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| Jon Rector |
Salt Island Seaplanes, skippered by retired airline pilot Jon Rector, uses a Cessna 206 amphibious plane with room for up to four passengers.
It departs from land at Naples Municipal Airport and arrives in Key West on the water.
Flights run from Oct. 1 to April 30 every day except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
One-way tickets cost $210 per person, with bookings required at least two days in advance. Rector also offers charter flights in which clients specifiy other destinations. Prices for those vary.
Passengers accustomed to small aircraft flying will find the seaplane as "a different experience," Rector said.
First, you get a different perspective when taxiing from the airport.
"You're sitting much higher – at about the level of a 737 cockpit," Rector said.
Landing on the water can be highly variable.
"If the water's smooth, the touch down can be almost imperceptible.
"Conversely, if it's quite windy, it can be a very bumpy landing," Rector said.
Another difference is the time-savings. Rector can take folks from Naples to Key West in about 55 minutes – a trip that can take five hours to drive.
After landing on the water next to Garrison Bight Mooring Field, a boat will shuttle passengers to Conch Harbor Marina, about three blocks from Key West's downtown. That's another eight minutes. There's no dealing with the airport in Key West.
With all of the water in and around Southwest Florida, one might think Rector has a lot of competition.
He doesn't. Rector knows of only four seaplane charter operations in Florida other than his own: Those are in Key West and Miami.
A longtime seaplane operator, Capt. Mark Futch, of Boca Grande's pioneer Futch family, recently eased out of providing charter flights to focus on aviation work for the motion picture industry and instructing private students.
If you're interested in flying with Rector, know that this is seasonal service that will run in Southwest Florida from October through April.
From May through September, Salt Island Seaplanes moves to Houghton, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to provide charter flights to Isle Royale National Park. There, it's known as Royale Air Service.
Rector and his family, the aircraft mechanic and family move along with the business.
"It's hectic at times, but it's nice to enjoy the better part of the weather in both places," Rector said.
Futch, who owns a restored 1941 Grumman G-44 Widgeon seaplane, long has combined work as a fishing guide and flying.
He said a lot of his seaplane students are from Germany, Italy and France, but have second homes in Southwest Florida.
He's friends with Rector and with local novelist Randy Wayne White. The three recently flew in Rector's Cessna seaplane for some oyster-collecting near Charlotte Harbor.
Futch loves seaplanes for "the freedom they give you to go places."
Rector added that for his passengers, "it's an adventure. It's not just going from Point A to Point B."
At a glance
•What: Charter air service from Naples to Key West
•Who: Jon Rector, Salt Island Seaplanes
•Where: Based at Naples Municipal Airport
•Website: SaltIslandSeaplanes.com
•Phone: 239-263-7258
Story and photos: http://www.news-press.com
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