Seaplane rating SEA float rating EASA
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Called in at Aeroclub Como anyway today but got the same answer: 190 Euros for an instructional flight (although my girlfriend could come with me). Too much for me for a short flight!
Nearly all the planes were flying however so perhaps they are concentrating on getting pilots their seaplane ratings, which (as a former microlight instructor) I can certainly understand.
Nearly all the planes were flying however so perhaps they are concentrating on getting pilots their seaplane ratings, which (as a former microlight instructor) I can certainly understand.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Called in at Aeroclub Como anyway today but got the same answer: 190 Euros for an instructional flight (although my girlfriend could come with me). Too much for me for a short flight!
Nearly all the planes were flying however so perhaps they are concentrating on getting pilots their seaplane ratings, which (as a former microlight instructor) I can certainly understand.
Nearly all the planes were flying however so perhaps they are concentrating on getting pilots their seaplane ratings, which (as a former microlight instructor) I can certainly understand.
If you're getting the rating you're hanging around paying for a hotel for a week with nothing much to do except fly (once you've spent a couple of hours walking around the town and gone for a boat ride[#]), so you're after two flights a day weather permitting, so it doesn't take very many students for the aircraft to be quite busy.
[#] I included a train ride to Switzerland for lunch one day. That's not cheap either.
190 Euros? Doesn't sound that bad given how exotic seaplane flying is in Europe and that northern Italy and Lake Como are some high cost environment.
Thanks for the backgrounders.
Thanks for the backgrounders.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have done SEP(sea) skill tests for both Como and Biscarosse and find the both to be charming places. Very individual and quirky and I would be hard pushed to so which I prefer the most, the vote would come down to who has the better food and wine....... 
And trust me €190 is cheap for seaplane flying, I have paid twice as much at other places. Its not cheap, think of the cost of an aircraft to maintain and then add in the floats and the effect of water and you will see where the prices come from.
And trust me €190 is cheap for seaplane flying, I have paid twice as much at other places. Its not cheap, think of the cost of an aircraft to maintain and then add in the floats and the effect of water and you will see where the prices come from.
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And, as I stated earlier, the same flight was only 80 Euros two years ago.
Biscarrosse is a club. A non profit association. I don't know about Lake Como. Every club in France is allowed to sell short flights at whatever price the market will bear. Up to ten percent of their income can come from these. There are rules about who can do them and how long they can be. The hourly rate is for members who pay a subscription. Biscarrosse charges a lot more for a short flight Pro rata than the members rate. You can rock up to the hangar, get a ride, pay, leave. No annual subscription. Helps to pay the bills, no commitment to carry on. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Como does the same. If that doesn't suit you then you are free to take your custom elsewhere. So Como put the price up? I suspect that's because they were losing money. You should have flown the first time you went, when it was cheaper.
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PC wrote: "You should have flown the first time you went, when it was cheaper."
I did and it was great. But I should have done more at that price! Very good instructor and amazed how quick it came back to me- I had obtained a UK Microlight Seaplane rating many years before. I had also flown Cubs at Jack Brown's seaplane base.
I did and it was great. But I should have done more at that price! Very good instructor and amazed how quick it came back to me- I had obtained a UK Microlight Seaplane rating many years before. I had also flown Cubs at Jack Brown's seaplane base.
Cool! I'm glad you had fun. I loved Biscarosse. I expect I'll be back. Nothing much better than a super cub pretending it's a boat. You know there's a microlight club with a floatplane in the next but one hangar?
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No, I did not know that! Perhaps I can go there to revalidate my UK rating- all my previous microlight floatplane flying was in British Columbia.
Moderator
As I had been mentioning about the higher costs for operating a floatplane, today's exercise was a perfect example;
About a week ago, a friend of a friend went mechanical in a small (900 meter run, with 75 foot trees obstacle) lake - full power not available for takeoff. I was consulted, and from the information given, it sounded like an exhaust valve failure. Absolutely no land access to the site. So my friend flies his 185 floatplane up to help: An hour operating cost for the 185, plus his time. Yup, it's not developing full power, can't fly out. Fly home to figure it out, 'cause the sun is setting. Fly back with tools and mechanic the next day, find the flat cylinder, and remove it, fly home. Another hour on the 185, plus two people's time. There's a real sense of urgency, as it gets colder, the opportunity to fly it out is reduced.
This morning, fly up a mechanic with a replacement cylinder (yes, it shed an exhaust valve seat). Third hour on the 185, and more time. Mechanic finds he need a few more parts, and... the 185 goes mechanical at home. No big deal, but it's not flying today! I happen along home base in my amphibian on other business - "Hey, Pilot DAR, could you fly some parts up to the mechanic for us?". He's there by himself, and either gets the stricken plane flying, so he can fly it home, or someone has to go to get him, as he's not planning to spend the night sleeping in the floatplane at shore. "Pilot DAR at your service...".
It was a beautiful day for a flight over the golden gown of autumn, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I tucked into shore, and handed the parts to a very appreciative mechanic. I decided not to complicate things by shutting down myself, just in case. I backed away from shore and waited for his signal that he was all set. With that, I departed, and I understand he flew the stricken plane home for the owner this afternoon.
So, in addition to the basic time and cost for a cylinder change, four flying hours to move people and parts back and forth, and more than that in people hours. Of course, we're all friends, and would do it for each other, so no money will change hands, but, the cost is there. The plane was "laked" about 15 miles from the nearest road, and more than a mile from the next larger lake - either it flies out of a short lake under it's own power, or the wings come off, and the helicopter is hired for several lifts.
A flying school, or commercial operation might not have the same "friends" arrangement, and had to bear that cost. I presume that wise operations budget those costs in, hence higher prices, and more restrictions on taking the plane away.
As an aside, the helicopter which crashed north of my area on August 11, is still there in the remote area, I flew over it today. Someone has partly tarped it, and draped some small trees, I suppose to protect, and perhaps conceal it. But, it too is many miles from any ground path in. Presuming that it has been hard landing damaged so as not to be flyable, it'll be a helicopter lift to get it out. I suppose if it has not been done to date, there are other factors involved in the recovery. Certainly the weather has been very nice for the last month, so it's not a weather issue. It's going to be less nice as winter approaches...
In any case, it was a beautiful day for some flying, so here's a photo as I backed away from the stricken plane, and held off shore for the mechanic to signal he was all set....
About a week ago, a friend of a friend went mechanical in a small (900 meter run, with 75 foot trees obstacle) lake - full power not available for takeoff. I was consulted, and from the information given, it sounded like an exhaust valve failure. Absolutely no land access to the site. So my friend flies his 185 floatplane up to help: An hour operating cost for the 185, plus his time. Yup, it's not developing full power, can't fly out. Fly home to figure it out, 'cause the sun is setting. Fly back with tools and mechanic the next day, find the flat cylinder, and remove it, fly home. Another hour on the 185, plus two people's time. There's a real sense of urgency, as it gets colder, the opportunity to fly it out is reduced.
This morning, fly up a mechanic with a replacement cylinder (yes, it shed an exhaust valve seat). Third hour on the 185, and more time. Mechanic finds he need a few more parts, and... the 185 goes mechanical at home. No big deal, but it's not flying today! I happen along home base in my amphibian on other business - "Hey, Pilot DAR, could you fly some parts up to the mechanic for us?". He's there by himself, and either gets the stricken plane flying, so he can fly it home, or someone has to go to get him, as he's not planning to spend the night sleeping in the floatplane at shore. "Pilot DAR at your service...".
It was a beautiful day for a flight over the golden gown of autumn, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I tucked into shore, and handed the parts to a very appreciative mechanic. I decided not to complicate things by shutting down myself, just in case. I backed away from shore and waited for his signal that he was all set. With that, I departed, and I understand he flew the stricken plane home for the owner this afternoon.
So, in addition to the basic time and cost for a cylinder change, four flying hours to move people and parts back and forth, and more than that in people hours. Of course, we're all friends, and would do it for each other, so no money will change hands, but, the cost is there. The plane was "laked" about 15 miles from the nearest road, and more than a mile from the next larger lake - either it flies out of a short lake under it's own power, or the wings come off, and the helicopter is hired for several lifts.
A flying school, or commercial operation might not have the same "friends" arrangement, and had to bear that cost. I presume that wise operations budget those costs in, hence higher prices, and more restrictions on taking the plane away.
As an aside, the helicopter which crashed north of my area on August 11, is still there in the remote area, I flew over it today. Someone has partly tarped it, and draped some small trees, I suppose to protect, and perhaps conceal it. But, it too is many miles from any ground path in. Presuming that it has been hard landing damaged so as not to be flyable, it'll be a helicopter lift to get it out. I suppose if it has not been done to date, there are other factors involved in the recovery. Certainly the weather has been very nice for the last month, so it's not a weather issue. It's going to be less nice as winter approaches...
In any case, it was a beautiful day for some flying, so here's a photo as I backed away from the stricken plane, and held off shore for the mechanic to signal he was all set....
