Float Rating
 

Hey,

Does anyone recommend where should i go to get a float endorsment?

Maybe who should i avoid?

Had a few mates get their endorsement with Akuna Seaplanes a few years ago in Port Macquarie. Not sure if they still do training or not, but both were pretty happy with the endorsement and spent a lot of hours on the water since.

Thats my Sh#t, Thats my Sh#t
 

Hello,

Welcome to the world of floats. The best decision in your life. Had the float career from wo to go, and no regrets. Took me all over the world, had a ball.

Search this forum, type in floats, seaplanes, float rating, google seaplane pilots association as they will list em all. But the most important thing you can do is do a rating with someone who will put you on as a line driver. There is nothing more useless than a bare float rating. It is nothing like a wheel endorsement, as float landings are the most important factor. And open water experience will see you with advantages for fiji and the maldives later on. There are good opportunities for low timers in the maldives now, but you will need to have had at least your first job in floats before you go. I had to wait my whole career to get there, but now with the shortage and wages that have not moved really since the late 90's with a declining american dollar, the local's have become more self sufficient, although they do take expats still. Some stay forever in floats, and others use it as a great way to get time to move onto somethin else. Once you have salt water and kero running through your veins, you will always have a place on floats to return to no matter what you do in the future.
And with global warming, what better type rating to have. :}

PM me if you need any more. :ok::E

There's a good one in Melbourne based at Williamstown. Has been there for ages. Has 2 x 185's alternating off the floats. Was chatting to him last weekend.

Float endo
 

Rod Gunter
Melb Seaplanes - Williamstown
[email protected]
enjoy
NNB:ok:

Thax guys...I'll chase them up. :D

The last few low float experience pilots to start in the Whitsundays got their endorsements with other organizations. Some only had an endorsement whilst others had a few hours of ICUS as well. Water landings are essential for a job in turbines, however attitude is more important than ICUS to get a start in piston floatplanes.

Probably more important than who you do your endorsement with is the operator you work for - open salt water experience opens up opportunities. Completion of the endorsement is the beginning of the learning process.

The Seaplane Pilots Association of Australia's Training Directory lists some of the operators offering endorsements - however Air Whitsunday is not currently doing endorsements, and I'm not sure what Air Waves or Akuna are able to offer at the moment either.

Quote:

---

Completion of the endorsement is the beginning of the leaning process.

---

. . .. or knowing when to straighten up and fly right. Or how to tweak the mixture.


"I'm glad they invented emoticons, otherwise I wouldn't know what my dad was thinking" – Kerry Godliman

Pretty sure that Cloud nine seaplanes on the gold coast do endorsements in thier 185. Think they offer ICUS too.

Float Endo
 

I did my float endorsement with Akuna Seaplanes. I believe that after some hiccups, they are getting going again in Port Macquarie, I'd really recommend looking them up. Cloud 9 on the gold coast also does endorsements, nice bunch of blokes from what i've seen. PM if you have any more questions mate.

Another option is to go to Vancouver, Canada, and do it there. It will nearly cost you the same as the plane is only $240 p/h by the time you add the airfare there. Basic endo is around $2000 aussie dollars. Weigh it up with accommodation and flights within Australia and i think its pretty comparible, but you get some international flight time, and some duty free booze. Here is a link for you to check out...

Floatplane Training! FloatSafety Seaplane Training, Floatplane Training on Canada's Beautiful West Coast

I am not sure what requirements there are with CASA upon arrival back to Oz if you go this option, but this is stated on the above website...

The process for a foreign licence holder to obtain a seaplane endorsement in Canada is relatively easy. You must first obtain a Limited Term Pilot Licence from Transport Canada. Fill out the Limited Term Pilot Licence section and present it, your pilot licence and valid medical to a Transport Canada Office during business hours. It will cost $40 CAD and is valid for 90 days. It grants you flying privileges here in Canada. When you complete your seaplane training, return to the Transport Canada office with your completed endorsement form and $30 CAD for the fee. They will endorse your Limited Term Licence with the seaplane rating.

When you bring that document home to your own aviation authority, it is up to them to decide whether they will accept it or not and transfer the endorsement to your licence. They may require you to do a check ride or have completed a minimum number of flying hours to honour your Canadian endorsement, or they may just sign it off no problem. Canada is an ICAO state so you would think it should be acceptable. We have tried contacting the Aviation Authorities of Britain and the USA and have yet to receive a qualified answer. The best thing to do would be to inquire at your local aviation authority office and find out before you arrive here.

I hope this gives you another option to think about...

Is anyone aware of any float operators in New Zealand? Ive done a little bit of searching but havent got anywhere.
Thanks Hillson

Floaters and Sinkers
 

Just a little motivation of where you can end up.

Barefoot Pilots Association

Beavers and vans in the whitsundays, Kenny's and Air Whitsunday

185 on Gold Coast 'ELQ, with Cloud 9 Seaplanes. That airplane has been on the bottom, upside down, or broken since its 1968 conseption more times than ones had hot dinners. She did me well. Lovely thing to learn on, and operate commercially.

Beavers in Sydney. Ex Maldives guy there.

Kunnunurra has been a start for plenty of gone places float drivers.

Just google it. Seaplanes in Australia, Seaplane Pilots Association Australia.

Its a great way to get ya hands and feet connected to your brain. Sadly airlines think float guys are cowboys, but I am working on fixin that. I would employ a float guy for any job, hands down.

When you get experience, there are gigs in the Maldives, Bali, Thailand, UAE, Scotland, China, Africa, as well as firefighting if you have right to abode in countries that have em.

:ok:

floats in vancouver
 

I can tell you that Vancouver is a good place to get a float rating, I just got back from there. It cost me 2000 CND for the rating which was 7 hours including 5 solo take off & landings. A limited term licence issued on the back of an icao licence (my UK PPL) took 20 minutes while I waited at the Transport Canada office and cost 30 CND. I flew with Pacifc Rim Aviation who were fantastic and would thoroughly recommend them.

NZ float plane ratings
 

Hillson - give Phil a ring at Volcanic Air Safaris in Rotorua. Their free number won't work for you, but they will be in the international directory. If they don't actually do them, I'm sure he will tell you who does way down in chilly Queenstown, Te Anau etc.

Would be interested in the results.

In Canada airlines hold alot of respect for float pilots. So I dont know why airlines in Oz are like that?:D
I have flowen ELQ...good to see the old girl is still flying!!!! where is TUV these days?
if you go through your float flying career without dinging a plane you have done well. its not easy operating on the water around boats over at Straddy on a sunday arvo.

especially when some bloke in his tinny drops anchor in the middle of the where you just landed .

Hi everyone,

I've recently decided that i'd like to go on the floats for a career but im unsure on how to get a foot in the door so to speak :}! I have found a couple of operators around Croatia and Greece who say they will take low hour pilots and even pay for a float rating for 'the right applicant'. By time I will actually get round to be able to apply for these positions, I should (if all goes to plan!) have a fair amount of hours and reasonable expirience from instructing (I plan to get my instructor rating after gaining my CPL before moving onto the ME/IR).

Essentially, my question is, I have the funds avalible to do a SES rating out in California next March after I have done my FAA PPL (if my M-1 visa interview goes well on the 14th of October :bored:!) and was wondering if it would be worth doing? I think the expirence will be amazing regardless, so if im honest, im very tempted to do it but don't want to 'potentially' waste money that could be used later to get a multi engine commercial sea rating.
Am I making sense with this question.....? :confused:

Forgot to mention (don't know if really matters to much) that I will end up with JAA licences.

Thanks guys and girls

Craig

Not a float driver myself (wish I could afford the rating though:{) but have heard very good things about Bill Lane, he used to run out of Nelson Bay, not sure if he's still there

Does anyone know of any floatplane training in or near to Cairns?

BSD.

Float Training
 

Mr Petticoat Pilot I find your comments in bad taste.

I have flown with Rod Gunter out of Willianstown and have found him to be friendly and helpful. He is conservative and safety consious.
Having veen involved with the float business up north I have seen some operators that are less then good.
Rod is the oppostie.

Mr PP if you have a gripe then be specific but remember the libel laws, or maybe you should just stay home in the land of the Long White Cloud.

R16

Am pretty sure Air Whitsundays are not currently doing endorsements and Akuna is no longer operating so the net aint that good for current up to date info (word on the street is that Akuna are trying to get Port Macqaurie operation back up and running but not sure if/when that will happen)....at the moment Gold coast is about closest to Cairns that you might be able to obtain a float endorsement...try cloud nine seaplanes (staright float 185) or maybe gold coast seaplanes (amphib beaver)

Wow! is it me, or was that a petulant little swipe for no good reason from Pettycoat pilot? ( Thanks, Buddy! )

I had searched the net to find somewhere around Cairns that I might get an hour or two of instruction, as I have 3 days there coming up shortly. I'm not a complete novice seaplane pilot, having over 100 hours mostly in the US and Canada, but all on freshwater. A chance to enjoy a little instruction on the sea has a certain appeal, and seemed an appropriate way to go. Also I have an Australian CPL, though I haven't used it in over 30 years. Hence, the instruction would also have served as a useful refresher. That seems to rule out Cairns seaplanes, who don't seem to be an FTO.

Thanks FOD Hazard, for your reply was exactly what I'd sought, as I'd found Akuna's website to be off the air, and nothing else seemed any good. I'd hoped someone might know something not obvious from a web search. I appreciate your time.

BSD.

If you already have a float endorsement that is recognised by CASA then it might be worth talking to the guys at Cairns seaplanes...private charter with one of their pilots is not really classed as training... i would think that it would be classed as a check ride. check it out

Hi Pettycoat,

Thank you, great info, and just the sort of thing I was hoping for: I appreciate it. With only 3 day in Cairns, looks like a trip to Vic. it will have to wait for another trip.

FOD - now that's a good tip, I'll give them a try. I hold an FAA CPL with SES privileges, my Aus. CPL does not have a float rating on it so it may not work.

Be fun to try though.

Cheers all,

BSD.

Melbourne Seaplanes
 

Hi all

I saw that Rod Gunther's outfit has been referred to a few times here. Just for the record I have been flying as a pilot in both the RAAF and RAN for 17years - Fixed and Rotary wing. Instructing for over 7 years. I did my Float Endorsement with Rod as part of a 'career broadening' move (maybe Canada down the track?). Rod is very professional, the Instruction was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would certainly recommend him.

Just for the record ;)

Rod is a very professional pilot. I've known him for quite a while. He is scrupulous about his maintenance as well. I occasionally help launch and retrieve the plane. I've never, ever, seen him cut corners doing anything. A thorough professional and a great guy. He has a steady flow of customers wanting endorsements as well, and he doesn't skimp on them either.

Come Sunday morning very early, he is winging his way to the North Pole to pick up Santa and deliver him by seaplane to Williamstown.

P.S. Leonie isn't bad either!:ok:

I am looking at obtaining my Float Endorsement early next year at the Gold Coast. Has anyone tried, or got any review about Cloud 9 or Gold Coast Seaplanes?

Hi guys,

I understand that there's lots of float plane training schools situated in Australia.However,are there any schools that are located in South East Asia instead?I've tried looking up on the net but to no avail.Will really appreciate it if anyone could shed some light on this matter.

Cheers,
Vibes

Bill Lane is operating out of Port Macquarie, nice 182 on floats, I think he will also soon operate out of Lake Macquarie with a 206 on floats. 0432328813
Great guy, LOTS of experience, relaxed instructor.
(I am NOT Bill, just did an endorsement with him).

there are not too many float schools left in oz these's day, if your just looking for an float experiance wth you at the controls then maybee go for a flight or two with Steve krug of seawing in sydney, he's qualified to do endo's so if you already have a licence you can fly.

be warned float flying is addictive! we have all the cool landing spots!

YouTube - dhc6 water bungalow approach.wmv

Float Rating
 

Hi everyone, I wana do my Float rating ASAP and im in Fiji.....Any idea wea i can go and get it?

Thanks...:)

Wondering about float rating
 

Hi there,

I am a canadian citizen with a canadian CPL and was curious about whether I should get my float rating in Canada or Australia.

My goal has been to go to Australia and I'm wondering if it is better to get the endorsement before I go and get it converted or just do it there and have everything all set up under Australia. I have looked up some schools and it's about the same price in both places.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

OK, this is assuming that you have the right to live and work in Australia.

Do the training in Canada, there are so many operators out there with a wealth of experience and it'll save you the cost of accommodation if you can find training near to where you live now.

There are a number of very experiences training providers in Australia, I'd strongly recommend either Bill Lane in Port Macquarie or Rod Gunther in Melbourne, you'll get a very good endorsement from these two guys.

Remember a bare endorsement will generally not get you a job, though it has happened for a couple of determined souls.

It's hard work getting in, but nothing much beats being on the water (shoes optional) flying around locations which many only ever see on postcards. :ok:

Strahan Seaplanes will also give you a rating in Tasmanian Wilderness and fickle weather. Accomodation provided during training ...

Recommend Air Whitsunday.

Open water flying in Beaver Ampibs. Enough said :}

Been trying to get my ar@se in there for ages. Great crew, Great operation. Cannot ever imagine leaving if I get in!!!


Rocket:ok:

If you want to come to grips with the beautiful Beaver (DHC2 variety)

check out the Tasmanian Aerial Adventures website.

Excellent crew, affability plus and right in the centre of Hobart.

Float Rating
 

Hey guys,

Anyone know the latest with float endo's in Canada? I've heard of some great places there that do 50hr courses with 25hrs dual and 25 solo while exploring some incredible scenery.

Has anyone done anything like this and how would it effect your chances of work in oz or NZ???

Cheers