Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (FBS)

Friday Harbor Seaplane Base operates as a public-use seaplane facility owned by the Port of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington, serving as a vital transportation link connecting the San Juan Islands to the greater Seattle metropolitan area. Located at 204 Front Street within the Port of Friday Harbor Marina, the seaplane base has maintained an impeccable safety record since its establishment in 1988, operating scheduled passenger service and charter operations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The passenger terminal features a comfortable lounge area designed specifically for seaplane operations, with modern amenities including complimentary seating, climate control, and beverage services offering soda and bottled water for purchase. The facility provides convenient access with plenty of free short-term and long-term parking available directly adjacent to the terminal, making it easy for passengers to transition between ground and water-based transportation. Operational infrastructure includes two designated seaplane landing areas on Friday Harbor: runway 3W/21W measuring 10,000 x 2,000 feet and runway 12W/30W measuring 6,000 x 1,000 feet. The base processes approximately 8,600 annual aircraft operations, with 53.5% consisting of air taxi flights and the remainder general aviation operations, making it one of the busiest seaplane facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Seasonal flight operations typically run from May through mid-October, with Friday Harbor Seaplanes operating multiple daily scheduled flights between South Lake Washington (Renton) and various destinations including Roche Harbor. Flight durations average approximately 50 minutes, though departure and arrival times may vary based on weather conditions and other operational factors affecting floatplane operations.