Floatplane training in Canada

[Vedeneyev]

Can anyone recommend a JAR approved floatplane training centre in Canada for a UK based PPL, preferably around Alberta? I think I remember reading an article in one of the mags last year but can't remember where. Thought about Jack Brown's but the Mrs is adamant we've got to go to Canada....

Any help appreciated, thanks...

[JoeCo]

If you're planning on doing the rating in the near future, you will obviously have to consider how hard the water is, i.e. ice!!;) Plus many of the operators will have most likely have put all their water-based planes on dry land or onto wheels. However, a good place to do some research on the subject would be here: http://www.canadianseaplane.com/index.htm

If it has to be Alberta, then take a look at this site. http://www.pilotshack.com/Seaplanes.html Although there is only the one operator mentioned, I personally did my float rating there and have nothing negative to say about the experience. Had a GREAT time and learned many useful tricks in a "real world" setting. I would recommend.

As for the JAR requirement, I don't know if you'd be able to find that here in Canada. Maybe? Is it REALY necessary? Will you be flying floats back in the UK?? Actually, is there any float flying in the UK??

Anyway, hope it helps!!

Joe

[benoss]

I know nothing about where to train in Canada (sorry). But i was wondering if anyone knew about the employment situation for seaplane pilots in Canada, or the US and also the rough cost of a floatplane endorsement?

[zakpeegoodus]

Hey Benoss...

To get a job flying floats in Canada you will need a work visa and a Canadian CPL - which means doing their flight test and written exam - budget $2,000 for that.
A float endorsement will cost you another $2,000 or so.
If you are under 31, you can obtain a one year working holiday visa without too much hassel.
To get a job - you will need 1000 float hours for most places.
I was lucky and scored a seat with 250 hours. With zero float time, forget it...
Good luck! The flying in awesome!

[benoss]

umm, just out of interest..
how do you get your first 1000 hours in a float?

[justcurious]

Benos,
Given that you're Aussie, you could likely get on with Maldivian Air Taxi, and acquire time as co-pilot to do what you want with. Post 9-11, there are a number of operations faced with a Catch-22 for new hire pilots. I believe the 1000 hours floats represents Single otter or turbine single otter requirements.
MAT requires 1000 float 500 on the Twin Otter, for Captains.

[zakpeegoodus]

I was in the Maldives late last year looking for work. There are two companies there, Maldivian Air Taxi (MAT )and Trans Maldivian Airways
( TMA ). On paper you need only a commercial and float rating to apply for a co-pilot position ( plus and instrument rating for MAT ).
However, the only low time co-pilots there are Maldivian nationals. The government is understandably reluctant to issue work visas for foreign co-pilots when there are locals that can fill the positions. Unless you are near to having (Twin Otter Float) Captain qualifications there is little point for either MAT or TMA to push through with your paper work - unless you have friends in either company...
Unfortunately, you will find that most companies in Canada want 1000h float time, for even a Beaver or C-185 seat. Of-course there are exceptions to that, but I was told that insurance companies are VERY VERY reluctant in Canada to have a pilot with less than 200 float hours on their books for commercial operations. Makes it hard hey...who's gonna pay for 200 float hours ICUS?!
Best chance for float job is Australia...far fewer companies than Canada, but there are fewer float pilots down under sniffing out jobs too - plus it is possible to get a start here with a bare float rating, but again, it isn't easy...

[Groo]

Try these guys.

http://www.air-hart.com

I don't know if their JAA approved, but at least they have a good reputation in Canada.

Their big enough that there's some chance they might try to investigate JAA approval.

[Vedeneyev]

Well thanks for your advice guys... Just got back from a two week trip - ended up going to Air-Hart in Kelowna in the end and had a fantastic time flying through the Okanagan. Thought I'd leave this for anyone doing a search for an answer to a similar question in the future: Air-Hart, can't recommend them enough!

http://www.btinternet.com/~dan_mcginn/float.jpg

If anyone's got any questions about the operator or how to obtain the float rating in Canada on a JAR license, please feel free to PM me.

[MLS-12D]

umm, just out of interest ... how do you get your first 1000 hours in a float?Take a look at apprenticeship (http://ebushpilot.com/dudley.htm).

Also, you might enjoy the Maldives (http://ebushpilot.com/humbird.htm), "Have You Ever Been in a Boat?" (http://ebushpilot.com/haveyou.htm), and this Fiji (http://ebushpilot.com/fiji1.htm) story.

[Clearedils]

"If you are under 31, you can obtain a one year working holiday visa without too much hassel".

Does anyone know how?
i can not find anything on the canadian immigration website?

Thanks.