Ford, you can check your Outbox in the Private Messages area. If the message you wrote Seaplanepilot is there, it means he hasn't picked it up yet.

Seaplane- Check your Private Messages Inbox. If you didn't get a notification email, it might be disabled in your profile, or the emails could be getting filtered out as spam (I can't control that...you might be able to mark them "not spam.")

Rob: I sent you another PM, will see if I did it correctly. One way or the other, if you want more info on visiting us or anything else as far as flying into Baja, e-mail me at [email protected] I plan on flying to Punta Pescadero on Sunday. A friend pressure washes his C-182 every Sunday and has offered to let me wash mine as well. Since the plane is parked about 1/3 mile from the Sea of Cortez, keeping the salt off is important. Later, Ford

I know this thread is a little old, but I am new to the site (and a fantastic site it is!) I have to add my kudos for Vern Kingsford and Alaska Float Ratings. I worked on my seaplane rating at Alaska Float Ratings while on layovers with my day job back in September, 2002. It is the most fun I have ever had on layovers! And to reiterate what others have said, it was as much a bush flying, mountain flying course, as a seaplane flying course. I have been back twice for a little refresher (read: additional "kick in the pants" layovers.) I hope to own a floatplane someday, except it would be pretty worthless in Colorado, where there are no public waters where floatplanes are allowed.

I would recommend Vern Kingsford and Alaska Float Ratings to anyone who is looking for a fun and very educational seaplane rating!

The big problem with seaplane instructors is that they are all so full of themselves .

Anybody who goes to Moose Piss, tell Vern Mike V said so .

Vern runs a good operation.

There are some good SES operations around the country. Kenmore Air used to run one of the best, but I have no experience with them lately so I don't know what they are like these days. They run a top notch operation in everything they do, though.

Here is something to consider, if you are thinking about a SES rating, though:

What sort of environment does the operator you are looking at work in?

Will you get a REAL diversity of experiences: Fast rivers, big lakes, REAL confined areas, docking, beaching, step turns, etc, etc.

Do the instructors who are teaching there have "actual" working seaplane experience, or are they simply last year's crop of graduates?

I taught SES in Fairbanks, AK for a number of years, and I ALWAYS got applicants into very swift rivers for that experience, and into a variety of situations as well. There aren't a lot of places you can do that. (I'm not there anymore, by the way).

If you go to Florida, say, for your float rating, you are going to short yourself, simply because there is not the variety of training opportunities in that part of the world. That is not intended as a reflection on the operators there, by the way, simply that it would not be my choice of someplace to go for a "real" float rating.

If all you want is a quickie $600 "vanity rating" special, there's lots of places that can do that.

Get one of those and buy your own seaplane and you're an accident looking for a site to happen.

Remember that opinions are like ummm.....never mind.

The point is, the only one that doesn't stink is my own .

For what its worth.

MTV

I've been wanting to add this rating for a long time just for the new flying experience. I also figure it can give me some more knowledge that I can apply to the rest of my flying on wheels. Since I don't have a set of floats the rating probably wouldn't get used, but if I ever do figure out how to afford it I'm sure I'll go out and add a whole lot more instruction to the package in as many of the conditions that you mentioned as possible, Mike. Wouldn't make sense not to, and it would probably make the insurance company a whole lot happier too.

Happy Easter

Good points Mike. I agree with all of them. I have a friend who got a quickie seaplane rating in Oklahoma. He learned the "technique" for a glassy water landing, but has never seen actual glassy water. Doing a "real" glassy water landing will definitely make a believer out of you.

I also have an acquaintance who got his rating at another quickie rating operator where he wasn't allowed to actually dock the aircraft. He was told by the owner/Designated Examiner after his checkride, "You realize that you don't really have the skills to go and fly a real seaplane solo, don't you?"

I firmly believe that the education I received from Alaska Float Ratings was top notch and prepared me to actually fly a float plane. I will say though, after reading your post, that I realize one shortcoming. I didn't do any work on rivers. So in addition to a good refresher, I will need some instruction on rivers before I will be ready to go out and continue to learn on my own, if I ever get a seaplane to fly!

Mike

P.S. I am sure that there are many other places other than Alaska Float Ratings that do an excellent job of preparing floatplane pilots. I just knew after I first set foot in Alaska (or I should say Anchorage, which is very close to Alaska!), rented a bike and rode out to Lake Hood on a Sunday afternoon to watch seaplanes come and go, that Alaska was where I wanted to go to get my seaplane rating.

Ford: Where are you getting your floats on? I work at Kenmore Air in Kenmore on Lake Washington and was just wondering where you were going for that. By the way if your are flying around the northwest the fuel at kenmore is pretty reasonable. Stop in anytime everyone is very friendly.

I have a question for all the CFI's or Examiners out there about SES rating.

Can a SEL only rated pilot legally fly an amphib or flying boat type aircraft?

I couldn't find anything in the FARs. Is there something in the AIM that would address this question?

Hello everyone.

I am up and running with my own seaplane operation now. Anyone wishing to have the greatest time ever, in an airplane can now do it in the great state of Idaho.

Rob

Rob,

So it was you who stole ol' Yankee Victor away from us - We were totally bummed by this of course but somebody came up with a Top Cub to replace her so we are less bummed than before...

Brad

(feel free to use any pictures of it you want)

http://pix.tckid.net/gallery2/v/BradT/a ... ?g2_page=3

Just to let everyone know....My seaplane school is now open in McCall, Idaho. I have flown with Vern and other operators, and can assure you that you will love getting your seaplane rating here in Idaho. Please check us out and pass the word. Fly Safe.

www.seaplaneratings.com

The cost of dual is $195 per hour. $50 for the plane...and
$145 for the floats....

Couple of things:

If you were referring to the guy over in Wenatchee on the Columbia who was advertising float ratings in a Cub, I think we lost him in an accident a year or so ago while flying another aircraft. It may be another outfit but his was the only one I knew about.

Recommendations for Maule instruction in the PNW:

1. Dave Wiley at Wiley Seaplane Base 2OG3 in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He is right on the Willamette River a few miles up stream from downtown. Instruction does not get any better than this. Email: [email protected] Phone: 503/636-4930

2. Kenmore Air Harbor at the top of Lake Washington has a number of floatplane instructors who fly Beavers, Otters, and 180's commercially and also offer flight instruction.

3. I think George Kirkish does float instruction out of www.island-air.com

N18NV,

The information you are looking for IS in the FAR. THere is no seaplane section though.

If you are flying an amphibian with NO constant speed propeller(a Cub, for example), or one with no wing flaps, it is NOT considered a "complex" aircraft, by definition of the FAR's, even though it has a retractable landing gear. The test for a complex aircraft is three parts:

1) A controllable propeller (constant speed)

2) Wing Flaps

3) Retractable Landing gear, except in the case of seaplanes, which are only required to be equipped with retractable water rudders to be considered complex.

If your amphibian possesses a constant speed prop and wing flaps, it is considered a "complex" aircraft. You must have flown a complex aircraft before the effective date of the FAR (early 90s) OR have an endorsement from a qualified CFI stating that they have given you training in a complex aircraft.

If the amphibian has an engine with OVER 200 hp (and it must be at least 201 hp), then you must also possess a "high performance" endorsement in your logbook.

If you are flying a seaplane (non amphibian) with a controllable propeller and wing flaps, you must have a "complex" endorsement, even though the airplane doesn't have retractable wheels.

If you really want the citations, I'll look them up.

MTV

Speaking of seaplane instruction:

Mary Alverson and her 160hp Cub on straight Wips teaches over at Madden's resort here in Brainerd ( www.maddens.com ask for Ben Thuringer) and down in the cities. This airplane and a Top Cub replaced the one Rob ran off with...

Brad

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... &pos=-2343

pacer 160- Adam:

Sorry to take so long to reply to your posting to me in May. I have been MIA on this board and I won't let that happen again. Had to get my wife to help me log in (problems with being case sensitive) and I just asked for help today.

I bought my floats from Kenmore Air, Eric Johanson, had them completely overhauled and installed by Ace Aviation in Renton, WA. Both organizations are first class and a joy to deal with.

Wife, dog and I have been flying all over the northwest, primarily in the interior of British Columbia. Have made 4 camping trips to remote lakes and will leave this Friday for our next one. This has been the best summer of my life and I hope to have many more.

For the second year in a row, we attended the British Columbia Floatplane Association's annual fly-in to Nimpo Lake, BC. Last year I was on wheels but this year I was on floats. Both years was a total blast. Great bunch of pilots, beautiful setting, and a wonderful lunch and dinner. This group is worth joining as it shares the goal of keeping remote flying accessible to the public. Before the BCFA got going, Parks Canada was in the process of severely restricting plane access to the parks. With co-operation between the BCFA and Parks Canada, we now have almost unrestricted access. This is done thru a pre-authorization process that takes place over the BCFA's website and Parks Canada.

I got my insurance required make and model dual from a local CFI/owner of a C-180 on floats. My biggest surprise so far is how badly floats affect the performance of a plane. I am guilty of carrying full fuel and plenty of other "important" gear while on wheels. This is a whole new experience on floats and operating out of 4,000 & 5,000 msl lakes.

I am going to make an effort to be a bit more active on this board as the members seem to be pretty passionate about off airport flying. Later, Ford

More messing about with floatplanes:


<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=938384&server=www.vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color="> <param name="quality" value="best" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="scale" value="showAll" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=938384&server=www.vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=" /></object><br /><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/938384/l:embed_938384">MN Float Flying</a> from <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/user400337/l:embed_938384">Brad Thornberg</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/l:embed_938384">Vimeo</a>.

BRD,

Man that is great! Thanks for sharing.

C ya, Bub

Glad you liked it Bub, we have to cram in as much fun as possible during the few months of summer we actually get around here.

(Snow forecast yet this week

Great video BRD! Thank you!