Seaplane Pilots Association Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board: Phillip Lockwood
Email Phillip: phil@lockwood.aero
Phillip began his aviation career as a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology’s specialized School of aeronautics in 1982 with a bachelor of science in Air Commerce and Flight technology.
He has been an active pilot since 1978 with over 3,000 hours accumulated in more than 100 different types of aircraft. Phillip has much experience in the field of evaluating and improving the performance and control harmony of Light Sport Aircraft.
An avid Photographer, Phil was drawn into the world of wildlife photography and filming in 1985 with an offer to assist Des and Jen Bartlett in The Namib desert of South Western Africa as they worked on a cover story for National Geographic magazine and a one hour film special called Survivors of the Skeleton Coast. Phil also flew camera missions for Survival Anglia and BBC.
Drawing on his experience as a wildlife camera plane pilot, Phillip designed and built the first Air Cam, an innovative twin-engine camera plane, for a special National Geographic research project about the Ndoki Rain forest in northern Congo. Later, Phillip oversaw the development and production of the Air Cam, as a fast-build kit plane which is currently produced by Phillip’s Lockwood Aircraft Corp. The popularity of the Air Cam continues to grow along with the enticing Air Cam videos that promote flying just for fun!
Phillip also serves as president and CEO of Lockwood Aviation Supply, a company he founded in 1989, now the largest Service Center for Rotax Aircraft engines in North America and a major source for all types of Aircraft parts and accessories for the Homebuilt and light aircraft market. Another company, Lockwood Aviation Repair, is the only FAA licensed repair station (L2DR339H) that specializes, specifically, in the repair and overhaul of Rotax Aircraft engines.
Since 1992 Phillip has donated much of his time to the development of improved operation and maintenance procedures for Rotax aircraft engines and the teaching of these methods offering his popular Rotax service seminars at aviation events across the country including EAA AirVenture and Sun ’n Fun. Also located in Sebring FL is Phil’s Rotax training school which has become the number one choice of pilots, builders and mechanics seeking Rotax approved technical training.
Phillip is also an avid Seaplane pilot and serves that community as the Current Chairman of the Seaplane Pilots Association and Chairman of the Seaplane Pilots Foundation.
Phillip was one of the founders of the Sebring LSA Expo in 2004, a successful tradeshow based in Sebring which continues today.
He has served as a board member of LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufactures Association since 2003.
In 2013 Phil was inducted into EAA’s Sport Aviation Hall of Fame.
Phil is also the current president and an active member of the Sebring EAA chapter 1240.
President: Stephen Williams
Email Stephen: swilliams@mecoseal.com
Call Stephen: 207-350-2120
Steve Williams lives on Georgetown Island Maine where he is co-owner in Woodex Bearing Company, a manufacturer of bearings and mechanical shaft seals. Williams studied engineering at the state university and worked as a machinist and production engineer at Woodex Bearing Company.
Steve started flying 34 years ago, adding Commercial and Instructor ratings, and accumulating 5800 hours of PC time mostly in tailwheel aircraft and seaplanes. He currently flies a Cessna185 on amphibs along with his wife Lisa Reece who holds a commercial seaplane rating and heads up the Maine Aeronautics Association, a grass roots pilot's organization serving Maine and New England.
Steve's PIC time includes extensive cross country time across US, Mexico, and Eastern Canada which includes time camping out of plane, canoeing, and fishing. Three decades of flying throughout the state has given him an intimate knowledge of Maine seaplane activity.
SPA Field Director activities involve advocacy and educational opportunities throughout the state of Maine. Advocacy issues may involve speaking in front of municipal, state government bodies or individual lake association groups. Educational opportunities involve two yearly safety seminars, including a seaplane safety course taught at the New England Safety Symposium in Nashua NH.
Steve currently serves the aviation community as a Director for the SPA and the SPA Foundation, Treasurer for Maine Aeronautics Association, FAASTeam Rep., and as a member of the Wiscasset Airport Advisory Committee. He also serves the community as a Director of Boothbay Railway Museum where he currently serves as Board President.
Vice President: Lyle Panepinto
Email Lyle: lyle@southernseaplane.com
Call Lyle: 504-394-5633
Lyle's father Phillip Panepinto was the founder of Southern Seaplane Inc. Growing up in the family business, Lyle's interest in flying began at a very early age. At the age of 17, Lyle got his private license in a C-172 on floats. He acquired his land rating when he got his commercial certificate. Lyle has been flying for Southern Seaplane for over 40 years. logging in over 17,000 seaplane hours. In 2007, he and his wife Rhonda, purchased the family business from his father and brother making them sole owners of Southern Seaplane Inc. Currently Lyle is the President and Director of Operations for Southern Seaplane Inc. Lyle is also currently check airman for the FAA and has recently completed initial part 1 for the Designated Pilot Examiner.
Lyle has earned the following Certificates and Ratings: Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airplane Multi-Engine Land, Airplane Single Engine Land and Sea, Flight Instructor, Instrument Airplane, Company Instructor Pilot and Check Airman, Seaplane Industry Check Airman for the FAA (on C-180, C-185, C-206, and DHC-2 amphibians), and Designated Pilot Examiner (Initial part1 complete). Lyle is also the Founder/Director of the Seaplane Institute. He has been a member of the Seaplane Pilots Association since 1976, is the SPA Board of Directors Vice President, and is currently the SPA Field Director for Louisiana.
Treasurer: Gordon B. Richardson
Email Gordon: gordy@gbrlifeinsurance.com
Call Gordon: 979-567-3003
Gordon is the owner of Insurance Associates, Caldwell Texas, a life and health insurance agency founded in 1967. He earned his Chartered Life Underwriter Degree as well as becoming an accredited estate planner. He is a past President of Texas Associations of Life Underwriters. Gordon is also a member of the Houston Estate and Financial Planning Council.
He received his pilot certificate in 1973. He has over 5,000 hours in Commercial, Instrument, and Single Engine Land and Sea. Gordon has ratings that include T-28, P-40, and NATA formation rated. He currently flies an AT-6, Beech Bonanza, PA-18 Super Cub amphib, and a Piper J-3.
Gordon has spent many years of his life being an advocate for many organizations. He is the past District Governor for Lions Club International, past Director for Texas Lions Camp for Handicapped Children, past Director for Texas Associations of Fairs and Expositions, Honorary Director for Texas and Southwestern Cattleraisers Association, Advisory Director for 100 Club (Houston), and Chairman of TxDot Aviation Advisory Committee. He has also acquired the FFA Lone Star Farmer Award.
Board Member: Mark Baker
Email Mark: mark@aopa.org
Call Mark: 301-695-2502
Mark R. Baker is a longtime general aviation (GA) pilot and only the fifth president in the 75 year history of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) the world's largest civil aviation organization.
A native Minnesotan, Baker earned his pilot certificate in his twenties and has logged more than 7,500 hours of flight time in aircraft ranging from light seaplanes to turbines and helicopters. He holds numerous ratings and certificates, including a commercial pilot certificate, single- and multi-engine seaplane ratings, rotocraft rafting, and type ratings in the Cessna Citation 500 and 525s.
Having owned and restored numerous aircraft through the years, his current favorite is a Piper Super Cub, equipped with floats, skis, or wheels depending on the season. An enthusiastic advocate for general aviation, weekends find Baker enjoying the company of his fellow pilots at airports and seaplane bases around the country. Baker believes strongly in making general aviation accessible to more people and has welcomed numerous friends and family members, including his father, son, and two sons-in-law, into the pilot community.
Prior to his appointment at AOPA, Baker served in numerous senior executive roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Scotts Miracle-Grow Company, President and CEO of outdoor outfitter Gander Mountain Company, and Chief Merchandizing Officer and Executive Vice President for the Home Depot. Most recently, he served as CEO of Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp., a leading retailer of home improvements and garden products.
Baker, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, has also served on numerous corporate boards and has taken leadership rolls in non profit organizations including City of Hope, a biomedical research, treatment, and education institution in Duarte, CA.
In conjunction with his role as President and CEO at AOPA, Baker is Chairman AOPA's Political Action Committee, Chief Executive Officer for the AOPA Foundation, President for the International Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association representing pilots in 72 countries, and Publisher of AOPA Pilot, the world's largest and most influential aviation publication.
Board Member: John Drury
Email John: jdrury@tavares.org
Call John: 352-742-6209
John Drury ICMA-CM, AAE is an Accredited Airport Executive and Credentialed City Manager for Tavares Florida – America’s Seaplane City. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Airport Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. John holds a private pilot’s license and during his career as an Airport Manager flew the state aircraft for the Vermont Agency of Transportation to get to the ten (10) General Aviation airports he managed for the Agency as well as the Collier County Aviation Authority’s Aircraft in Naples Florida to get to the three Airports he oversaw in Southwest Florida. Over the past 30 years, his Airport Management profession had him managing the three General Aviation reliever airports for Tampa International Airport, the three GA airports for Collier County Airport Authority, the New Bedford Regional Airport in Massachusetts and the ten (10) Vermont GA airports. His City Management profession had him managing the Town of Stowe, Vermont “The Ski Capital Of the East” and most recently America’s Seaplane City in Central Florida’s Tavares – home base for the Searey seaplane manufacturing plant and Jones Brothers Seaplane Adventures. John is credited for creating the seaplane base and marina in Tavares and in 2014, served on the National Academy Of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s eight (8) member panel alongside SPA’s Executive Director for the Airport Cooperative Research Board, to study the development of seaplane facilities in the United States. He also established and maintains the website BLOG www.seaplanestories.com a continuing collection of seaplane stories. He is married to his wife Jo-Anne and they have five children.
Board Member: John Gowey
Email John: johng@kenmoreair.com
Call John: 425-482-2242
Born and raised in Seattle, John Gowey is the Director of Operations for Kenmore Air
Harbor, the largest commercial seaplane operator in the United States.
John grew up a mere two miles from the Air Harbor, and enjoyed exposure to aviation at an early age. When he wasn’t out in the back yard watching seaplanes go overhead, John would regularly ride his bike down to the Air Harbor to observe the busy summer traffic, and once in a while he was lucky enough to go for a seaplane ride.
John earned his journalism degree from the University of Washington in 1985, and began work on his private pilot’s license soon after. He began working for Kenmore Air in 1990, first on the line crew and then as a flight instructor. John became a company line pilot in 1992, flying scheduled and charter seaplane flights throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada in De Havilland Beaver and Otter aircraft.
John served as Chief Pilot for Kenmore Air from 2003 until 2012, when he was appointed to
his current position as the company’s Director of Operations. Still an active line pilot, John has logged over 16,000 hours of seaplane time, and remains both a company check airman and an FAA industry check airman. He is also an active instructor, and has recently helped train new seaplane pilots in Japan.
Board Member: Bruce Hinds
Email Bruce: brucehinds@earthlink.net
Call Bruce: 360-769-2311
Bruce Hinds has always had a fascination with Flying Boats, which of course has nothing to do with the fact that his father flew for Pan Am. As a young teen he met his dad's friend Charlie Blair and visited Antilles Flying Boats... the seed was planted. Although he's been flying for over 50 years it's only been in the last 15 that he's been able to realize his dream. He and his wife Janie fly their beautifully restored 1947 Super Seabee from Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor, WA. He says "The Bee is a perfect fit; it's a boat. it's a plane, and a tail dragger too,"
Bruce admits he knew little or nothing about seaplane flying or Seabees when they acquired Ms. Beasley, so he located and contacted a list of Bee owners in the NW and re-started a long out of production newsletter for Seabee owners/lovers that now goes worldwide. He also joined the SPA and Washington's own WSPA to learn all he could. It was a SPA Field Director that had such a big impact on him to get involved. Bruce has served on the board at WSPA, held the VP and President's positions, created their e-newsletter and their first website.
In addition to his service in WA and Seabee experience, Bruce brings over 20,000 hours of flying. He retired from Continental Airlines as a Captain, Line Check Airman, and instructor. He's flown corporate turbo props, Beech 18's and DC-3's for air cargo, as a Demonstrator Pilot for Mitsubishi on the MU-2, and Helicopters in the US Army. Since coming to our Board more than 4 years ago, he would like to see us re-ignite the passion within the Field Director Network.
Seaplane Pilots Association Emeritus Board Members
Board Member: J.J. Frey
Email J.J.: jfrey63514@aol.com
The author of How To Fly Floats, J.J. Frey is retired from EDO Corporation where he was Vice President of the Seaplane Operation. He had been with the company's Float Operation for over 35 years. Mr. Frey has been a licensed private pilot since 1964, and has flown extensively throughout Canada and the United States, including Alaska. With flight time of almost 5,000 hours, he holds an instrument rating, as well as ratings for SEL (Single Engine Land), MEL (Multi-Engine Land), SES (Single Engine Sea), MES (Multi-Engine Sea). In 1985 the FAA awarded Mr. Frey its Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his expertise and untiring support of aviation safety. In 1997 he was also given by the FAA an Award of Extraordinary Service, for his exceptional support in fostering safety as an aviation safety counselor for the Albany District office. J.J. is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the FAA, as well as a Board Member for the Seaplane Pilots Association.
How To Fly Floats was first published in the early 70's and has sold more than 200,000 copies. It is widely recognized as the most authoritative guide on the subject of flying floats, used by the majority of seaplane pilots. It has been translated into three languages.
Board Member: Walter Windus
Email Walter: wwindus@msn.com
Call Walter: 408-255-1917
Walter is a retired rocket and satellite engineer who started flight training in Provo, Utah in 1969. He got his private pilot certificate in 1970, Single Engine Seaplane rating and Multi-engine land rating in 1971, his Instrument pilot rating in 1972, and his Multi-engine Seaplane rating in 1973. He also went on to get his commercial pilot certificate, A&P, and Flight Instructor's rating.
Walter joined the Skyview Flying Club at San Jose International Airport in 1971 and became President and General Manager through 1983. The flying club operated six aircraft, two advanced trainers, and two high-performance aircraft. He also joined the Santa Clara County Airman's Association and served one year as the President of the organization and several years as Legislative Action Chairman.
Walter has served on several community and state aviation committees and commissions, including the San Jose Airport Advisory Committee, Santa Clara County Airport Siting Committee, Caltrans Aeronautics Advisory Committee, as well as a Commissioner on the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission.
Walter has been a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for over 25 years, and has been called upon numerous times to fly his Coast Guard certified seaplane for Coast Guard ordered search and rescue.
Along with being a Field Director for California, Nevada, and Utah, Walter is the past Chairman of the Seaplane Pilots Association. He is responsible for gaining seaplane access to all but two of the currently available water landing sites in California.