About Emerald Air Service
Emerald Air Service is Homer's longest-standing bear viewing company, operating guided floatplane adventures for more than 35 years from its base on Lake Shore Drive. The family-run flight service specializes in fly-out trips across Cook Inlet to Katmai National Park, where guests watch coastal brown bears feeding, fishing, and roaming in their natural habitat.
The company's signature outing is a guided expedition into Katmai, where naturalist guides lead small groups on a scenic floatplane flight and an extended day on the ground observing bears — Emerald is known for offering roughly five hours of ground time, significantly longer than many operators. A self-guided Brooks Falls trip lets independent travelers explore the world-famous waterfall where bears gather to catch leaping salmon, and scenic flightseeing charters showcase the glaciers, coastline, and mountains of the region from the air.
Emerald Air Service stands out for its decades of experience, its emphasis on small groups and naturalist guiding, and the generous time it gives guests in the field. For visitors who want a genuine, unhurried bear-viewing experience rather than a quick fly-by, Emerald's long ground time and seasoned pilots make it a benchmark Homer operator for wildlife photography and once-in-a-lifetime encounters.
