Seaplane Rating-advice please
Join Date: Oct 2001
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It would not be wise for me to list schools by name based on the quality of flight instruction they provide as the quality of instruction will vary from instructor to instructor.
In a previous post I gave this advice.
Before you hand over your cash ask how much time the instructor has in the real world of sea plane flying......then if the instructor is high time find out why said instructor is willing to work for peanuts.
By doing that you will at least have a better idea of what the instructor may be capable of.
In Europe you definitely do not have a very large number of schools who even provide sea plane instruction due to the goofy rules regarding where one can operate sea planes, and of course this will limit the number of instructors who have worked in the world of commercial sea plane flying.
To find high time sea plane pilots one needs to go to Alaska or Canada.
Once again, if you are going to spend your money learning a new skill why not look for someone who can teach you said skill?
In a previous post I gave this advice.
Before you hand over your cash ask how much time the instructor has in the real world of sea plane flying......then if the instructor is high time find out why said instructor is willing to work for peanuts.
By doing that you will at least have a better idea of what the instructor may be capable of.
In Europe you definitely do not have a very large number of schools who even provide sea plane instruction due to the goofy rules regarding where one can operate sea planes, and of course this will limit the number of instructors who have worked in the world of commercial sea plane flying.
To find high time sea plane pilots one needs to go to Alaska or Canada.
Once again, if you are going to spend your money learning a new skill why not look for someone who can teach you said skill?
...............Join Date: Oct 2001
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Freedom came for me when I retired from flying for a living in 2005.
My retirement was pre planned in the same careful way I pre planned all my flights when I was flying for a living, I gave myself a deadline for when I would retire and that was when I turned 70.
I figured it was best to quit while I was still ahead of the game rather than keep on flying and allow senility to ruin a good record safety wise.
Here was my last take off in Rotterdam in 2005, that airplane is now being operated by the Dutch pilots who I spent three years with and I am proud as hell of their ability to safely fly the thing.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdamBridge.jpg
I may decide to offer advanced sea plane instruction on a Husky on whipline Amhhibs in the near future.......however it will not be instruction towards a sea plane rating as my Canadian flight instructors rating lapsed many moons ago and I am not willing to spend my retirement money on a frontal lobotomy to allow me to renew my flight instructors rating.
My retirement was pre planned in the same careful way I pre planned all my flights when I was flying for a living, I gave myself a deadline for when I would retire and that was when I turned 70.
I figured it was best to quit while I was still ahead of the game rather than keep on flying and allow senility to ruin a good record safety wise.
Here was my last take off in Rotterdam in 2005, that airplane is now being operated by the Dutch pilots who I spent three years with and I am proud as hell of their ability to safely fly the thing.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...rdamBridge.jpg
I may decide to offer advanced sea plane instruction on a Husky on whipline Amhhibs in the near future.......however it will not be instruction towards a sea plane rating as my Canadian flight instructors rating lapsed many moons ago and I am not willing to spend my retirement money on a frontal lobotomy to allow me to renew my flight instructors rating.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
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I believe that both of the schools on Loch Earn (Caledonian and Neils) are owner/ operator/ instructor all rolled into one person. These individuals don't work for 'peanuts' because thats all they can get, they do it because its what they want to do.
Both are very high hours floatplane instructors.
I did my SEP(Sea) rating at Caledonian - it took me 10 hours (min 5) and I was trained in the full range of take-offs and landings including quite a few glassy operations (it was the summer). I don't believe that either of these two schools have the mentality that you speak of Chuck.
Both are very high hours floatplane instructors.
I did my SEP(Sea) rating at Caledonian - it took me 10 hours (min 5) and I was trained in the full range of take-offs and landings including quite a few glassy operations (it was the summer). I don't believe that either of these two schools have the mentality that you speak of Chuck.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Well said Dr TRE
I have seen Caledonian Cub landed at Fife on wet grass for it's winter lay up, then launched off a trolley in the spring. (before they got the amphib)
I have seen Caledonian Cub landed at Fife on wet grass for it's winter lay up, then launched off a trolley in the spring. (before they got the amphib)
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I did my SEP(Sea) rating at Caledonian - it took me 10 hours (min 5) and I was trained in the full range of take-offs and landings including quite a few glassy operations (it was the summer). I don't believe that either of these two schools have the mentality that you speak of Chuck.
Dr-Tre, would you be more content if I just never offered any advice to people who ask questions here?
If you read my comments you will note that I made no reference to either of these schools, in fact I would not comment on any specific school when asked.
Both are very high hours floatplane instructors.
What exactly does this statement mean when it comes to their background. Are you saying their background consists of instructing on sea planes with no other experience in that field outside of instructing or are they high time sea plane pilots that have worked in the industry and then decided to share their knowledge and skills by becoming sea plane instructors?
I trust you do not get annoyed with my questions, as they are only meant to help me and others have a better idea of the depth of knowledge they have acquired to better allow them to offer a high value level of instructional service.
Please do not take the above to mean I am trying to be difficult, far from it as I am only trying to get a better understanding of how people perceive quality instruction and what they use as benchmarks from which to measure same.
Dr-Tre, would you be more content if I just never offered any advice to people who ask questions here?
If you read my comments you will note that I made no reference to either of these schools, in fact I would not comment on any specific school when asked.
Both are very high hours floatplane instructors.
What exactly does this statement mean when it comes to their background. Are you saying their background consists of instructing on sea planes with no other experience in that field outside of instructing or are they high time sea plane pilots that have worked in the industry and then decided to share their knowledge and skills by becoming sea plane instructors?
I trust you do not get annoyed with my questions, as they are only meant to help me and others have a better idea of the depth of knowledge they have acquired to better allow them to offer a high value level of instructional service.
Please do not take the above to mean I am trying to be difficult, far from it as I am only trying to get a better understanding of how people perceive quality instruction and what they use as benchmarks from which to measure same.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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If you don't plan on buying a seaplane and using it regularly....
Than pick the best holiday destination that suits your plans and do your SES there. You wont get to use your rating unless you buy a machine here in UK/Eire, or else have a fried who lets you do 5 hrs a year in his/hers. If you are going to go the road I went and buy one and go balls and all at it, then in hindsight I'd prob go to Louisanna where they get all the tricky scenario's day to day (Read some SPA posts/waterflying mags).
But if its a good time and feel good factor you want, then pick a good holi destination ie Como or FL and just do it.
Irish
Than pick the best holiday destination that suits your plans and do your SES there. You wont get to use your rating unless you buy a machine here in UK/Eire, or else have a fried who lets you do 5 hrs a year in his/hers. If you are going to go the road I went and buy one and go balls and all at it, then in hindsight I'd prob go to Louisanna where they get all the tricky scenario's day to day (Read some SPA posts/waterflying mags).
But if its a good time and feel good factor you want, then pick a good holi destination ie Como or FL and just do it.
Irish
A good point Steve, but usually not a problem as the revs for mag check don't immediately get one up on the step. Far more fun is to be had watching some guys clamber aboard and start a recalcitrant engine, especially in tight quarters and a stiffish breeze.
There are other little dances too, like the one in seaplanes with ineffective water rudders or, again, in a seaplane where you climb down into the cockpit, pushing off so your wing float does not get tangled in the pontoon but then have to get her started amongst a tangle of straps and headset cords be
fore she weathercocks back at the dock .
It is a whole new world out there for land flyers.
There are other little dances too, like the one in seaplanes with ineffective water rudders or, again, in a seaplane where you climb down into the cockpit, pushing off so your wing float does not get tangled in the pontoon but then have to get her started amongst a tangle of straps and headset cords be
fore she weathercocks back at the dock .
It is a whole new world out there for land flyers.
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SEPSEA rating
Not so long ago I made my SEPSEA rating at the Aero Club Como. What a fabulous location. The training was to a high standard very professional . All the instructors I flew with speak a good level of English. I can recommend the club. They have very cheap accomodation if you need it.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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It's a pretty expensive badge to get considering that, practically speaking, it's just about unusable here in England.
As Fuji says, some just like to get the badge and if that's what floats your boat (pun intended) good luck to you.
As Fuji says, some just like to get the badge and if that's what floats your boat (pun intended) good luck to you.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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If you want to become a really good float pilot go to Alaska Lake Hood, largest float plane base in the world :
Home - Alaska Float Ratings
They also will learn how to do some descent mountain flying.
Home - Alaska Float Ratings
They also will learn how to do some descent mountain flying.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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I can fully endorse your positive comments about Aero Club Como. I've been going there twice a year for 3 years now and have accummulated 25 hours P1 on floats. They've a growing fleet including C172, C172XP, C206, Lake, Cub etc. all available for solo rental provided you have the necessary rating and experience. I'm lucky to live near Gatwick and can hop on to easyJet to Milan Malpensa then taking the train to Como. Easy! Rgds, Neil 
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Yes it is and that was my last take off before I retired from flying for a living. ( 2005 )
Reading through this thread it is interesting to see how trying to give advice turns into a session of misunderstanding and defensive comments because people fail to try and understand what is written.
Reading through this thread it is interesting to see how trying to give advice turns into a session of misunderstanding and defensive comments because people fail to try and understand what is written.