Forty-five years have passed since a young New York City video technician who had fallen head over heels for seaplanes founded an association to bring like-minded pilots together for camaraderie and communication.

In 1971, after buying his first seaplane, a Cessna 172 on Edo 89-2000 floats, David Quam discovered that finding fuel stops and U.S. and Canadian Customs locations on the water was next to impossible.

Bruce Dunham, operator of the Little Ferry Seaplane Base on the Hackensack River in New Jersey, where Quam based his airplane, said to call J.J. Frey at Edo for information on places to go via seaplane.

A year passed before Quam learned about an organization called the Seaplane Pilots Association, based somewhere in New Jersey. He tried to join, but the association was inactive. Quam’s answer: start a new seaplane association called the United States Seaplane Pilots Association, to distinguish it from the earlier group. USSPA was founded in 1972.

The new association was based at the Little Ferry Seaplane Base. The Dunhams lent a corner of the office, where Quam set up a desk, telephone, and file cabinet for him and a circle of volunteers to work from.

USSPA’s first brochure detailed the fledgling association’s objectives:

- To set up and maintain communications between all seaplane pilots in the U.S.
- To share ideas and experiences with members of the USSPA
- To educate the public about seaplane flying
- To encourage others to try float flying
- To attract land-rated pilots to go for water ratings
- To establish a mutual aid program for private seaplane pilots
- To promote the safety of seaplane flying
- To encourage the self-regulation of seaplane pilots
- To serve as a central liaison between state and federal governments and seaplane pilots

Membership grew, including international members, and in 1978 USSPA dropped “United States” from the name and became the Seaplane Pilots Association—SPA.

A lot has happened since Quam set up shop in a corner of the Little Ferry Seaplane Base, but those early objectives still serve as the foundation of SPA’s mission and objectives today.

Seaplane Pilots Association will have booths at two locations at AirVenture. Main booth is located in Hangar C, space numbers 3167 & 3168. Our other booth is located at the Oshkosh Seaplane Base.

If you are going to AirVenture 2017 make sure you stop by and say hi to our friendly volunteers, Field Directors, and staff. There will be demonstrations, opportunity to become a SPA member or renew your membership, buy your Corn Roast tickets, get information about seaplanes, have the chance purchase our Seaplane Pilots Association products and attire in person, and so much more!

Join over 700 seaplane pilots, seaplane fans and SPA members for live music, food, beer, raffles, a fund raising auction and just a darn good time at this year's Oshkosh AirVenture.

For full event details click here....