I’m an airline pilot looking to reconnect with my GA roots by getting a floatplane (SES) rating. I found “On the Step” about a year ago and have listened to most episodes. I find Daniels’s guests interesting not only for useful information but also it’s interesting to hear other pilots stories on how they got into aviation and the career path they have taken. Additionally, I find the descriptions of places of the world I’ve never been to very interesting and are inspiring me to want to take a trip “down under”. Keep up the great work!

Not a pilot but I love the stories

If you are at all interested in seaplanes then you have to check this out. Even if you just enjoy amazing stories and discussing a very unique corner of aviation this is a podcast for you! Check it out and you won’t be disappointed!

Pushing play on each new episode is like I’m unwrapping a gift full flying stories, seaplane facts, and float flying tidbits. I suggest Dan’s podcast to everyone interested in float flying.

Best Aviation podcast.

Made the choice to sign up for my commercial seaplane reading this coming July up here in Alaska. A long time fan on Instagram I turn to his podcast from the beginning for the stories and the insite and the motivation as I count down the days until I add on my ASES rating. Fantastic stories a wealth of knowledge shared from around the world couldn’t ask for more and the production value is top notch highly recommend it to anybody interested in the world ofsviating off the water.

I started listening to on the step during quarantine as i worked from home and began flying on the side. I’m from Texas and have had little exposure to seaplanes in my life, but this show has been so inspiring. I’m wrapping up my PPL right now, but wouldn’t be half as inspired to go get my seaplane rating eventually if it weren’t for this show. Cheers Dan!

Hey there Dan, I was already interested in flying bush someday, currently an A&P mechanic and private pilot here in Oregon, USA and after discovering your podcast, listening to it and chatting with other friends who are also interested in seaplanes, I decided that I wanna combine bush flying with sea plane flying eventually and end up in either Canada or Alaska! Thank you so much and keep up the great work!

A great podcast to fly away into the clouds. Thank you

The step is one thing we can all unite on. Safety , learning, good people, and fun, this is a great cast. From a guy in the USA. Thanks I really enjoy the time I spend listening. Keep up the good work!

This podcast continues to provided a wealth of knowledge from seaplane operators around the world. The stories are fantastic, and listening to the podcast made me to set a goal of completing my seaplane training this year. Keep up the good work, Dan!

Once I discovered you, I have been tearing through your episodes! I got my float rating with Kenmore Air in the Seattle area, then fell in love with the company. The following summer, I worked in their flight training department with a fleet of two C172s, two Supercubs, two other great instructors. What a learning experience! The following summer I flew a Kenmore DHC-2 Beaver back and fourth to the San Juan Islands. Can’t tell you how many dockings I did! Learned a lot about current, winds, heavy loads, and crowded landing and takeoff waters! While I listen to your shows, my adrenaline starts pumping again! Keep up the great work!

Title says it all. It’s a great mix of phenomenal stories, aviation information and super cool guests. It’s like a bag of chips, you won’t be stopping at just one!

I’ve been listening since the first episode and have found it to be incredibly informative and entertaining. I earned my seaplane rating in August of 2020 at Jones Brothers Seaplanes in Tavares, FL and am glad to be part of the few that have the privilege to operate out of water. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it for a living someday. This podcast gives me the motivation to continue going after that goal and I’m glad Daniel has been providing something like this for us all to listen to. It’s great material and I enjoy it very much.

As a full time Seaplane Pilot I love to hear what is going on around the industry. Hearing the pilot’s stories, how they got into Aviation & especially the niche market of Seaplane flying is a lot of fun. If you’re a pilot and thinking about flying Seaplanes, don’t wait another day to get started! Follow your dreams! - Frank

Great host, great guests, great stories! As an owner of a flying boat (Lake Buccaneer) and avid seaplane pilot, it’s nice to have a podcast to listen to that is fun as well as informative.

Your show has inspired me to get my Seaplane Rating! Headed to Jack Brown’s for my birthday!

Thanks, Dan, for a great show. You are listened to by floatplane pilots in Louisiana, USA! You should interview some of these old float pilots from back in the inshore oilfield heyday of southeast Louisiana.

I didn’t even know what a podcast was until I joined the SPA. My first email from them was announcing the podcast featuring ThatMallardGuy and On The Step. Ever since then Listening to On The Step is my favorite way to pass the time while driving to work. I love to hear about floatplanes, pilots, operators and schools that I have had interest in for quite some time. I am a FedEx 767 Captain who wants to fly floats in the Caribbean in retirement. I love getting the inside scoop right from the people who may make it happen and I think this podcast is the best place to share our love for water aviation!!

As with everything aviation, it’s about the people and the community, which we create around this great activity called aviation. Dan does a great job of bringing information and fun stories about this wonderful form of Aviation - Sea plane flying is a challenging and risky for of flying - thanks Dan for finding the right people in the industry, to give us access to their stories, and experience notes. Much appreciated.

I'm a new private floatplane pilot in the PNW USA and am thoroughly enjoying the podcast. I'm only on episode 10 but looking forward to the rest! I've got a couple of pilot friends who would be good interviews for the show. One has about 7K on floats, half of that is in the Albatross. The other has 5K on floats in the same tailnumber Beaver, had his own air charter/taxi was a Air Force pilot POW before he started his second career flying the Bush. I'm blessed to be flying the Aviat Husky A1-B on floats and some other iconic bush planes on wheels, but someday they will be on floats too......

I am a seaplane pilot who recently discovered “On the step” (a seaplane term) with “That Mallard Guy”, Daniel Bolton, as the host. It has brought me great pleasure to listen and live vicariously through Daniels guests’ adventures. The guests, types of airplanes flown, and geographic areas where the people being interviewed have flown the seaplanes, keeps it interesting from podcast to podcast. The time Daniel spends to produce this podcast is very much appreciated. Steve Stackhouse

Wonderful podcast delving into the world of float planes and flying boats. Thank you for putting this podcast together. I’m an aspiring float plane pilot and have found the shows quite entertaining and informative.

Helo guy by trade getting very excited for for fix wing floats in the future. Keep it up !!! Thanks

I’ve been fascinated with sea planes since I was a kid. I’ve always loved them and everything about the sea- to becoming a rescue swimmer and fireboat operator for my career. I stumbled onto @thatmallardguy on Instagram from following the tag of my favorite plane, the mallard, and shortly thereafter Daniel started his podcasts. I’ve listened from the beginning and although I am not a pilot, I love the podcast and the stories from float and seaplane pilots from around the world. Even if you aren’t in the profession, give it a listen, it is well worth it!

I worked as a dockhand for Kenmore Air in the States during the summers, and this podcast really brings me back to the sound of all those radial beavers warming up in the morning. Dan has a produced a truly inspirational podcast, and I’m getting my seaplane rating next month because of it!

Awesome show! Live on Long Island in NY where all those beautiful birds were made! Keep it up and thank you for bringing me a view of flying history that is so rare...very much appreciated!! Thank you

I have to say this is a refreshing podcast about the seaplane world.... it s a nice mix of technical as well as life realities coverage of a variety of personalities in this world. Check it out!

This will easily become favorite aviation podcast and might inspire you to change your aviation goals. Getting into aviation as a second career and aiming to make it more of a fun career than the first, the idea of flying on floats grows more and more listening to Dan and his guests talk flying boats.

I listen on Spotify but had to come over to give Dan a very well deserved review. Dan has excellent interviewing skills and some excellent guest. Thanks for giving us measly land based pilots something more to dream about!

I’m on the other side of the globe in a landlocked state of the US and stumbled across this podcast. I’m hooked! I’m planning on picking up my single engine seaplane rating this summer, and this show had provided a great glimpse into the world of seaplane flying. Not only that, but it’s really interesting to hear about flying and aviation in other countries. It’s also worth noting, as an American, that the Aussie accents add a nice touch. Keep up the good work!

Excellent idea, Little niche, of creating this podcast that finally explains, shares and embraces the addictive nature of seaplane flying experiences as well as the realization of just how small this industry within the industry really is. Kudos mate.

As a long time Alaska pilot, now living in captivity in the lower 48 (there’s a girl in the story), I was jazzed to follow the podcast - but to hear news from the float world was even better! Thank you for giving voice to such an important segment in aviation! KC

Been binge listening in the shop while working on my grandfathers 41 interstate cadet. Have been in love with seaplanes and especially Grumman seaplanes since reading where is joe merchant when I was a teenager. Hope you can keep making content as I follow all your stuff. Keep up the great work and if you ever make it to Iowa stop by antique airfield I’ll buy the first round. Ben Taylor Antique Airplane Assn. AirPower Museum Antique Airfield

Growing up boating on a lake in Kansas, USA and being a commercial rated pilot, I’ve always had an interest in sea plane flying but have never seen a sea plane before. On The Step has given me valuable information and insight into a potential future career. This podcast is just as entertaining as it is insightful. Definitely am looking to get my sea plane rating after listening to this podcast!

I’m from the California desert, and never realized there’s such an interesting seaplane podcast from amazing Australia. A visit with the Mallard Guy is on my list when we visit friends in Kununurra.

I’ve followed you on Instagram and saw that you had made a podcast. With the content you have on your Instagram I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. I’ve binged all of the episodes and it’s quickly become the highlight of my week! It’s also reinvigorated me to go and complete my commercial float rating so I can pursue my dream of flying floats around the world. Keep up the great work Dan.

Very well done pod cast keeping the torch of the Golden Age of Aviation burning. We are all standing on the shoulders of the airboat pilots that flew the oceans before us. Thank you for keeping their legacy alive and inspiring the next generation coming up behind us. I only have one question..where did you find that glassy water that is in the photo of your On The Step logo??? I have never, ever, ever operated on water like that!! Looking forward in listeneing to more episodes...

As a 22 year old private pilot aspiring to fly for a living, this podcast convinced me that once this covid situation is over, I plan on getting my seaplane rating! Thanks for the great work, keep it up!

As a student pilot who wants to fly seaplanes this is just what I’ve been looking for

Didn’t really listen to aviation podcasts before this but now I’m hooked, really informative and gives an insight into the float world.