My daily fuel-up
I’m addicted to Starbucks coffee to get the day started. I only need a cup, unless it’s a long day and then I’ll have another late in the afternoon. I go to the one on Queens Quay or at Yonge and Roxborough when they open at 6 a.m., and I always order a double tall, non-fat latte, then drink it as I take the ferry to work.

My encyclopedia for oenophiles
My wife, Catherine, gave me the Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson. It’s useful when I want some background on what I’ve chosen to serve. We tend to favour California, but it’s hard to ignore what’s happening in the Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County. The Tawse organic winery makes pretty special wine; it’s like velvet.

Float plane commute
In the summer, I leave my office at the Toronto City Centre Airport on a Thursday or Friday night, unknot my tie as I walk to my amphibious float plane, and 45 minutes later, I pull right up to my boathouse on Lake Rosseau.

A map of the Big Apple
In the two years leading up to the launch of our Newark route, I got to know New York much better than before. My map of Manhattan never leaves my briefcase.

My favourite trophy
People think Ducks Unlimited is about hunting, but it’s really a conservation group devoted to preserving the wetlands so that migratory habits can continue to thrive. As a long-time donor, I’ve been given their little duck award. It makes a good paperweight.

My aviation inspiration
I probably wouldn’t be in aviation today if my 85‑year-old father hadn’t been a pilot during WWII. He learned to fly on a Harvard aircraft. I bought and kept a vintage one for six years for sentimental value. I’ve since sold it, but a friend gave me a model.

Getting away from it all
This summer, a friend and I spent time on the Restigouche River in New Brunswick. There’s no BlackBerry reception, which meant I could concentrate on the environment and tranquility and fishing. I keep all my gear in an equipment room at home.

My local bistro
Pastis Express (1158 Yonge St., 416-928-2212) is within walking distance of where I live. It’s a comfortable place to go if you don’t feel like cooking. I’m a creature of habit, so I always order either the veal or the duck leg and frites and a salad.

Good reception
These days, I wear my Bluetooth headset more than ever, mostly at the insistence of family members who don’t want me talking on the phone and driving at the same time.

My New Balance shoes
I’ve done two marathons—Ottawa and Nanisivik on Baffin Island—and I used to run six days a week. These days, I’m so busy in the morning that if I can run a couple times a week, I’m doing quite well.

Related:
• Lawrason on Wine: County Terroir, Tawse, Lifford Highlights
• Intelligent Design: Meet the designer of Porter Air’s chic flight attendant uniforms