Frequently Asked Questions

1. DOES BAD WEATHER AFFECT THE SEAPLANE FLIGHTS ?

As mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority all flights are subject to an assessment of the weather and water conditions by the Captain. 

In bad weather seaplanes landing on water in remote areas of the Highlands and Islands do not have the same instrument landing facilities that are available to large airliners landing at major airports such as London Heathrow. Our runways can have large waves moving down them!

Occasionally, to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers, flights may be cancelled due to high winds, turbulence, poor visibility or low cloud ceilings. In most cases, a short delay is all that is required - please see our Terms & Conditions.

Passengers are reminded that this is an outdoor experience and that the weather in the UK can be very unpredictable, even on an hourly basis. It is important that we consider your comfort and safety as well as the quality of your flight. The aircraft covers a mile every 22 seconds and, over an average tour, some 100 miles - the weather over your location might be acceptable but perhaps not on the tour route at high speed. You can be cancelled right up to departure time - it doesn’t happen often. LLS flies around 8,000-10,000 passengers a year on over 800 flights. If you would find a weather cancellation too disappointing we would suggest another experience which is not weather dependent.

2. THE WEATHER IS OK AT MY DEPARTURE POINT – WHY IS THE FLIGHT CANCELLED ?

The weather patterns in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland can produce great differences in conditions only a few miles apart. It may be that the tour route has weather conditions below our legal limits or that winds aloft, even in a beautiful blue sky, are generating severe turbulence. 

Conditions can also change very, very quickly. So, you may have reasonable weather above your head but don’t forget we cover some 60-100 miles at around 160 miles per hour on our tour and the weather just a couple of miles away may not be suitable at all. Equally, often the weather at our departure point is not so good but just a couple of miles away there is unlimited visibility and clear blue skies.

Flights will not be conducted if it is turbulent or the horizontal visibility is poor. However, grey skies often provide the most interesting views.

A weather assessment is normally made around 8pm the evening before our flights and around 8am on the day of the flights - if there are any issues messages will be sent by email and SMS but customers are encouraged to call for a weather report if they have any concerns.

3. DO YOU FLY THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS ?

Flights are available all year round. Winter can be the best time of year. The colours are magnificent and the air can be much smoother. There is nothing better than a winter high pressure system for providing perfect flying conditions. The deep browns found on the hillsides with a sprinkling of snow on the mountain tops provide breathtaking views.

Of course, occasionally we can expect fog and icing conditions and these are not conducive to water operations. Daylight hours also reduce significantly and we can only schedule flights from 10am until 3pm in the depths of winter.

4. WILL I GET AIR SICK ?

Interestingly, only one in around 5-600 of our passengers will get a little queasy, usually, due to taking lots of photographs and enjoying the scenery through a very restricted 2 inch square camera or phone viewer.

In many respects, there is no such thing as motion/air sickness as the symptoms are principally induced by the behaviour of the individual. It’s mainly caused by the eyes and the brain receiving conflicting messages – one senses motion, the other does not, so, for example, reading or playing computer games in a car could bring on the symptoms or, as mentioned, so could taking lots of photographs or videos whilst moving.

Keeping in mind their effectiveness and their side effects we wouldn’t recommend travel sickness pills but would simply advise that you just look out of the window – this keeps your brain and eyes in agreement, i.e. you're moving ! You can actually get the same symptoms sitting at the movies watching something like a car chase.

5. CAN WE TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS WHILST ON BOARD ?

Yes, with the most amazing landscape in the world on view from your First Class seat you'd be mad not to - don't forget to charge your batteries - we only ask that you don't press your camera against the window as it tends to scratch the glass. 

The caveat is that the aircraft is very good indeed for viewing but it is not a professional camera platform and I'm afraid the wing can't be removed to give you a better view :-). If you hope to take professional quality aerial photographs you really need a helicopter with the door off. Also, it is our company policy that we will not reseat passengers to accommodate photographers who would prefer a different camera view.

Unfortunately, due to excessive damage to the aircraft windows, cameras with large telephoto type lenses (approx. greater than 3 inches back to end of lens) may not be used on the aircraft.

Also, please bear in mind looking at the landscape through a lens can also make even professional cameramen queasy - plus you miss the best of the experience ! See note 4 above.

Passengers ARE permitted to use their mobile phones and cameras during flight and after disembarkation but their use, for safety reasons, is STRICTLY PROHIBITED on any part of the dock or during the emergency briefing PRIOR to boarding. Passengers who do not follow this requirement will be denied boarding.

6. WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE FOR CHILDREN AND WHAT IS THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR THE CHILD PRICE WHERE APPLICABLE?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to carry children under two years of age. In addition, due to the seat belt arrangement in the seaplane, it is not possible to carry children under the height of one metre. Children under 12 years of age qualify for the CHILD price and must be sat beside a responsible adult during the flight. Child prices are not available when tickets are on sale.

7. IS THERE A PASSENGER WEIGHT LIMIT ?

The aircraft seats have a weight limit of 22 stones / 308 lbs / 139 kg. Seat Belt Extensions are not available for this seat design, however, the seat belts will accommodate passengers below this weight.

8. IS THERE A PASSENGER HEIGHT LIMIT ?

Passengers who are up to 6 feet 4 inches tall should have no great problem with boarding and seating. If you are taller please call us to discuss.

9. CAN I SELECT MY SEAT PRIOR TO BOARDING ?

The aircraft is a high wing design and provides the best platform available for viewing the landscape, however, aircraft components such as wing struts, flaps and controls will affect views.

The seats are allocated by the pilot just prior to boarding. The pilot considers the aircraft weight and balance, security, English language capability, passenger mobility and several other factors in this process - there are in fact Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations which govern the use of the seat. Being at the front of the queue has no influence in the allocation of your seat .

Unfortunately, passengers who do not accept the seat(s) allocated by the pilot may be denied boarding and will forfeit their tickets.

10. CAN I FLY ON THE SEAPLANE WHEN I'M PREGNANT?

Most restrictions quoted by airlines on flying whilst pregnant are established to reduce the cost and disruption to the airline of an in-flight diversion in the event of labour developing - not an issue for a flight on Seaplanes.

For medical information on flying whilst pregnant please read the following document - Air Travel and Pregnancy - Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

With respect to pressure and altitude changes as well as DVT concerns - the seaplane flies for a short period at very low altitudes - normally around 2,000 feet. For example, many roads throughout the UK and Europe are at a similar altitude.

11. CAN I BRING MY DOG or PET ?

We love animals but unfortunately not.