A HELENSBURGH man is flying high as the 10-year anniversary of his thriving seaplane business approaches.

Loch Lomond Seaplanes started in 2003 and offers people the opportunity to enjoy a unique aerial experience of Scotland's natural landscape.

The company was founded by Captain David West, 55, a 25-year veteran of commercial aviation for airlines such as BMI and Cathay Pacific.

David believes the company's success is down to the wide variety of customers it attracts.

He said: "We get lots of people looking to get something different out of the flights.

"There's those that want the seaplane experience, because there's nowhere else in the country that offers it. I think we also attract senior residents, celebrating milestone anniversaries, who used to walk the hills but can no longer manage."

He added: "Obviously we get the tourists as well, who want to see a lot of the landscape in a short period of time."

The flight only lasts 45 minutes but the distance covered is between 110 and 120 miles, on a clear day it is possible to see as far away as Ireland. The company has two seaplanes, a nine-passenger and a four-passenger craft, with on average between four and ten flights a day and between 40 and 70 passengers a day. Since the flights began, over 40,000 people have flown with the company, which is now a global brand with 100,000 visitors to its website and exposure to 50 million people across the globe through various media including Visit Scotland adverts.

However, David still believes the key to Loch Lomond Seaplanes success is word of mouth from the people who have experienced the trip.

David added: "The views, the beaches are incredible, people who experience it are fired up after it and tell their friends and family. "Just before the Olympics, some of the delegates were sent up and we took them out and they went ga-ga for it as well.

"Every time we go out it's different for people, it's not just the blue-sky summer days that people enjoy. On a dull, overcast day, to be up there is still an experience, we like to say it's atmospheric and moody."

With plans to expand the company and add another plane, the sky's the limit for Loch Lomond Seaplanes, but David feels they can't take all the plaudits. He said: "We'll take 50 per cent of the credit, but the Scottish landscape takes the rest."

To book a trip on a seaplane visit www. lochlomondseaplanes.com