Loch Lomond
Note: This map simply shows the location of Loch Lomond within the UK.
LOCH LOMOND: Seaplane operating area
NOTES: The area covered by Loch Lomond seems these days to be divided up between ARGYLL & BUTE, STIRLING and WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE. However, reverting back to the ‘proper’ traditional Counties the west bank and southern bank of this roughly triangular Loch are in DUNBARTONSHIRE, and the east bank in STIRLINGSHIRE.
In 2004 it was regarded as being a National Park and in 2004/5 was reported to be banning any further seaplane activity. (See LUSS also). The reasons for this seem difficult to comprehend as at that time there were only four seaplanes operating in the whole of Scotland! So what exactly was the problem? I have been very fortunate to have some limited seaplane flying experience in Scotland and the reception from local people was always superb, begging a return visit, as the spectacle of this rare type landing and especially taking-off was regarded as a treat to behold and very attractive for visitors.
There has been a small amount of commercial as well as private seaplane operation going on in LOCH LOMOND from the early 1990s, perhaps earlier. Once you start digging into aviation history another story emerges. In the 1930s, (from 1933 to 1935?), it would seem that Clyde Flying Boats Ltd were operating on LOCH LOMOND using a ex-Amphibious Airlines Saro A.17 Cutty Sark amphibian G-ABBC which once served on the scheduled Liverpool to Isle of Man ‘run’.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
On the 18th September 2002, my very good friend James Roland and I set out on a project to land in the 'A-to-Z' of Scottish Lochs in one day. Right from the start we realised we had a problem as Scottish Lochs have Gaelic names and that language doesn't include X, Y and Z. The obvious solution I suggested, as we were both pilots, was to cheat - replacing X,Y and Z with the longest, deepest and largest Lochs. Obviously sea Lochs couldn't be included, (where do they end?), so we had to find inland Lochs and of these, for the largest Loch, LOCH LOMOND, was the obvious candidate.
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