Priem met fellow pilot Fabric Bedu while serving in the air force, and Bedu joined the operation three years ago. Now Bedu is part owner, helping Priem propel the business forward. They hired pilot and technician, Sam Tardits, also bilingual in French and English, to serve the local tourist industry, which relies quite a bit on clients from France. Maintenance and reception personnel complete the operation at St-Étienne-des-Grès, which centers on a hydrobase on the Saint-Maurice River, near its confluence with the Saint Laurent River at Trois-Rivières.

Depending on the weather and daylight, Hydravion can operate up to eight 20 to 40-minute flights each day per Kodiak—carrying seven to nine passengers—with 10 to 15 flights per day total being the norm for the company. A minimum load to break even on the Kodiak is 4 passengers, so if fewer than that arrive, a Cessna 180 or 206 on floats is used. With a low stall speed of 48 knots, the Kodiak can tuck into tight spots on the rivers and lakes that weave through the region, creating natural parks and places to beach and camp.

The Pratt & Whitney PT6A’s dispatch reliability and quick turnaround times have been a game changer for Hydravion and its tight schedule. “The PT6 starts every time, whatever the conditions,” says Bed. “You won’t have any warmup time, even when it’s cold.” The timeline also benefits from the carbon-fiber Aerocet amphibious floats that keep leaks to a minimum—floats on the piston fleet required a pump out after every flight to maintain proper weight and balance.

The noise footprint improves too, with the Kodiak’s five-blade props registering significantly lower (77 dBa or less) than the two- or three-blade props of the piston airplanes. They also take off and land in less distance and depart at a greater rate of climb. Inside the cabin, Hydravion can supply a headset to every occupant, with reduced noise and fatigue to both passengers and pilots. “For us, it was a revelation,” says Bedu.

The Kodiak 100s expand Hydravion’s mission capability to remote outposts in the Canadian wilderness, with its ability to cruise at 10,000 feet MSL, fly under instrument flight rules, and reach speeds up to 165 knots. Its demonstrated crosswind and tailwind components allow for flexibility in takeoff and landing.

One concern with the acquisitions at the beginning was parts support, particularly vital for a commercial operation. “It’s working well,” says Bedu, “because Daher has its parts marketplace online,” allowing for easy selection and express shipment. All in all, the Kodiak makes an ideal choice for Hydravion’s business, maximizing the return on their investment.