We arrived here by a short flight with Alaska Airlines from Sitka; as you will see by this MAP that the actual airport is on an island and one has to (pay and) travel on a 3 minute ferry to cross to the main island. I did notice floatplanes land here at the airport (PAKT) sometimes too, but the actual floatplane action is on a long stretch of docks, at the seaplane base (5KE).

I started my photography along the Ketchikan waterfront at the Seaplane Base of Taquan Air Service; I asked for permission to do some photography and they did not mind at all. Plenty of action to enjoy here!

This is N37756, which is a DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver with c/n 1456.
Its history dates back to its delivery on 13Feb61 as G-203 for the Government of the Republic of Ghana; it also operated for the Ghana Air Force.
It was registered as N37756 on 19Jul00 to S & S Aircraft Leasing, Ketchikan,AK and is operated by Taquan Air Service.
More on www.dhc-2.com

After reading my webpage, Wendy Walden (Tour Manager of Taquan Air) offered the follwing comment:
"Our business name is Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air. Taquan Air Service closed its doors in 1999 and Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air began a few months later in 2000. All aircraft are owned by this company and/or S&S Aircraft Leasing.

When I walked up here first N68010 was firmly tied to the dock; it was Sunday June 18th and no ships in town. The next day (the weather a little less sunny but one has to count the days it doesn't rain here). The next day (my only full day at Ketchikan) business was better and N68010 was back in action.

C/n 1243 was delivered on 18Jul58 as 57-6150 to the US Army.
It was stored at Davis Monthan from 18/02/72 to 19/02/76. Its civilian career started as N68010 for Flight Systems of Newport,CA and a newly issued Airworthiness Certificate dated 10Jun76.
The next owner was Temsco Helicopters Inc / Temsco Alaska Airines Commuter of Ketchikan,AK but I have no date for this. Next was Taku Glacier Air Inc. (Juneau,AK; date?) and Ketchikan Air Service Inc. (Ketchikan,AK), registered in June 1994.
It was reported to have amassed a total of 7,243.00 flying hours in 1998.
Its present owner S & S Leasing Inc. of Ketchikan,AK has it registered since 19Jul00.
Source: www.dhc-2.com

These floatplanes have a funny way of getting in the hangar!

Both c/n 847 (fate unknown) and c/n 809 (no.2) have been issued tailnumber N67676.

C/n 809 was delivered on 18May55 with serial 54-1676 to the US Army.
Its first civilian identity was N9771Z for one Harold J. Hansen of Seattle,WA in Jul70.
Later it became N64395 for Stikine Air Service Inc. of Wrangell,AK (no date). It was reported at Kenmore on 15Oct78. It was reregistered during Feb91 to Wings of Alaska / Alaska Juneau Aeronautics Inc. of Juneau,AK as N93AK. It was involved in an accident on 12Jul02, as can be read in the NTSB Accident Report no. ANC02LA076.
But fortunately it was repaired and on 12May03 it was registered to Venture Travel LLC. (Ketchikan,AK) and as one can see is operating in Taquan colours (see also remark on top of page by Wendy Walden of Taquan Air).
Info from: www.dhc-2.com

I was busy like a little Beaver myself with planes sailing left and right...
This is c/n 1309 and railnumber N67667 has been issued for a 2nd time (the first time was on c/n 401, which is still about..).
This Beaver was delivered 17Feb1959 with serial 58-1986 to the US ARMY. It was stored at Davis Monthan 13Apr72 to 06May75 and was registered N67044 for Civil Defense of Clearwater,FL but this was again cancelled 01jun79.
Then it became C-GWPF for Winde Pacific Forest Products, BC and Wolverine Air leased it in 1981.
Harbour Air flew 'WPF in 1982 and it was noted with titles on 24Mar83 at Vancouver, BC. Registration was cancelled in Aug89.
Airworthy on 15Aug89 it was at some point registered as N450DB to David P. Brown & Jacqueline L. Brown of Juneau,AK. It then saw use with Wings Air Group Inc., also of Juneau,AK.
Tailnumber N67667 was assigned for Venture Travel LLC. of Ketchikan,AK and the registry was revised for Taquan on 06Dec04.
Taquan Air Service had closed it doors in 1999 and Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air began a few months later in 2000.
From: www.dhc-2.com

On 22Sep08 it was registered to Blue Aircraft LLC of Ketchikan,AK.

On 20May2019 this DHC-2 Beaver floatplane N67667, operated by Taquan Air, was destroyed after impacting the waters of the Metlatkatla Harbor, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska. The pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated on a commuter flight.

Don't forget to notice the fantantastic scenery in the background!

N1018A sits here securely moored.

C/n 1456 was delivered on 13Feb61.
As G-203 it served the Government of the Republic of Ghana / Ghana Air Force.
It moved to these parts and was registered as N37756 for S & S Aircraft Leasing / Taquan Air on 19Jul00. Taquan Air Service closed shop in 1999 and Venture Travel LLC dba Taquan Air got operations restarted in 2000.
More on: http://www.dhc-2.com/id977.htm

All these DeHavilland Beavers are more or less operated by commercial companies; but many also survive in privat ownership. There was a discussion on that fine and informative forum DHC2 Beaver (on Yahoo) and one of the members painted a clear picture of the costs of ownership and operating a DHC-2-

"Many pilots over the years have discussed what it would take to do some kind of group ownership. Here is a formula that we came up with that my not be the most accurate but works great for comparing aircraft to aircraft.
Hourly fuel cost times 3 determines hourly operating cost. Example: DHC-2 Beaver - 25 gallons per hour times $4 per gallon times 3 equals $300 per hour. (25 x 4 = 100 x 3 = 300) Fuel price is the best way to keep the operating cost tied to the change in economy.
The fuel usage is the quick and dirty way to judge the operating cost of the aircraft. The multiple of 3 brings the flight hours required into a practical number to work with.
Now the second part to the formula: At least 150 hours per year if the plane is payed for. At least 300 hrs/yr if making payments towards a used aircraft and at least 500 hrs/yr towards a new aircraft. Whether or not you fly the plane the annual cost will be the minimum hours per year times the hourly rate minus the fuel cost. Example: 150 X $300 = $45,000/yr.
If you fly the plane very little then subtract $15,000 of fuel. $30,000/yr should pay for insurance, hangar, Annual and reserves for engine, propeller and accessories overhaul. The number may seem high but, the less a plane is operated the more expenses you'll have per hour (many parts have calender life limits).
Insurance is fixed and not required if you're the sole owner. The cost of hangar space is different everywhere for everyone but, if you had partners the hangar owner will want compensation.
You may have a way to keep the maintenance cost lower, if so, lower you're minimum hours needed flown per year. Say you own a private airstrip, you're an IA mechanic and don't insure.
Take your minimum hours to 50 hrs/yr. $10,000/yr for reserves and basic preventive maintenance is not out of line for a 450 horsepower 7 place $350,000 investment just kept airworthy.
Back to the 150 hrs/yr base.
Say there is 3 partners on this Beaver, shared responsibility is 50 hr/yr or 4.2hrs/month. When I take the plane flying I record the hours flown in the flight log and pay $300 per hour. Of course if I don't fly this month at all I just write a check for (4.2 x $300 - 25 x $4) $840. After a couple years go by we find that we're over paying at 150 hrs/yr so we readjust to 125hrs/yr or give back money at the end of the year.
Another option is to put the excess amount into CD's and Bonds and use it for self insurance. Once the plane begins to bring in too much money it's time to buy a second anyway and the self insurance fund can be used towards both aircraft."

Klaus

DHC-2 N9290Z with the beautiful Tongass Narrows as a backdrop.
Tongass Narrows is Ketchikan’s "main street"; this channel is used by cruise ships, commercial tugs, fishing boats, and of course floatplanes….
Some history on c/n 1387: built in 1959, it was delivered as 58-2055 to the US Army.
It joined other Beavers in the storage yard at Davis Monthan AFB from 07Feb72 to an unspecified date.
It was registered as N9290Z for Harold J.Hansen of Seattle,WA (date?).
For a period it was leased to Island Air Service and it went to Kodiak Western circa 1977.
Robert G. Stanford / Redemption Inc. (Island Air Service Inc., Kodiak,AK) became an owner (date?) and Taquan Air Services Inc. of Ketchikan,AK bought it in 1998.
Kirk M. Thomas of Ketchikan,AK had his name on the long list of owners as per 03Dec99. Pacific Airways was listed as owner/operator on www.dhc-2.com
FAA’s database (in Nov.2006) lists its present owner as Radial Power Enterprises LLC of Ketchikan,AK since 11May05.

Fatal news on 23JUL2010: "Pacific Airways DHC-2 Beaver crashed on the former Ketchikan Pulp Company landfill site early Friday morning, killing the only occupant, pilot Josh Murdock."

At Promech they frowned upon my presence on the dock, but maybe that was because at first I had seen no one around to ask permission to 'trespass' here.

We see DHC-2 N64397 being prepared for it spassengers and a speedy departure.

this is c/n 760 and it was delivered on 31Jan55 as 53-7943 to the US Army.
It was registered as N64397 to that familiar name in "world-of-Beavers": Kenmore Air Harbor Inc. of Kenmore,WA (but no date of this).
During June 1992 it was registered to its present owner and operator: Promech Inc.of Ketchikan,AK.
It did get registered to Vincent D.Ditmore (Ketchikan,AK) during Sep93 but this may have fallen thru or was reversed as since 07Oct05 it has been registered again to PM Air LLC.
More photos: www.dhc-2.com

Promech also operated these impressive Turbine Otters; one is N270PA, a DHC-3 with c/n 270.
It has been registered to Pantechnicon Aviation Ltd, of Minden,NV since 14Jan97. It was built in 1958.

You'll find a nice online video to watch at this link:
http://vimeo.com/79908357 About 27mins of bush flying from these docks.

Update nov.2014: Promech Air (Z3, Ketchikan Int'l) ceased offering scheduled services with effect from October 1 ch-aviation has learned. Airline sources state that the carrier may revisit the decision again in May 2015 but for the meantime, has chosen to focus on sightseeing flights to Misty Fjords National Monument and Neets Bay Salmon Hatchery as well as air taxi and charter operations.
The south-east Alaskan carrier's fleet includes four DHC-2 Beavers and five DHC-3s and Promech had offered scheduled services between Ketchikan Int'l, Craig, Klawock, Hollis, Metlakatla, Thorne Bay, and Waterfall.
Source: ch-aviation

N959PA is another modified DHC-3; it has c/n 159 and is with Pantechnicon Aviation Ltd since 25Nov97. It was built in 1956.

Crashed as a result of a mid-air collison with DHC-2 N952DB over George Inlet near Ketchikan on 13May19.
The 5 occupants of the DHC-2 sustained fatal injuries. The
DHC-3 pilot sustained minor injuries, 9 passengers sustained serious injuries and 1 passenger sustained fatal injuries.
aviation-safety.net/database/

This stylish departure is done by c/n 416 N1108Q.
It was delivered on 11Dec52 as 51-16851 to the US Army.
As N1108Q it was registered to Kenmore Air Harbor Inc. around 1985.
Next was Temsco Helicopters Inc. of Ketchikan,AK (no date).
During August 1993 Michael B. Salazar of Ketchikan purchased it. Six years later, on 16Apr99 it was put on the market for $315,000.00 by Booker Aircraft Sales of Kelowna,BC.
Several years later we see it being registered to Kevin M. Hack of Ketchikan; 02Mar00.
Photos and history: http://www.dhc-2.com/id543.htm

Since 07Oct05 N1108Q has been with Promech (PM Holding LLC).

Another take off, but camera at the ready...
This is c/n 845, which was delivered on 06Dec55 as 54-1701 to the US Army.
As a RU-6A Beaver it served with 146th RR Co in Vietnam
Civvie street began as N64393 for Temsco Helicopters Inc. of Ketchikan,AK with an Airworthiness Certificate issued on 19Dec79.
Flair Air has been named as an owner or operator but I have no details.
Next we see South East Alaska (Ketchikan, 1981) and Steven K. Schrum (Ketchikan, Feb94).
It stayed in Ketchikan but transferred to Mink Bay Partners in May95.
Next we see Kevin & William Hack operating it in ProMech colours.
Finally we see it registered to PM Holding LLC. of Ketchikan,AK on 07Oct05.

Source and photos: www.dhc-2.com

Came across N64393 again at Campbell River's Seaplane Base 05Oct19 - see my CANADA 2019 report.

YouTube.com has some nice video footage of bushplane flying: Alaska Bush Pilots with Jared Leto
Chip Porter calls Ketchikan his home and has the finest photos of these parts: www.chipporteralaska.com

To: Alaska 2006