Sweet view of big blue

There's no denying that Lake Coeur d’Alene is stunning in the summertime.

But it is particularly beautiful from 400 feet up.

Coeur d’Alene Aviation & Maintenance offers the chance to safely enjoy that view on a scenic tour from the inside of a DeHavilland Beaver Seaplane.

Owners Kirk Lauer and Kristian Nylund said Coeur d’Alene Aviation is a new kind of operation that combines scenic tours, maintenance, and pilot training.

Safety is the foundation of the business, Lauer said. Before opening their doors seven months ago, the owners and staff underwent several training and safety programs and purchased top-of-the-line equipment. Of the many measures adopted by Coeur d’Alene Aviation, effective communication methods are paramount, Lauer said.

“The biggest issues are communication and errors in communications,” Lauer said. “That is something we preach to all our instructors and customers that we have.”

Following the seaplane crash that killed eight last July 5, pilots in the area have held multiple seminars on improving safety during a period of increased traffic, former Federal Aviation Administration pilot examiner Mike Kincaid said.

“We built our fall seminar around the discussion of the seaplane crash because eight people lost their lives when they didn’t need to,” Kincaid said. “We are getting more traffic, more planes, and this airport is getting crazy busy. So we have to make sure everyone is safe.”

Kincaid, who has flown seaplanes around Lake Coeur d’Alene for 45 years, said the owners of Coeur d’Alene Aviation sought him out to check their route and services.

“I think this new operation is doing everything they can to make sure nothing happens like that crash ever again,” Kincaid said.

Coeur d’Alene Aviation & Maintenance also uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. According to the FAA, ADS-B surveillance “improves safety and efficiency on the air and runways, reduces costs, and lessens harmful effects on the environment.”

Nylund, a Delta first officer for the Boeing 757 and 767 and captain for the Airbus 220, noted that the ADS-B technology helps not just him but also the 40 students training under Coeur d’Alene Aviation.

“When we’re flight training, we can pinpoint exactly where our people are if they’re not talking, which is awesome for traffic protection,” he said.

Coeur d’Alene Aviation is FAA certified for a private pilot license on single or multi-engine planes, commercial, float planes, instrument ratings, and flight instructor certifications.

Setting up their operation at the Coeur d’Alene Airport was both a safety and tactical decision, the owners said.

“One of the reasons that we decided to do this here rather than down at the lake is we felt it was much safer,” Lauer explained. “Another safety concern for us is what’s in the water - boaters, Jet Skis, kayakers, swimmers. It is a matter of time before there’s an incident when you’re that close.”

The Coeur d’Alene Airport has the second-most flight operations in the state, Nylund said. To keep the large and ever-growing general aviation community “safe and flying,” the owners felt it would be a great spot to set up their on-call, full-scale maintenance facility.

“There is so much untapped potential at the airport here,” Nylund said. “There are at least 350 airplanes registered specifically to this airport, so when Kirk and I saw this business opportunity, we were already well aware of what could be.”

Of all their services, Nylund and Lauer were most excited about their scenic tours running late spring through early autumn. Interested parties can either venture north around Lake Pend Oreille or south following Lake Coeur d’Alene to Harrison.

The seaplanes can fit up to five passengers with a minimum of three and cost $150 per person. If demand is there, Nylund said Coeur d’Alene Aviation & Maintenance would run the approximately 30-minute flights “from sunup to sundown."

To Lauer, a local whose Kootenai County lineage goes back to Jon Nettleton, who homesteaded Nettleton Gulch, the best part about the tours is clear to see.

“It's the scenery. You just can’t beat that view,” Lauer said while gazing out the window midflight Thursday afternoon.

Coeur d’Alene Aviation & Maintenance is hosting a grand opening on July 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Info: flycoe.com