Seaplane Pilots Association Australia

David Skinner - Treasurer

David Skinner will be taking on the position of Treasurer for 2022. David has been flying for about 10 years having started with RAAus and moving into the GA world. He has aerobatic and tailwheel endorsements and mainly flies tourist flights in his Sirrus at the moment. David considers himself very lucky to have done his water endorsement with the venerable SPAA member Kevin Bowe before Kevin’s retirement and David joined the Committee in 2021 as a Committee member.

While David is at present a non-current landlubber, he is excitedly awaiting delivery of his Vickers Wave in the next 12 months, having put his name in very early on the brand new aircraft and we are very much looking forward to hearing all about it once it finally arrives. Working as a Civil Engineer, you’ve almost certainly seen some of his handiwork having worked on all of the major airports throughout Australia.

Martin Peters - Secretary

Marty is very well known in the aviation community for his amazing aerobatic displays in association with the Paul Bennet Airshow group. Marty’s first flight was back in 2004, progressing through private and commercial qualifications before taking over the operations role in a commercial charter outfit in Wagga Wagga. With the charter company Marty flew all throughout Australia including freight and passengers which gave him valuable experience and insight into all aspects of aviation. Since joining the Paul Bennet Airshow Group the operation hours of their main aircraft have risen from 200 hours to 1300 hours, 90% of which is credited to Marty instructing.

Marty has always been interested in sailing and his love of water is what led him to seaplanes. Since moving to the Hunter Valley, he has pivoted into flight training rather than flying with the restrictions on movement imposed by Covid. Living in such a fantastic area for seaplanes, Marty is excited about opportunities for related business ventures. He has good relationships with both RAAus and CASA and is looking forward to creating a closer relationship between these bodies and SPAA moving forward.

Rohan Walter - Committee

With Rohan recently abdicating the very much appreciated role of Treasurer, he will be taking on a position with the Committee for a well earned breather and to work on his upcoming SPAA Mentorship Program (more on that to come in the very near future!). Rohan started his aviation career as a Qantas Cadet Pilot on No.2 Course in 1966. He went on to fly the B707 for 18 months before converting to the B747, flying the 747-238/338 and then the 400. Rohan was a Promotional Training Captain and retired after 37 years in 2003 at the tender age of 57.

After taking a 13 year break from CASA control Rohan purchased an RAAus Searey which he hangars at Somersby on the NSW Central Coast. He also has a floating dock at his home in Newport on Pittwater, though prefers to keep his Searay away from the salt environment. With such a long career behind him, Rohan is a highly experienced aviator with safety always a priority. It’s with that in mind that he plans to inaugurate the SPAA mentorship program so that experienced pilots can share everything they’ve learned with the upcoming crop of seaplane pilots that SPAA is working to inspire.

Shane Finney - Committee

Shane is SPAA’s “Whitsundays Connection” and has been instrumental in our events in the region, notably the Splash-in and AGM in 2021 where he welcomed members into his beautiful home for breakfasts before the days events and to take shelter from the weather that he assured us was out of character. Shane lives in the Whitsundays Airpark which is home to his Super Petrel (for fun) and his RV10 (for travel) in their absolutely gleaming show-room of a hangar.

He has an estimated 35-40 year background in the Airline industry flying both Boeing and Airbus during that time. Shane took up seaplanes about five years ago and is in love with everything to do with them. He will be a very valuable member of our Committee and will be taking the controls on the SPAA Training Manual and we’re hoping to twist his arm to invite us all back in the near future.

Rohan Whittington - Committee

Rohan has been a long time member of SPAA and is known to many of our members having given presentations at multiple events, most recently the Whitsundays splash-in and AGM in 2021 outlining his work with some associates on new propulsion systems for aircraft. He has also helped with writing parts of the water syllabus for RAAus after coming across knowledge gaps in what he calls a “very short” endorsement resulting in him teaching himself many water techniques. Rohan has been flying for about 35 years all told, however returned to flying 12 years ago after a post-pilots strike hiatus.

Based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Rohan owns a Super Petrel and maintains a commercial and instructors rating. He owns and operates Super Petrel Australia and acts as the sale and import agent for Scoda Aeronautica, manufacturers of the Super Petrel. He’s trained about 9 new seaplane pilots including our very own Shane Finney. Rohan is a great advocate for seaplanes and we’re very pleased to finally welcome him into the fold.

Ivan Lizarralde - Committee

Ivan is a Whitsundays local and is reprising his role on the Committee for another year. He’s been a valuable and committed committee member through 2021 and 2022 and has highlighted areas of interest to the Association regarding regulations in the region. He obtained his degree in Marine Biology in the US and gained his private pilots license having been unable to resist the temptation of the flight school on campus. Upon arrival in Australia, Ivan began hang gliding which evolved into powered hang gliding then onto microlights and ultralights.

He currently flies under RAAus and SAFA where he obtained his instructor level 2 certificate. Ivan owns two amphibious aircraft, one microlight and one ultralight as well as a sky ranger and land trike which he uses for cross country and teaching. When Ivan goes abroad he does flight reviews in Cessna S and Cherokees to keep his GA skills polished. Keep an eye out for his fantastic “flying bathtub” at future Splash-ins!

Ben Hunter - Committee

Ben is stepping aside from his position of Secretary and will be taking up a Committee role for the year. A well known member of the Association, Ben has served on our Committee in various roles since 2005 working with many of our past and present influential members. His talent with words has been employed to the benefit of the Association most recently at our 50th Anniversary celebrations in Rathmines. Ben's contribution to both a speech and memorial plaque honouring the SPAA's founding member, Philip Dulhunty is appreciated.

Ben has been employed with Qantas as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer for over 30 years. In the mid 1990’s he started flying privately in General Aviation as a private pilot. His enduring interest in seaplanes flourished through an association with Philip Dulhunty and his private floatplane operations, resulting in Ben building his own SeaRey amphibian out of Bankstown in Sydney.