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 Heathrow.

Occasionally, to ensure the comfort and safety of our customers we may have to cancel a service due to high winds, poor visibility or low cloud ceilings. In most cases, a short delay is all that is required.

Our weather cancellation rate is currently running at 7% for the period 2007/2008 not unlike many other forms of transport in remote regions. To put it another more positive way, 93% of our more than 200 flights per month have no operating problems whatsoever.  Considering the challenging operating environment of the seaplane customers are advised that if they absolutely, positively have to be somewhere at a particular time perhaps the use of another form of transport should be considered.

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 route to or from your location may have weather conditions below our legal limits. Conditions can also change very quickly.

3. What weather forecasting facilities does Loch Lomond Seaplanes use?

At LLS we use a multitude of aviation and marine weather web sites, however, forecasts, unless they are extreme, such as advising of an approaching hurricane, are almost always wrong to some degree.

Weather forecasts provide a big picture view of the country, but unfortunately don`t help a great deal on a local scale, particularly on the west coast and in the glens and mountains of Scotland. Actual weather reporting facilities are few and far between outside the UK`s main cities.

Telegraph Article: Bournemouth Attacks Met Office

4. What happens if our flight is cancelled?

* LLS will endeavour to advise you of the situation immediately on the contact number you have supplied.

* If you wish we will supply you with as much information as we can on the alternate travel options available to you.

* Refunds are not made if your seaplane experience is cancelled due to weather - we will rebook you on the next available tour flight.

Regrettably Loch Lomond Seaplanes cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred as a result of weather delays or cancellations - we ask our customers, particularly those breaking their tour to take special note of this clause.

Loch Lomond seaplanes understands that customers may be very disappointed if weather cancels their flight, we are too, but we cannot be responsible for any personal arrangements that you might have made to fit in with your flight.

5. Do You Fly Through the Winter Months?

From December to February we operate a standby booking service instead of our normal scheduled flights.

Our pilots check the weather weekly looking for high presure weather systems to take advantage of the excellent weather they can bring - it`s the pilots favourite flying weather.

However, sometimes the high pressure weather systems bring fog and icing which, of course, are not conducive to water operations.

If you are interested on being on standby just let the reservations team know.