parts to both commercial and pleasure vessels while at sea, or safely air-drop items if necessary. The float plane will be equipped with marine VHF as well as other radios, enabling communication with local mariners as well as agencies such as the Marine Patrol.
The Cessna 206 G-model came from Alaska, was purchased in Florida, and earlier this spring was in Greenville, Maine getting some work done to it before beginning service out of the Knox County Airport in Owls Head in May.
“We’re calling it ‘Island Spirit,'” says Waters, with obvious pride. The flashy red, white and blue American flag paint job will stay, at least for the time being.
Eva Murray is an author and freelance writer who lives on Matinicus.