Seaplane FAA Multi Rating

[flybywire380]

Hi All,

I would be grateful if anyone has any recommendations on where to obtain an FAA seaplane multi-engine rating (AMES) please?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[AdamFrisch]

Three that I know of. Rick Hensch at Florida Seaplanes does the multi on a Grumman Widgeon if you want to get the amphibian experience. It's about $500/hr and takes about 5-8hrs to do. He'll let you do the MES alone (one of the few who will), but it would probably not be a bad idea to do the SES on his Maule on floats at the same time.

Florida Seaplanes (http://www.flyfloatplanes.com)

Sheble Aviation in Arizona does a multi on their old Beech 18 on floats on Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Very beautiful part of the world. You'll have to do their single engine rating first on the Lake Buckaneer LA4-200 before they allow you on the Beech.

Welcome to Sheble Aviation | shebleaviation.com (http://www.shebleaviation.com)

ESP Aviation in Florida also does a multi rating on the Republic Twin Bee which is another amphibian. Think you can do the MES alone.

Multi Engine Seaplane Rating | Twin Engine Republic Seabee Training in Sunny Florida (http://www.mesrating.com)

I researched extensively a couple of years ago when I was looking at buying a Piaggio Royal Gull (which is an amphibian). My plan was to do it on the Widgeon, as it was the closest I could come to the Gull and Rich seemed like a nice guy. In the end it didn't happen, but it's on my list of things to do at some point. A note - unlike in EASA land in FAA land you need to do a check ride for each rating. A MES check ride does not give you any privileges on SEL aircraft, bizarrely enough.

And when you're done, you can start saving up for the Gweduck kit!

https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1384105_564197383629571_325132158_n.jpg

[S-Works]

You can do it at Jack Browns on the Twin Bee.

[flybywire380]

AdamFrisch, bose-x,

Thanks very much for your replies - 'much appreciated. Those are the ones that came-up in the Google search, so good to know I haven't missed any; I will indeed look into those.

AdamFrisch - thanks for the advice re doing the single and then the multi - at least I can then fly MES & SES!

[Eyetriguy]

If anyone has an update on this it would be great. Unfortunately the three listed no longer offer the multi seaplane rating.

Thank you

Hi All,

I would be grateful if anyone has any recommendations on where to obtain an FAA seaplane multi-engine rating (AMES) please?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Pilot DAR]

Before you seek out what is probably very rare training, determine if you need it. I have a multi engine seaplane rating in Canada, though I have never flown one here, only singles. By regulatory acceptance in Canada, if you have a land multi engined rating, and a seaplane rating, the combination of the two allows you to fly multi engined sea. Check if it is similar for your authority. For the purpose of of multi engined flight disipline, the landing gear is hardly relevant.

[340drvr]

State by state list of seaplane schools here:

https://www.seaplanepilotsassociation.org/resources/seaplane-schools/

Look like here https://www.waterwings.com/multi-engine-sea-ratings with a Widgeon,
and here https://www.goosehangar.com/multiengine-seaplane-rating with a Goose...….way cool, but can you say "expensive?"

[340drvr]

Just heard about this
http://www.aircam.com/media-and-news/news/aircam-news/aircam-gets-faa-training-approval


where these guys have AirCam training, but do not list it as available for the rating.
https://www.waterwings.com