How to Become a Sea Plane Pilot with Fred Welsh

In this podcast Fred describes how he became a sea plane pilot. As the host, I know almost nothing about the subject. Therefore, we approach the subject from the perspective of a novice. I hope you find this useful if you’re seeking to become a recreational pilot. Enjoy!

fred and his sea plane

Fred Welsh is a friend I met in 2010 when I first visited Australia. On that trip he taught me to surf and showed me a great time in Yamba, Australia. He is awesome.

sea plane parked in the sea

How to Become a Sea Plane Pilot Time Stamps

  • 6:50 – History & Categorization of Recreational Pilots Licensing
  • 8:30 – Understanding the Cost and Process of a Recreational Pilots License
  • 15:10 – On the Economics of Purchasing an Airplane
  • 17:00 – The Benefits of a Sea Plane
  • 24:30 – Thoughts on Securing, Parking and Operating a Sea Plane
  • 28:30 – Sea Plane Endurance
  • 31:12 – Radio Communication Endorsement
  • 33:20 – Why Fly?
  • 40:00 – On Sea Plane Speed
  • 40:30 – Why a Sea Plane is Better than a Trailer/RV
  • 42:20 – Mapping out Sea Plane Adventures
  • 48:17 – Can You Do Work on Your Own Plane? – Maintaining a Sea Plane
  • 54:07 – Can Australia Sea Plane Pilots Fly Internationally?
  • 1:06:04 – Where You Inspired by Jimmy Buffett?
  • 1:16:40 – Lifestyle Questions – Weddings in Australia
  •  1:17:15 – The First Step to Becoming a Pilot

bobble head sea plane view

We call that tiger county. It’s when there isn’t anything down there to land on and you just hope nothing goes wrong

two sea planes at rest

It is a life or death situation. If you run into a huge storm, it can put you down hard. If in doubt, you stay home.

sea plane view of a whitsunday island

The pay-off for me is… I’ll say to my wife, “I think the whales are breaching today, let’s fly out and have a look.” You see sharks and dolphins… the rewards outweighs the costs of getting a license and a plane.

sea plane landing in the sea

When you’re flying long distances, you want to make sure you have plenty of room where you don’t have to get back for something.

two sea planes over the sea

Out of all of Australia, there are only 100 sea plane pilots. Of that, only 70 are operational. It’s a very, very small fraternity of pilots.

sea plane view of whitsunday islands in australia

The beauty of my category is that they have made the books more easy to understand for laymen. I found it enjoyable and not overly difficult. I found the process of learning to be exhilarating.

sea plane view of the gold coast

Related Links

sea plane view of the beautiful whitsunday islands

A Note on the Sound Quality Of This Podcast

I apologize for the poor sound quality on this one. Fred and I spoke while he was in Australia and I was in the United States. We suffered during the conversation because there was a second delay from us speaking to when the other would hear. Also, I failed to record split tracked. None-the-less, I think the conversation was interesting enough to publish despite the low quality.

I’ve sorted it out. Next episode will be better.

Episode One of the Question Mark Podcast

Welcome to ? a podcast about art, adventure, enterprise and more.

Subscribe on Apple Podcast

Episode art for question mark podcast one

This first episode is me my attempt at a unique podcast. Currently, I have three formats in mind:

1. Traditional Interviews

Traditional interviews will be around an hour where we learn about interesting people who have interesting behaviors. These interviews will focus on the subjects of art, adventure and enterprise.

2. The Linked Series

The idea for the linked story started on the Nomad Cruise while I was talking with my friend Becky. We parted ways in Dubai and she took one of my microphones. We did a podcast while she was in Chiang Mai and I was in Bangkok. Now that our conversation is complete, Becky will pass the microphone onto someone who she finds interesting.

The great thing about this is that the guest selection will be entirely up to Becky. Once Becky hands the microphone to someone else, that person will be the next person to be in charge of guest selection.

I hope they pick interesting guests.

3. ? Riffs

Question mark riffs are segments where I splice together a collection of interesting audio based on a theme. I’ll attempt to provide some context and commentary to link them together.

For instance, I hope to do one on investing in which I can pull audio from people like Ray Dalio, Warren Buffett and Mark Cuban. Other topics could include:

  • Surfing
  • International relations
  • Mountain climbing
  • Style
  • War
  • Country Reports

…or whatever else I become inspired by.

The following podcast is a rough example of how a ? riff would sound like:

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to click the image below and you’ll be able to record a voice message link for the show. I’d be honored to hear from you.

In my last podcast (the Love Affair Travel Podcast), I never heard back from the audience. That was a huge problem. My statistics were telling me that around 1,500 people were listening to each podcast episode, but I never heard from anyone. I think that is largely responsible for why I stopped creating them.

If you’d like to be part of the solution, please let me know who you are and where you are listening to the show. You can either email me an .mp3 file (ian@ianrobinson.net) or you can click the image below:

record a message for the podcast banner

Episode Credits

Brent Rose: Inside the Life of a Location Independent Tech Journalist

Wish your road trips never ended? For Brent Rose, they don’t.

Brent Rose is a freelance technology journalist who has spent the last 17 months living out of a van and road tripping around the United States. For Brent, what started as a year-long road trip has turned into an open-ended lifestyle.

Brent tells us about how he decided to start his van life, how he equipped his van to be able to work from anywhere, and what his nomadic life is like. He also gives us some pointers and great stories and information about his career as a tech journalist.

“I’ve been on the road for the last 17 months now. I’ve put about 35,000 miles on the thing. It was originally going to be about a year-long thing, and now I don’t know how or where to stop. I don’t know if I want to stop – so the adventure continues.” – Brent Rose

Travel Topics:

  • Why Brent decided to convert to van life [5:27]
  • What to look for in a vehicle for long term travel [8:19]
  • How to convert a van to fit your lifestyle [8:47]
  • How to get into tech journalism [10:18]
  • What is Gizmodo? [11:43]
  • What it means to be a good writer [13:39]
  • The transition from office life to van life [24:43]
  • How Brent’s location independence influences his professional output [27:03]
  • Kayaking from Cuba to Florida [28:47]
  • Benefits of a press trip [37:29]
  • Making that important decision… what do you write about?! [38:45]
  • Most memorable moments on the road [43:13]
  • How a pearl in an oyster can lead to a great pick-up line [45:35]

Brent Rose Talking Points:

Website | Instagram |  Facebook | Twitter

“I love the freedom it affords me.” – Brent Rose

Music Credit:

Take Action:

Brent drives his van on a constant road trip to balance work with adventure. What can you do to bring more adventure into your everyday life?

Jake Heilbrunn: Off The Beaten Trail

Courtesy of Jake Heilbrunn

Have you struggled with making your dreams a reality? Do you feel stressed out trying to find a compromise?

When Jake Heilbrunn realized his passions and his life were not aligned, he left for Central America to help find fulfillment and discover his purpose. What he found was an incredible community of people, a beautiful expansive world, and the determination to bring his visions to life.

Today we’ll be talking about traveling in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, writing his book Off The Beaten Trail, holistic healing, and the many amazing people he encountered on his journey.

“I was living a disconnect. What I really wanted to be doing, traveling and experiencing other ways of life and volunteering, was not what I was doing.” – Jake Heilbrunn

Travel Topics:

  • How Jake went to Guatemala to teach English and soccer [4:30]
  • Need to make friends and don’t know the local language? Carry a soccer ball [6:38]
  • When he was attacked by ‘dinosaurs in Jurassic Park’ [12:19]
  • How a child left for dead became an incredible local saint [15:23]
  • Why ditching your travel plan can have amazing results [19:50]
  • How Jake’s vision of writing his book happened with a shaman [21:43]
  • Does Baskin-Robbins get their flavors from cacao plants? [24:52]
  • You tend to meet and attract certain people when you travel alone [29:08]
  • What a spiritual community did for Jake’s mind and body [33:25]
  • How one town’s diet of fruit and vegetables helped Jake’s skin problems [37:36]
  • What Jake loved most about the places he stayed and people he met [40:16]
  • How writing a book is “like starting a business” [41:53]
  • Jake’s daily writing routine, and how he made his book stand out [43:03]
  • Writing a book? Allow yourself twice to three times as much time to do it [45:53]

Jake Heilbrunn Talking Points:

Website | Eyes Fully Open | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Music Credit:

Take Action:

Jake’s time in Central America encouraged him to pursue his passion. What would you need to do to follow yours?

Karsten Aichholz: Gaming Entrepreneur and Creator of Thailand Starter Kit!

Courtesy of Karsten Aichholz

Karsten Aichholz is the perfect person to author the Thailand Starter Kit!, a website full of advice for ex-pats moving to Thailand. After nearly a decade of living in Bangkok, Karsten offers advice on everything from housing to fitness to grocery delivery in the Land of Smiles.

In our entertaining and fascinating discussion, Karsten explains how he went from corporate climber in Germany to one of the first nomadic entrepreneurs in Thailand’s video game sector.

Along with Thailand Starter Kit!, we also talk about Karsten’s Brewed in Bangkok podcast, an excellent dive into the hidden world of the most extraordinary people you meet in Bangkok.

“I took out a quarter of the money we had… It was a leap of faith, but I thought we got to do something.” – Karsten Aichholz

Travel Topics:

  • Moving to Bangkok 10 years ago before ‘it was a thing’ [2:20]
  • How to create a business from near scratch in Thailand [9:45]
  • How 3,700 hours of EverQuest in high school paid off [11:02]
  • Advice for freelancers: Creating a start-up? Find a platform to do your marketing [16:05]
  • Another tip: A platform bans your product? Make a new platform! [16:30]
  • Why Karsten actually loved working for a corporation [20:15]
  • What can happen in German bureaucratic unemployment offices [26:40]
  • When you almost run out of cash, you become less risk-adverse [35:20]
  • How Karsten’s partner left the gaming world because he was ready for more intellectual pursuits [43:40]
  • New dreams: Turning altruistic hobbies into a business [47:20]
  • Wild stories accrued while living in Bangkok for a decade [52:07]

Karsten Aichholz’ Talking Points:

Website  |  Twitter  | Facebook

  • Connect with Thailand Starter Kit:

Website  |  Twitter  | Facebook

Music Credit:

Take Action:

When Karsten and his business partner almost ran out of money, he decided to take a risk that changed the fate of his company. SO go ahead and take a risk!

Dylan Basile: Tree Tribe Plants 40,000 Trees while Co-Founder Survives Dengue Fever

Courtesy of Dylan Basile

Marketing nomad Dylan Basile of Tree Tribe got my attention at the 2016 Nomad Summit when he presented on his eco-fashion company with a passion for sustainability. Since our meeting, Dylan has had a challenging year. At the time of this interview, he’s coming off a 6-month battle with dengue fever, which is a debilitating mosquito-borne disease he contracted in Thailand.

In this episode, we talk about the transition to a nomadic work life, leaving Vancouver’s rainy season, the ins-and-outs of social media strategy at Tree Tribe, as well as the most difficult psychological and physical trial of Dylan’s life—dengue.

I was so inspired by Dylan’s passion for the good work at Tree Tribe, and his resilience through the last half year. I hope you think so too!

“I think it was the shock of being told I couldn’t go back to Chiang Mai and the whole digital nomad community, but I’m getting better and excited to go travel again.” – Dylan Basile

Travel Topics:

  • The Nomad Summit 2016 experience in Chiang Mai [1:15]
  • A successful experiment in becoming location-independent [3:10]
  • How Dylan unfortunately became the dengue expert [10:52]
  • A second bout of dengue nearly cost Dylan his nomadic lifestyle [19:52]
  • The mission behind Tree Tribe’s eco-fashion brand [25:40]
  • An amazing goal to achieve… Planting 40,000 trees!! [29:39]
  • Tree Tribe’s 4 core values: Nature, Adventure, Travel, and Community [30:30]
  • How Tree Tribe customers and fans show their love of the product through social media [33:04]
  • Why Tree Tribe agrees that giving back is worth a cut into the bottom-line [44:05]

Dylan Basile’s Talking Points:

Website | TwitterInstagram

Music Credit:

Take Action:

Sometimes life doesn’t go how we plan. Dylan was on top of his game when dengue fever changed everything. When life takes away choices, how can you stay positive and passionate like Dylan?

Patrick Daley: True Transient Crosses the USA again, this Time by Canoe

Courtesy of Patrick Daley

The True Transient, Patrick Daley returns to the Love Affair Travel Podcast to tell us about another wild adventure across the United States… but this time it’s not by land! The last time we heard from Patrick he was hitchhiking across the country, today we learn of his current journey from NYC to Mexico via a canoe.

I caught up with him 11 days into his journey on a rest, drying out at a Philadelphia diner. In this episode, Patrick talks about funding a 2,600-mile boating expedition through the inter-coastal waterways of 13 different states.

We also focus on the logistics of a truly unique trip, like filming for his True Transient YouTube channel and navigating and packing for this life changing adventure. You don’t want to miss this amazing episode!

“Do something new and more ambitious.”  – Words that inspired Patrick Daley to canoe across the U.S.

Travel Topics:

  • Traveling from New York to Mexico… in a canoe!! [1:45]
  • Google Maps has one weakness: Waterways [6:05]
  • How much gear is too much gear for this kind of trip? (Very Important – Don’t forget to pack your drone) [10:09]
  • How to scout out a good campsite in and out of tidal regions [11:00]
  • Writing a travel memoir via dictation while canoeing… Like Woah! [12:22]
  • How the maiden canoe voyage has made budgeting a challenge [14:56]
  • On the difficulties of editing a video series from a campsite [16:20]
  • Utilizing water canals and locks from the Industrial Revolution-era America [17:38]
  • Canoeing through New York harbor despite experts warnings [19:38]
  • Why a canoe and not a kayak? [20:50]
  • Future dreams to come on Patrick’s journey to Mexico [22:33]

Patrick Daley’s Talking Points:

Website  | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

Music Credit:

Take Action:

Choosing to canoe across the U.S. was pretty crazy and was at the edge of Patrick’s wildest imagination. What adventure seems too crazy for you to go on? Imagine it and go!

Taylor Conroy’s Full Force Journey to Change the Fundraising World

Compliments of Taylor Conroy

Taylor Conroy’s energy for life is contagious! Currently, he is the co-founder of Journey, an organization that designs trips for volunteers looking to make a difference by building homes in developing countries.

In his role, Taylor is on a mission to revolutionize the way social change is funded. This is a great interview for travelers looking to make a difference in the world.

Inspired by his passion, we explored his past, where I learned that he has always been driven. Whether it’s high-finance real estate, bodybuilding, firefighting or international volunteer work, Taylor takes on life at full force.

“That’s what made me leave the fire hall, that love for thinking outside the box and creating things that don’t yet exist.” – Taylor Conroy

Travel Topics:

  • Taylor’s bodybuilder beginning [2:00]
  • Life advice… You got to put in the hustle and the heartbreak to get the reward [6:30]
  • The entrepreneurship itch [10:22]
  • How to find a personal guru [14:07]
  • Taylor’s passion for feminist projects [19:15]
  • Yorling’s story: The will of a teenage Nicaraguan woman [21:18]
  • Mr. Rodrigue’s story: A 100-year-old Salvadorian dairy farmer sees his new home [23:51]
  • The power of partnering with an established local non-profit [25:39]
  • What to expect on a Journey trip [26:08]
  • The difference between non-profit and for-profit organizations in the change industry [33:33]
  • Trip participants realize that ‘we, humans, are not as different as we think’ [39:14]
  • The Masai warrior’s four truths [41:07]
  • How to ensure volunteerism is sustainable for the community [44:26]

Taylor Conroy’s Talking Points:

  • Exclusive Love Affair Travel listener offer! Attend a 5-Day life-changing trip to Mexico in late September, build a home for a family living in a slum and connect with a community who wants to change the world. Enter “LoveAffair” into the Promo Code Box at checkout for a trip value of $990 (normally priced at $1,290). 
  • Taylor’s TedX Talk How to Build a School in 3 Hours
  • Taylor’s brainchild for peer-to-peer fundraising Change Heroes
  • Connect with Journey and make a difference:

Website | Facebook | Images

  • Connect with Taylor:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Music Credit:

Take Action:

Taylor found his drive by pushing himself out of his comfort zone. How can you challenge yourself today to manifest a better world?