A seaplane base has existed in Port Washington since the early 20th century.[1][2][3] Historically, the seaplane base was known as the Port Washington Seaplane Base, the New York Seaplane Base, and the Tom's Point Seaplane Base.[4]
The dedication of the Port Washington Seaplane Airport in 1929.
On September 14, 1929, the cornerstone was laid for the American Aeronautical Corporation's New York Seaplane Airport – one of the earliest iterations of what would eventually become the Sands Point Seaplane Base.[5][6][7]
After Pan Am moved its seaplane operations from Port Washington to LaGuardia Airport, Grumman became a major tenant at the seaplane base, using it as a facility for its seaplanes.[13][15][16]
The current iteration of the seaplane base was activated in May 1948, around which time the original hangar and terminal area was abandoned.[17][18]
The seaplane base features two water runways (1/19 and 12/30) – both of which are 6,000 feet (1,800 m) long.[18][19][20][21] Seaplanes are able to dock in Manhasset Bay, with the Port Washington Water Taxi ferrying pilots and passengers to and from the shore.[1]
For the 12-month period ending August 12, 2022 the base had recorded 50 aircraft operations, of which 100% were classified as transient general aviation.[17][19] At that time, 0 aircraft were based there.[19] The seaplane base does not have a control tower.[19]
On January 21, 1939, An Imperial AirwaysShort S.23 Empire Flying Boat Mk II (registration G-ADUU), en-route from Port Washington to Bermuda, ditched into the Atlantic Ocean during severe weather; the aircraft had experienced catastrophic engine failures, which had been caused by the accumulation of ice on the carburetor.[22] The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and sank as a result of the crash. Of the flight's eight passengers and five crew members, there were three fatalities – two of which were passengers and one of which was a crew member.[22]
^ abDuffy Meehan, Denise (June–July 1987). "How Port Washington Gave Birth to Pan Am"(PDF). Long Island Good Living: 22. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2020. The company had constructed a waterside facility in 1929-operating it as a test base for its S-55 and S-56 aircraft (available for a mere $7,373 fly-away) and as a rental hangar/ramp called the New York Seaplane Airport. Pan Am purchased the 12-acre parcel in 1933, intending to use the large hangar tor storage while continuing lease space in the smaller building private seaplane operators.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Harris-Para, Barbara (7 October 2015). "100 YEARS OF SUSTAINED POWER FLIGHT HISTORY"(PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. p. 7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2017-02-09. Retrieved 6 December 2020. 1937: First regular commercial transatlantic airline service in America – Pan American Martin & Boeing Flying boats departed & arrived at Port Washington.
