In less than a week, regularly scheduled seaplane service between New York and Boston will officially become a reality.
The hotly anticipated flights will be operated by Tailwind Air, a small scheduled shuttle and charter operation based in New York. Ahead of the launch, Tailwind invited TPG and other members of the media to get a look inside the aircraft that will be used for the new route.
Tailwind will fly the same planes it uses for its other shuttle routes: the Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop. The average age of Tailwind's seaplane fleet is young, less than 5 years old. The one we toured was just 2 years old.
You board the aircraft via a ladder affixed to the floats. While it may seem challenging, Tailwind's pilots told me that they are able to accommodate mobility-impaired passengers.
There is a total of eight seats onboard, spread across four rows in a 1-1 configuration. Seating is typically a free-for-all, unless the pilots determine that the plane's weight needs to be distributed differently.
The seats are made of comfy leather and offer 35 inches of legroom. While that's more akin to a standard extra-legroom economy seat than a first-class one, they seemed perfectly comfortable for a 75-minute hop between Boston and New York.
That said, the seats in the front row seemed a bit tighter than the rest.
However, regardless of where you sit, you're guaranteed stellar window views.
That's important because the windows are the only form of entertainment available onboard. There's a reading light and air nozzle above every seat but there are no power outlets or USB ports. There's also no in-flight Wi-Fi and cellular service is spotty at the altitudes these planes fly.
AvGeeks will appreciate that the cockpit is open. Every Tailwind flight is operated by two pilots.
At the rear of the aircraft is a storage area for baggage. Every passenger is allowed to bring a standard-sized airline carry-on, weighing up to 20 pounds. Note that there's no bathroom onboard.
Tailwind's service between New York and Boston is set to launch on Aug. 3. Flights start at $395 each way and go up to as much as $795, though discounted commuter packs are available. TPG will be on one of the first flights so stay tuned for a full review of the experience!
