Does anybody have experience w/Alaska Floatplane Ratings in Moose Pass? They send me a email every year and I think 2012 might work.

I am interested in a SES rating, but the mountain flying part is also attractive.

It is a big deal in time and money to go, so I hope it will be worth it.

Also, I have to loose 40 pounds to qualify. Not a bad idea but a real problem to achieve.

You don't have to loose 40# to fly with us, [Adventure Seaplanes] C172-C180-C185, we have 790 - 1370# useful on floats with room to spare. We are not in Moose Pass AK but in Minnesota, Canada and Florida, however i can show you moose, polar bears and beluga whales on a flight to Churchill or lots of gators in Florida. Those Super Cubs are fun, but tight and not much payload, on paper that is.

MoosePass Alaska is a beautiful place, and you could time it to doa little fishing while you are in Ak.

The Moose Pass operation doesn't have a very good reputation among pilots I know. Here's another option that is more respected. I have no agenda or interest in either, just answering the question as honestly as I can.
http://www.alaskafloats.com/

The folks at Moose Pass do a good job. If they don't have a "very good reputation" it may be because they don't give away float ratings. They aren't the cheapest place on the planet, but they try to do the job right, as in requiring the applicant to actually learn how to fly a seaplane. If all you want is a quickie rating to add to your certificate, you don't want to go to Moose Pass to do it.

The scenery there is spectacular and they also do some mountain flying training as well.

As you've noted, however, they use Super Cubs as trainers and the stock Super Cub has a VERY low useful load on floats. This is one of the reasons I sold my Super Cub many years ago--I couldn't do seaplane training in it legally with about half the people who contacted me.

These folks will do a good job in the training department, as will several others.

MTV

First time I've ever heard that there is a "reputation problem" with Vern. Stunning!
Everyone I've ever spoken with was impressed with his operation and learned a lot.

Sure, I am a total beginner and just can't tell a float from a prop, but there's actually substantiated reason to agree with Mike.

In my case I went to Moose Pass because of the reputation. All the research I had done before going had pointed to a quality operation. I found this to be the case when I arrived.

If a person is the type that demands "sweetness and honey" type attitude when you lay out some dough, don't go I guess. Don't get me wrong, the folks there (including Vern) are great. But Vern does not sugarcoat anything. He tells it like it is. I found his overall attitude to be one of trying to raise awareness of what can go wrong, and how to avoid bad situations. He hates to see people hurt themselves or others by doing stupid or not well prepared things. This was stressed every morning when we all briefed together.

When I went in 2005, one of the Super Cubs was on different floats and had an higher gross STC I believe. When all suited up in appropriate gear I was right at the cut off-maybe a few over can't remember. It worked out, but I was assigned to that particular aircraft every time, which limited me in the sense that I couldn't go out and just jump in any of the three aircraft that were there. Maybe they don't have that aircraft anymore, or they are just being safety cautious.

Vern certainly does not give away ratings. In my case I had booked the ten hour extended course. I am glad I did. I had no experience in that kind of flying (tandem seat, stick aircraft) and was low time as well in any kind of aircraft. I needed the extra hours. On the other hand the airline captain, former fighter pilot, looked good right off the bat and did the course in the minimums suggested.

Pretty honest set of comments on here for float training so far. Vern does a quality job.
I am just a former Alaska float pilot, so not qualified in the weight department. (remember, we all had "special" gross weight numbers up there in the part 135 business.)
My wife is the expert in weight loss... so here goes. Her advice: You set a goal for float training... it is probably achievable. You set aside the money to travel. Alaska is fun for sure... but pretty dodgy weather on unpredictable days. The losing of 40 pounds before you go.... not realistic.
She doesn't mean to be a pessimist... but it is the one factor that will probably cause the whole project to go in the toilet. So, her advice is find a plane and place that will teach you as is... then go on the diet anyway. Either way you win.
Best of luck.

flightlogic: I think your wife is right.

Everybody else, thanks so much for your comments. I might have to put off a SES rating for another year. Still haven't decided, but I might just go for basic aerobatic training instead. It is closer to home w/less impact on work and maybe (just maybe) I can loose some weight for next year.

As far as weight loss goes, it is possible, and in reasonable time frames. In my case I had shot up to almost 280. My wife talked me into going to "Jenny Craig" with her. She wanted to loose what I call "vanity weight" as she was already in her healthy range (in other words she was there for my encouragement). I started at the end of May, and by November I was down to 235. I have maintained since then, but with the holidays and the enjoyment that goes with that, I have not lost more. I plan on hitting it hard again as of Jan 1.

I really didn't do anything crazy, just ate right (reducing our overly large american portions for more reasonable portions) and started back at the gym more than once or twice a month. I was going five or six times a week. I found that this was too much for my joints and cut it back to 4 times a week, 30 minutes of running, stair climber, or elliptical workouts. Besides the weight loss help, it sure cut down on stress and left me feeling better overall.

Good luck, and it can be done!

MTV, it don't seem to matter in Florida FAA district for W&B as a J3 carries lots of weight in that warm weather?? The 747 captain? from Florida who wrecked my PA12 in Minnesota did his 709 FAA ride for being over wieght in a J3 Cub on 250# Aqua 1500 floats, go figure a W&B! I have had customers that have flown with Vern in Moose Pass and Don in Talkeetna for their SES, lots of different opinions, i'm sure as with me also, it does not matter much as long as you have fun, learn something about float flying and get your $$ worth.

SES vs aerobatic.... that is a whole 'nother thread in itself. I have done both and the floats was a lot more fun, and way more flight time for the money in a float course, and, the SES takes care of your BFR as well.

Where ever you go for your SES make sure that they do river work, and, learn how to ramp a plane. I got mine at a well known place (not mentioned so far) and did neither of those. I then went and ferried a 206 on floats from Minneapolis up to Homer with a friend, we landed on the Missouri twice and landing on moving water is way different (when you consider winds, sand bars and such) than lakes. Three weeks later I did the same trip in a 182 on floats this time solo. Overnighted in Sitka and had to ramp the plane. Had to call same friend (who had spotted herring there that season) and ask how to do it while taxiing at idle around the harbor in the plane. Took me three times, each time adding more and more power and thinking I was going to launch over it. Fortunately there wasn't any other float planes on the ramp at that time of year, but I am sure everyone in the harbor had a good laugh.

Mountain flying should be a course in itself, in my very humble opinion.

You should do it, and have a great time!

You cannot learn evrything in a basic SES course for $1200, you get what you pay for! If i was going to do a trip like that i would want to get some advanced training with a professional SES CFI that has lots of experience. I have seen several poor judgement pilots wreck their planes because they were either to cheap to get good advanced float training or they new evrything already after a 5 hour SES rating flying a cub then going in a overlaoded cessna.

I got my float training and check ride in my own plane from a guy with great credentials and who soon after became the safety program manager at the Anchorage FSDO. Once the requirements of the checkride were satisfied he elbowed me and said "You're a float pilot. Now let me show you how to fly this thing." We spent another few hours out flying doing 40* flap steep approaches over obstacles, one float step turns around corners, circle departures off small lakes, turning departures around bends in rivers, etc. That was one of the most fun flights I've ever had. I always enjoy flying with instructors and learning new techniques but for a then new float guy, that was serious fun. I wouldn't care for a school atmosphere myself. Latch on to a good instructor and take some time to fly in different conditions.

For guys who mix vacations and flight training, another good Alaska option exists right at Lake Hood. Again, I have no agenda but to offer options. This guy has a really good rep among really good pilots. http://acmecub.blogspot.com/

Bushbird:

It is true: You cannot get everything in a short course. I just believe he should make sure to get river and ramp training, both of which easily could have been covered in the course which I took but weren't. Split up the lake landings with some on a river, and ramp it once or twice when coming in for fuel. I am quite certain the instructor would have done it if I had known to ask.

The trip wasn't that big of a deal, as I mentioned I did the first trip along the same route with a friend that makes her living flying floats up here. She is not a "professional SES CFI", but she makes her living flying floats up here (and she does have her CFI). I felt comfortable by the time I made my trip, except for the darn ramp thing. Still learning.

Back to the original thread get: I have heard great things about both Moose Pass and the Talkeetna operation. Both areas are magnificent, and when you are up, come down to Homer, if it is not in the middle of summer, I might be able to get away from work and we can go explore some lakes and such around here.

Took my SES at Sheble's in Bullhead City, worked both river and lake, glassy water and small waves, steep turns and more, did not do ramps but did do docking (very easy to dock on a moving river)

Not great scenery but the wife and kids played in Vegas while I flew about.

shorton wrote:did not do ramps but did do docking (very easy to dock on a moving river)

Try docking with a crosswind, or better yet, an upstream wind.....you'll develop a different opinion.

That's the deal with seaplane ops...every landing is 'off airport' and every move on the surface can develop a completely different character. Brian's right that you can't cover EVERYthing in a short course, but you can sure hit the high points. Unless, of course, there's no moving water within fifty miles....

MTV

I did my float rating with Vern in Moose Pass and had a great experience. Went back two times for bi-annuals. On both learned alot. Don't have to deal with ATC or take expensive time to get out of the pattern and to a practice area. I highly recommend Alaska Float Rating.

One of my friends is going there to instruct, he is pretty excited to go fly in AK


Tom

guycole wrote:Does anybody have experience w/Alaska Floatplane Ratings in Moose Pass? They send me a email every year and I think 2012 might work.

I am interested in a SES rating, but the mountain flying part is also attractive.

It is a big deal in time and money to go, so I hope it will be worth it.

Also, I have to loose 40 pounds to qualify. Not a bad idea but a real problem to achieve.

Did you ever get to do your float rating this summer?