Landing a float plane on ice / snow ?

[stilton]

Of course ski planes are designed for this but I wonder if float planes
can / or have landed on ice or snow.


Would this damage / overstress the float structure, or would the main problem be directional ?!

[9 lives]

Yes, it is possible, but generally unwise. I have done it a couple of times, when an abnormal situation made it the better choice. There is no reason that anything should be overstressed, though float bottoms are not as robust as ski bottoms, and hitting something hidden by the snow could result in damage. The other more real world problem is that freezing down is unhappily common, and much more likely to be a big problem with the floats than skis, whose bottoms generally are covered in slippery plastic.

Directional control is not great, but usually not a serious problem, as lateral room is generally better than a runway. I have landed floatplanes on grass runways, and that is more un nerving, as the last of the slide, you're just along for the ride!

It is very certainly one of those things in flying for which if you need to ask if you can - you cannot!

[stilton]

Thanks Step Turn (just figured out your use name)


Very interesting, you answered a question I always wondered about, sounds like a blast.


Best wishes.

[rick1128]

Step Turn, While the landing can be interesting, and I have done a few myself, the take off from a towed trailer is even more interesting. You need a powerful enough tow vehicle and a driver that doesn't slow when you lift off. He actually needs to speed up a bit. If he doesn't, the result is normally a crease in the roof the the tow vehicle.