A lakeside scene with several seaplanes parked on a sandy beach, some tied to the shore, with boats docked further out on the water, and a line of buildings and trees in the background.
Seaplane with red and white coloring on a calm lake near a green forested shoreline.
Yellow seaplane docked at the shore of a body of water with floatation skis attached, near a sandy beach and a house with gray siding.
Seaplane flying low over a lake with green trees in the background.
Seaplane docked at a lakeside shoreline with ducks in the foreground, a sandy beach, and boats on the water in the background.
Yellow seaplane with registration N5959K docked by the water, with trees and people in the background.
Seaplane taking off from a calm lake with a wooded shoreline and houses in the background.
A yellow vintage biplane flying against a clear blue sky.
A blue and white seaplane on a body of water with a shoreline, trees, and houses in the background.
A small amphibious aircraft with yellow and gray markings is partially submerged in water near a grassy shore.
A seaplane flying in the sky with a cloudy background.
A seaplane flying low over a body of water with green trees in the background.
A seaplane flying low over a body of water with trees and houses in the background.
Close-up of an airplane fuselage with a white, brown, and red color scheme, and the phrase "Livin' The Dream Too!" written on it.
Yellow seaplane flying low over a lake with a forested shoreline and overcast sky in the background.
Yellow seaplane flying over water, with pilot and passenger inside, near a green, wooded shoreline.
Seaplane flying in the sky with smoke coming from behind it.
A yellow seaplane flying above trees and clouds in the sky.
A seaplane flying over a body of water with trees and houses in the background.
A seaplane taking off from a body of water near a residential area with houses, trees, and a walking person in the background.
Yellow seaplane on water with orange lightning bolt markings, registration N5959K, moored near the shoreline with a dock and trees in the background.
Small white and blue seaplane parked on a dock by a lake, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A small airplane flying over the ocean, pulling a parasail attached to a boat.
Seaplane flying low over a lake with houses and trees in the background and cloudy sky above.
Two seaplanes docked at a lakeside, with a sandy beach and wooden walkway in the foreground, and a cityscape on the horizon under a clear blue sky.
Seaplane grounded at the shoreline with water and trees in the background.
Amphibious aircraft on a lakeshore, with a dock extending into the water and trees in the background.
A seaplane is partially submerged in water near a sandy beach on a sunny day. Trees and boats are visible across the water in the background.
Seaplane docked on a sandy beach with lounge chairs, with more aircraft lined up along the shoreline, and calm water with a boat in the distance, surrounded by trees and houses.
A seaplane floating on a body of water near a shoreline with homes and trees in the background.
Electric hydrofoil boat with a propeller, floating on a lake near a dock, with trees in the background.
A seaplane on the water near a sandy beach, with trees and houses in the background.
Seaplane docked on a lake with a house and trees in the background.
Seaplane floating on water near a sandy shore, with trees in the background.
Seaplane parked in water near shoreline with houses and trees in background.
Small seaplane flying in clear blue sky.
A seaplane on the water near the beach with two people sitting on the sand in the foreground and another seaplane partially visible behind it.
A seaplane flying low over calm water during daytime, with a clear blue sky background.
Seaplane taking off from a calm lake with a forested shoreline and houses in the background.
Beach area with several small airplanes parked on the sand and a few people relaxing on lounge chairs.
A yellow seaplane flying low over a body of water with a forested shoreline in the background.
Seaplane parked on a shoreline with a small wooden building labeled 'MADDEN'S WELCOME' in the background, surrounded by trees and rocks.
Yellow seaplane docked on the water near a sandy area with beach chairs and a reserved sign, grassy hillside in the background.
A yellow seaplane flying low over a lake with a forested shoreline in the background.
Seaplane floating on a calm lake with a forested shoreline in the background.
A seaplane taking off from a body of water near a tree-lined shoreline with houses and docks.
Yellow seaplane taking off from a lake with a treeline and blue sky in the background.
A yellow seaplane flying low over a lake, releasing water for firefighting, with trees, houses, and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
tempImagevVmvPO.png
Nighttime scene with a group of people gathered around a fire pit on a patio near a lake. Two small planes are parked on the docks in the background, and the lake reflects the sky and trees. The scene is illuminated by the fire and some ambient light
Seaplane on the water near a sandy beach with lounge chairs, with trees and clear blue sky in the background.
Seaplane moored by a rocky lakeshore with several boats and trees in the background.
Small airplane on a boat in water, with trees, houses, and a cloudy sky in the background.
Logo for Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association featuring a seaplane flying above pine trees, with a silhouette of Minnesota and the organization's name around the circle.

Our Mission

The purpose of the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association is to:

Promote seaplane flying and safety programs pertaining to seaplane operation throughout the State of Minnesota,

Promote a forum for the purpose of approaching governmental agencies, to educate said agencies, the legislature and the public in the understanding of seaplane operation, and

Create safe and compatible seaplane base facilities in the State of Minnesota

A white seaplane with floats flying low over a body of water, with a forested shoreline in the background.

News and Safety Information

MSPA welcomes our new President Joe Birkemeyer and Secretary Kyle Lewis

Pro Tips for Pilots - Safely Flying Seaplanes: The Fun and Challenges of Flying Seaplanes.

Multiple small seaplanes docked along the shoreline with houses and trees in the background.

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPRING SAFETY REFRESHER

"Saturday Morning Coffee and WINGS - Flying Yourself To Canada By Land And Sea"

Saturday May 17, 2025 8:30AM CDT

AOPA Rusty Pilots Seminar

Greater Minnesota Aviation Gathering GMAG

PIG ROAST

Surfside Seaplane Base MN24

Lino Lakes, Minnesota

Sunday August 10, 2025

Admission is included with your membership!

The Pig Roast is an event that is fun for the whole family, bring your spouse, children, parents and neighbors! This event is a great way to introduce someone new to the world of seaplane flying.

Join us for camaraderie, food, live music and seaplanes!

Use the link below to purchase additional admissions in advance for non members and children

Will you be using the turf strip at MN24?

Click HERE for the procedures !

People gathered outside a large hangar at an airshow, with a seaplane on floats and banners promoting aviation, under a cloudy sky.

SEAPLANE SAFETY SEMINAR

Maddens Resort on Gull Lake (M16)

Brainerd, Minnesota

September 19-20, 2025

Take part in a weekend refresher of safety, skills, entertainment, great food and maybe even a round of golf.

Highlights Include:

  • Premium Lodging

  • Delicious Food

  • Poker Run Sponsored by Wipaire

  • Landing Accuracy Contest

  • Live Entertainment Nightly

  • Silent Auction

  • Drawings for Free Prizes

Planning to attend? Whether you will be staying at Madden’s or not, use the link below to purchase your registration for the event. Click here to purchase Friday dinner and Saturday banquet if you are not staying at the resort.

Colonel Frederick “CJ” Sturckow, USMC (Ret.)

2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

A man wearing a baseball cap with an aviation emblem, looking to the side with a serious expression, in a dark setting with subtle lighting.

Our guest speaker for this evening commissioned into the United States Marine Corps in December 1984 and received his naval aviator wings in April 1987. He flew the F/A-18 Hornet and attended the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (AKA “Top Gun”). He was deployed to Sheik Isa Air Base in Bahrain and flew 41 combat missions, leading 30 airplane strikes into Iraq and Kuwait. He then attended USAF Test Pilot School and tested the Hornet at Naval Air Test Center Pax River. Selected as a NASA astronaut, he flew four space shuttle missions to the ISS. He then retired from NASA and has flown six spaceflights with Virgin Galactic.

2025 Seminar Agenda

Would you like to be a Vendor/Sponsor at the Seaplane Safety Seminar?

Seaplane floats on sandy beach next to green grass, lined up with other seaplanes along a lakeshore with trees, houses, and boats in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A seaplane floating on the water near a buoy, with a forested shoreline and houses in the background under cloudy skies.

2024 MSPA Safety Seminar Winners

Lightspeed Zulu 3 Raffle Winner

Tim Iverson

Four people standing together at an indoor event, two children and two adults, with name badges and a microphone, one adult holding a boxed headset, in front of a beige wall and potted plant, with an exit sign in the background.

Wipaire Garmin Watch Grand Prize Drawing

Zach Bruce

A man and woman smiling and holding a large circular sign that says 'FUN METER' with a needle pointing towards the red zone, labeled 'MIN' to 'MAX'. The sign features the logo for WIPaire. The man is wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt and a gray cap, and the woman is wearing a tan hat and a patterned top. They are indoors with wooden walls and an exit sign above them.

Weekend at Madden’s on Gull Lake Winner

Paul Breckner

Thank you to our Seminar Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

WIPAIRE logo featuring a stylized airplane and the text WIPAIRE.

Platinum Sponsors

AOPA logo with the wings and the text 'your freedom to fly' underneath.
Logo of Seaplane Pilots Association featuring a seaplane silhouette and waves.
Madder's on Gull Lake logo in green text.
Midwest Flyer website logo with a yellow and black design and an airplane graphic.
Logo of Minnesota Pilots Association with a plane flying over a lake scene inside a circular emblem.

For information on how to become a sponsor please contact joesaircraftmods@gmail.com

Board of Directors

Joe Birkemeyer- President

Ken Partyka - Vice President

Kyle Lewis - Secretary

Bill Spaniol - Treasurer

Emblem of the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association featuring a seaplane, a map of Minnesota, and pine trees.

 

Contact Us

Questions about the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association? Use this form to send a message

Floatplane with red and white colors tied to a dock beside a lake, with houses and trees in the background.