Aspiring Air, Sea Bee Air and Float Air

Aspiring Air (Wanaka), Sea Bee Air (Auckland) and Float Air (Picton) were all small air operators that existed in the 1980s and are all now defunct. Much more detailed articles exist on the 3rd Level Blog website about each of them as follows:

• Aspiring Air
• Sea Bee Air
• Float Air

Aspiring Air was formed in 1974 at Wanaka by the Southern Districts Aero Club and primarily operated scenic, charter and training flights from the former Mount Iron airfield before the current Wanaka Airport was opened. Scheduled services started in 1984 between Christchurch and Wanaka, eventually also providing feeder services to Newmans Air later Ansett New Zealand, and also with Air New Zealand.  Aspiring Air's demise came initially from losing landing rights at Milford Aerodrome, which lost it a great deal of revenue. The article linked above claims the issue was resolved, but a serious car accident involving the owner/managing director, Barrie McHaffie saw the airline cease operation in 2011 (McHaffie subsequently passed away in 2023).

The leaflet below is from 1985 depicting the airline's De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, promoting a range of scenic flights.

Sea Bee Air started in 1976 taking over Mount Cook Airline's amphibious services in Auckland based at Mechanics Bay, flying Grumman G-44 Widgeons and a Grumman G-21A Goose. Its main service was from Auckland to Waiheke, but it also flew scheduled services to Great Barrier, Pakatoa, Kawau Island as well as to Russell/Paihia.  Sea Bee Air suffered under the price freeze in the early 1980s as it struggled to absorb fuel price increases (which were allowed due to the pressure from overseas) and the appearance of Great Barrier Airlines competing on some routes.  The emergence of fast catamarans to Waiheke and Great Barrier also saw a drop in patronage. It sought in 1988 to attract new business by flying to Mt Ruapehu, but the service was not sustainable. The leaflet below dates from around 1985, outlining scenic as well as scheduled services, highlighting the convenience of flying from near downtown Auckland.

Float Air was established in Picton in 1974 flying charter flights, flights to holiday homes and scenic flights, but it had a tortuous history in the 70s and 80s as described in the article linked to above.  A new investor saw it restarted in 1981 and by the time of this leaflet below in 1985, it was operating scenic flights and charter services between Picton and various points in Wellington, notably the then Greta Point Tavern, Evans Bay (which was located just outside the "dry" zone of the Miramar electorate, then one of the few parts of NZ where it was illegal to sell alcohol (with exceptions granted for the bars at the airport and one hotel)), Petone Foreshore and Porirua Harbour.  It was flying  a Cessna 206 carrying five passengers.  Skyferry has started competing with a scheduled service to Picton's Koromiko Airport, and Float Air started scheduled services between Picton harbour and Porirua.  That service lasted until the Interislander started the Lynx fast ferry and Straitrunner started its own ferry service from Paremata to Picton, offering fares and convenience that attracted passengers from Float Air. Float Air ultimately ceased operations in 2006.