FROM AIR TO WATER, FLAVAN HAS PILOTING AS LIFELONG VOCATION

David Flavan of St. Charles realized many years ago that a river excursion boat would be a great asset to his historic community and his own businesses.

First, he tried to talk the owners of two excursion boats into bringing their boats to St. Charles. Neither could be lured so Flavan decided he would do it himself. The rest is history.

Since its arrival five years ago, the Spirit of St. Charles riverboat has been as popular with tourists as the restored, downtown part of the city, formerly the first state capital of Missouri.

The riverboat also proved popular in Cape Girardeau. It was the centerpiece of the city's Riverfest celebration this weekend.

Flavan's accomplishment is even more remarkable considering he never worked a day on the river for pay. Most of Flavan's adult life has been in the cockpit of a commercial jetliner. Until his retirement, Flavan piloted passenger jets for Eastern Airlines, Trans World Airlines and Saudi Air. He was educated to be an electrical engineer.

He now owns the riverboat along with Noah's Ark, a combination hotel and restaurant along Interstate 70.

Flavan says there really isn't that much difference between flying passengers in a jet plane and transporting them on a riverboat.

"In one, you're providing a speedy form of transportation for business or pleasure, while the other is a slower form of transportation for pleasure," he said.

In both instances, Flavan said, you are working with the public, which expects good service.

Flavan purchased the Spirit of St. Charles in 1987 from its builder, Marine Builders, Inc., of Utica, Ind., after the original purchaser ran out of money to complete the boat.

The 98-foot-long by 34-foot-wide all-steel vessel is powered by two, 300-horsepower Cummins diesel engines. Two smaller diesel engines generate electricity for the boat and power the hydraulic steering system.

In addition to the captains, the boat normally carries a crew of 11 or 12.

The Spirit of St. Charles is really a family business. Besides Flavan, who is the president and owner of Spirit of St. Charles Riverboats, Inc., there is J. Dennis Flavan, his son, who is general manager of the riverboat operations and one of its three captains/pilots.

The two other captains, Robyn Ruff and Greg Bax, grew up as kids with Dennis Flavan and spent a lot of time together on family houseboats.

Dennis Flavan's 14-month-old son, John David Flavan II, isn't quite old enough to handle the wheel in the pilothouse, but he's learning fast. He made his first trip on the boat when he was 15 days old. On Saturday, John David was in the pilothouse with his dad.

For Greg Bax, piloting the Spirit of St. Charles is the best of two jobs. He helps out several nights a week with the evening cruises from St. Charles. During the day, he owns and operates a company that installs commercial telephones and security systems. Bax designed and built the security system aboard the Spirit of St. Charles.

When she's not piloting the Spirit of St. Charles, Ruff works as marketing manager for a company that sells amusement rides.

Dennis Flavan says Greg and Robyn bring the unique expertise of their daily jobs to the Spirit of St. Charles. "They have both been invaluable to the company," said the younger Flavan.

All three had to pass a stiff Coast Guard examination to obtain their passenger vessel pilot's license. In addition to taking the written examination, each had to appear before a Coast Guard board for an oral interview. Before taking the exam, each had to be recommended to the Coast Guard by two licensed passenger vessel pilots.

Dennis Flavan says when it ~comes ~to carrying passengers, the Coast Guard is selective in licensing pilots.

"We are licensed to carry 300 passengers and that's all," said the younger Flavan. "If we have 301 or 310 on board and something happens, the Coast Guard could pull our license, which is our livelihood."

Bax says one of the pleasures of the job, besides actually operating the riverboat, is the interesting people that come on board.

"No cruise is ever alike. Each one is different, with different people," he said. "I really enjoy our day-long, Three-Rivers Cruise, from St. Charles to Pere Marquette State Park on the Illinois River. I have met a lot of people on those cruises, and have become good friends with a lot of them."

Dennis Flavan says the work is never boring.

"If there is a negative aspect of the work, it's that it has to end each night," he said. "You've heard the old saying, `You find a job you love and you never work a day in your life.' That's the way I feel about the Spirit of St. Charles."

He says piloting the Spirit of St. Charles is different than steering a large towboat. First, the excursion boat responds much quicker to changes in the rudders. But the boat is also affected by strong wind, since over 90 percent of its mass is above the waterline. The boat has a four foot draft.

Dennis Flavan says docking is perhaps the most difficult part of operating a passenger boat, especially when docking at a different location. "My first couple of dockings at Cape Girardeau were a little bumpy because I had to do everything reverse from the way I dock at St. Charles," he said. "But after I learned the `feel' of the current where we dock, it was much easier."

Dennis Flavan said he is very pleased with the number of people who rode the Spirit of St. Charles during Riverfest. He noted several of the cruises were sold out before the boat arrived Thursday evening. Many of the afternoon cruises on Saturday were also sold out in advance.

"This is the longest distance the Spirit of St. Charles has ever traveled from its home port," he said. "We have taken charters as far as Jefferson City, but we've never traveled this far away from home. We've enjoyed being a part of your Riverfest."