Which Floatplane school?

[Ella]

I was hoping to do my floatplane rating in the UK later this year. It would seem to be down to Caledonian/Neils(Both on Loch Earn)/Northern Ireland.

Can I ask who from previous experience you might recommend as I've spoken to a few pilots who have travelled north only to sit around for two weeks looking at waves too big to land on.

Get a nice High pressure system and you're quids in but it looks any other weather system and you are only spending money on accomadation and coffee.

All replies appreciated.

E

[BHenderson]

Have you considered doing some float training in the States? Seems like more of an adventure to me.

[Solar]

I did my rating with "The Amphibious Flying Club" at ST Angelo Enniskillen under the instruction of Steve Powell and can't recommend it highly enough. My problem was that we struggled to find rough enough water on the loughs for the rough water training. I know we could have flown another couple of minutes and used the sea but this means having to wash the plane with fresh water all the time.
Its easier for me as I live in NI but lets face it in the UK the weather is always going to be a factor and there is great craic to be had around Enniskillen.

[fisbangwollop]

Hopefully PH-UKU will be along shortly and give you some good advise.

[Blink182]

I had an hours Amphib flying in the Husky at Neils last year .... used as the bi-annual instructional flight........ Very enjoyable and I learnt a lot. Very through briefing and de-briefing.

Recommended !

[grow45]

Caledonian Seaplanes were victims of the winter storms and as of mid-february appear to be without an aircraft. I assume if the position had changed their web site would have been updated - http://www.caledonianseaplanes.co.uk/news/3/16.html.

So if you are looking to do it soon Neil or TAFC at Enniskillen are probably your best bet. Not flown with TAFC but can recommend Neil.

Is there not somebody down south with a Cessna 182 on amphibious floats proposing to offer ratings? There was an article about it in Pilot a few months ago. Might be closer to home.

g45

[172driver]

I know of a few people who've done the rating in Italy. There is (was?) a school on Lake Como. Google them, at least the wx should be a bit more amenable than in the UK....

[jevans7000]

I can recommend Neils seaplanes. Flew with him last summer. Not only did we learn to fly sea planes but learnt about mountain flying too. Hope to get back up to Scotland again this year and do some more sea plane flying with him. I think his aircraft was a Husky and it was an amphibian not just a sea plane.

[irish seaplane]

Hey,
Looked at your post and I've spent time at each of the 4 options you mentioned (Cal Sea/Neils/Como/The Amhib Flying Club). I own my own floatplane. Its at my house. I fly float 3 times a week. Alot of schools turn seaplane flying into a black art and treat the SES rating as something of an "elitist gang" - which is something I don't like at all. The course is turned into "I know best, this is the way I do it, don't listen to him over there, oh no thats too dangerous" week of head scratching.

In terms of getting the most out of what will be quite an expensive week, and possibly of limited use, with the potential to consume large sums of money to keep current this "add on" to you PPL - I'd be looking for the following attributes in a school.

- A relaxed low ego instructor
- A large variety of unrestricted water close by
- A large number of docking/mooring/ramping/beaching options
- A aircraft that can handle winds of 25Kts plus (To see what happens if you get caught out, and why its not nice to be on a lake in a windy day)
- A opportuinity to get advanced techniques shown to you by someone who is keen to share knowledge, not someone who's keen to drink "espresso"...Anyone who's been to Como knows what I'm saying

These are the factors I consider to be most important, and having been to all the schools, being an owner, being someone who's keen on growing the community - I'd have to say I'd go to The Amphibious Flying Club. I been to them all, I know them all, but this is the best one out there.

William

[corsair]

Irish Seaplane. You don't by chance happen to be the owner of the yellow Cub I saw floating by the boathouse when I overflew Lough Owel the other day?

Coincidentally I was flying a certain 172 which has been converted for floats, although it was in landplance mode. It's also for sale at the moment I believe.

[stocker]

Irish,

what kind of hourly rate are we talking about?

Pu/t that is.

[irish seaplane]

Yep - Yellow J3-90 is mine.... Hard to hide it. I dont rent it out or have any commercial aspect to my operation. Always willing to swop time for time in something interesting.

Think I know the 172 you spoke of if its on EI reg.... A great machine but needs all the HP it can get to work on amphibs. One straight floatplane is enough for anyone


William

[corsair]

Excellent, the setting looks idyllic from the air. I saw a similar Cub floatplane on Lake Champlain in Vermont a few years ago. There is nothing quite as nice a yellow Cub floatplane sitting by a Lake.

[dalailama]

I recently went to Lake Como to start the rating there. I live in London and found it was the same price to fly to milan and take the short train trip to Como than if I flew up to Scotland

Aero Club Como were great, all the instructors spoke good english and the planes were extremely well maintained

Also the scenery was great too

Ashley

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I had planned on operating a sea plane flight training school as a retirement hobby.....

....however I can't afford the frontal lobotomy I would need to be able to deal with Transport Canadas flight training cretins.

I just can't limit the few years I have left to being subjected to dealing with that mentality....and my circle of friends would be limited after the lobotomy.

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

Can highly recommend Neil's Husky at the western end of Loch Earn... He's very good at progressing things and getting things done and I managed to do the whole rating in just over 3 days.....But we did have superb weather for it and I sat the CAA Commercial Seaplane exam at Gatwick beforehand to save time (and just in case i ever get to use my newly acquired C208 rating on floats)

We flew round virtually the whole of Western Scotland, landed at several different lochs, Oban & Glenforsa using the wheels and also visited a lochside hotel we had previously stayed at for afternoon tea.... Marvellous flying and well worth the trip just to see the scenery. Landing on Loch Rannoch, beaching on a small isolated beach and having a brew courtesy of Neil's 'Kelly kettle' was the icing on the cake....

Going back very, very soon

[PH-UKU]

I am working on the principle that it is much better to encourage people to stay in the UK and come to Scotland (or Northern Ireland) for their training. It is bloody hard work to keep seaplanes flying, so as much support as possible for our homegrown talent would be well appreciated - believe me, there really is no better way to see some stunning parts of your own country.

I would agree that Neil's Seaplanes is an excellent place to go at the Western end of Loch Earn. Neil is fun, enthusiastic and knowledgable and well experienced. 2 seater red amphib Husky (G-WATR), rates about £185 per hr.

Caledonian Seaplanes - Spent a fantastic time a couple of years ago, and over the summer met a good number of like minded people - but not sure of the current state of play - best call them to check. Saw the yellow straight floated SuperCub (G-BWUB) on the water at the East End of Loch Earn last week. Last I knew rates were about £170 per hr.

The Amphibious Flying Club at Eniskilllen in Northern Ireland is a tidy wee setup with 2 seat amphib Maule (G-TAFC), rates about £235 hr.

If you are into sitting back and letting someone else do the flying ... then you could also try a seat on 4 seat amphib C206 (G-OLLS), or the massive 8 seater amphib C208 (G-MDJE) of Loch Lomond Seaplanes . They do scheduled services from the centre of Glasgow to Oban Bay and Tobermory on Mull. About £140 for a return trip.

And last, but by no means least ....

Plans to instruct have been put off until 2009, but G-DRAM (Cessna Reims Rocket) will be doing lots and lots and lots of splashing around this summer. With 3 seats, anyone that wants to do a bit of cost sharing is welcome to come along for the ride - I guarantee you'll have some real fun. Could even pick you up at Prestwick or Glasgow and drop you off at Neils Seaplanes or Caledonian Seaplanes if you want to get a lesson there. G-DRAM contact details here

So keep your carbon footprint in the UK - save a few tons of Co2, avoid the longhaul hassle or T5 nightmare ... and come to Scotland

[Ella]

Thanks for all your replies. I had not thought of using the club at Lake Como but thinking about it as I have a JAR-OPS licence then the rating should be recognised by the CAA or is that another paperwork nightmare.

I have tried some float flying in Florida but you can only do an FAA rating and no solo flying, so whilst great fun it's not that usefull.

PH's post about keeping it at home strikes a note and I will certainly see about coming up north before brushing up my Italian, but then I have to ask myself where I might just enjoy the post flight drink best....looking out on a warm sunset sipping a glass of Suave or Bardolino or watching the rain roll down the hotel window clutching a pint of 'Heavy'......Mmmmm....tough one that!

[richatom]

If you have a JAR licence then there is no problem getting your seaplane rating from Aeroclub Como amended to your licence.

http://www.aeroclubcomo.com/

I did floatplane rating their and CAA amended it to my UK PPL without any problems. Even the French DGAC, noted for their obstructive bureaucracy, have said that they will accept it on my CPL next time I renew the qual, which really surprised me..

[PHLly]

Ella, hope you successfully achieved your float rating?

Did any of you guys continue on to commercial operations on floats? I'm a newbie (commercially trained but no floats, yet), low hours and looking for a break...thinking Canada, Pacific Islands etc.. looking for tips on how to get started, once the rating has been completed?

Many thanks