#60 - Old Pilot Bold Pilot Blaine Bjarnarson

Responding to an advert on Facebook, Cathy Babis is joining David Geers on a journey around Australia in his Searey amphibian, taking around 60 days with many incredible stops along the way! Follow their journey with the link below!https://www.100asa.com.auBuy my kids book Marty the Mallard from me directly!https://forms.gle/BaR42kZAq7SPWiXPAFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriber

Last year in the month of April, I embarked on what would end up being one of the most exciting weeks of my aviation career, training 7 highly experienced pilots how to fly the floating hull aircraft on a 75-year-old Republic Seebee. I had always dreamt of flying the seebee, but never before had I even seen one until I was in formation with the one I was about to instruct on, sitting in a Gazelle helicopter with the great man and my guest today, Jim Whalley at the controls. 

Every seaplane pilot has dreamt of doing this at one stage, packing their suitcase, requesting an upgrade to business but getting shafted in economy for 14 hours, ok maybe not that part, but all seaplane pilots look at flying in Alaska as one of the pinnacles in the industry, and Aussie pilot Ollie O’Halloran is doing just that. Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us

A self-confessed lucky bugger who answered a phone call back in the early 80’s that changed the direction of his career forever, John Ramsden took that opportunity and has flown seaplanes around the world including both the radial and turbine mallard, the twin otter and continues flying today in the Cessna caravan amphibian. A true Aussie seaplane legend who doesn’t mind a beer either.Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram!https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:• Nationwide Advocacy• Protection of Seaplane access to waterways• Water Flying Magazine• The Water Landing Directory app• The Seaplane Flight Training Directory• Events and Splash-Ins• Safety Seminars• Scholarship programs for Seaplane Training• Discounted Seaplane Insurance Programs• Numerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us 

Gary was halfway through his flight training for his commercial licence when his dream of becoming an airline pilot changed. He discontinued his training, became a real-estate agent and got into sales. An add for a sales job at Icon came to his attention and now Gary spends his days selling one of the worlds most popular new flying boats.Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us  

Jenna was once a helicopter pilot but is now the business manager of the Mallards I fly… yes yes yes, that makes her my boss, but she’s a great boss, well really a leader because she does a great job at what she does and I’m so proud and excited to have her on the podcast.Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us  

When anyone talks about twin engine flying boats, they think of the Grumman aircraft, the Goose, Widgeon, Mallard and Albatross. Yes ok, there are others, the Catalina for example, but they are all very old. We only just heard of the rebirth of the Albatross a couple of episodes ago, but that’s a long way away and is a huge aircraft. The Gweduck could be one of the more popular private flying boats coming to the market!Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us  

She has chased jobs around the world, and is now in a small commuter airline, but has some great stories to tell from her experiences in the seaplane world. Katie is a very cheery girl who brings in great positivity to any conversation!Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us  

There’s been a lot of talk lately about this project, with news articles, videos and multiple interviews available online and with any ambitious project such as this, there is certainly anticipation and expectation, along with scrutiny, and as much as AAI have a cohort of people passionately getting on board in a show of support, they certainly have their doubters as well. Dan shares an update on the companies progress and plans for the future.Support On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us 

Ian discusses how insurance works and specifically insurance in the seaplane world. It’s a conversation a little bit different than the normal but I’m sure you will all learn something new just as I did!EPISODE NOTES TEMPLATESupport On the Step via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/thatmallardguyFollow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/Check out my YouTube Channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6O4NEHd-Q5StSNLLfbjuw?view\_as=subscriberSeaplane Pilots Association:On the Step is proudly sponsored by the Seaplane Pilots Association. Join today to support the association that is built to support their community. Membership benefits include:Nationwide AdvocacyProtection of Seaplane access to waterwaysWater Flying MagazineThe Water Landing Directory appThe Seaplane Flight Training DirectoryEvents and Splash-InsSafety SeminarsScholarship programs for Seaplane TrainingDiscounted Seaplane Insurance ProgramsNumerous other members only benefitsJOIN NOW!https://seaplanepilotsassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1nfgg7k09exqp0/ https://seaplanes.org.au/join-us