At last! Seaplane activity at St. Thomas's old airboats ramp!
They aren't the red and white Grumman Goose or Mallards, but newer De Haviland Twin-Otters, on floats operated by Seaborne Aviation.
"Now we can start our BVI service," said a Seaborne dispatcher and spokeswoman, Sandy Isle. "We originally had service slated for more than a year ago."
San Juan service into Isla Grande was also in the works, but Hurricane Georges stepped in and destroyed that ramp.
The BVI service, expected to start in February, will fly into West End, Tortola, with a schedule to be announced.
The St. Thomas ramp was the scene of much V.I. commerce and history between 1964, when Charles Blair started Antilles Airboats, and 1989, when Hurricane Hugo brought V.I. Seaplane Shuttle to a watery demise, scattering aircraft over the St. Croix ramp like so many Tinker Toys.
Passengers are delighted, now that the politics and haggling have ended.
"It's just so nice to have them back where they belong," said A. J. Phares,a local librarian and former regular "Goose" passenger.
On St. Croix, Seaborne Aviation is building a hangar and a new terminal at the old Christiansted ramp, noted the company's president, Charles Slagle. Meantime, service continues into the dock location in downtown Christiansted.