Seaplane rating...where?

[U-I pilot]

Where would be a good and preferably inexpensive place to get a sea plane rating possibly with High Performance endorsement?

Lets try to keep it east of the mississippi and as close to the midwest as possible...(ie great lakes)

Looking for some quality training not just a checkride gouge. Prices and locations/aircraft/websites would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[2000flyer]

Best place I've heard from several people is Jack Brown's in Winter Haven FL. I believe the 2004 price was around $1100 in a J3. For more I believe they have a 172 or 180. Great course from all I've talked to.

 

[JB74]

Another vote for Brown's

They have an excellent reputation.

I am going there to get my rating as soon as I can make some time.

Check 'em out.

http://www.gate.net/~seaplane/

 

[JeffSKDTW]

I did my Single Engine Seaplane training last fall at Jack Brown's in Winter Haven, FL, so I echo the suggestions above.

They were awesome and the experience was awesome.

I did a rather long writeup about it, which you can read here: http://www.studentpilot.com/interact/forum/journal.php?s=&journalid=7771&action=view

(just scroll down to Part I)

Additionally, a number of my pictures from the training are available here:

http://www.pbase.com/jlsphoto

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?distict_entry=true&placesearch=Winter%20Haven%20-%20Jack%20Browns%20Seaplane%20(F57)&photographersearch=JLS%20Photo

 

[bobbysamd]

Joe LaPlaca

I have heard that Joe LaPlaca in Lake Havasu City, Arizona offers a decent course.

Sheble Aviation is also listed on this page. I went there for my ATP years ago but I don't anything about his seaplane course.

 

[JeffSKDTW]

By the way, those interested in finding a base near you should go here to locate a school (organized by state): http://www.seaplanes.org/index.htm

 

[CSY Mon]

Did my SES and MES rating at Jack Browns 20 years ago.
Enjoyed it back then, but the ME aircraft was an oddball Twin-Bee that I never fell in love with.
Nowadays I think they operate an Aztec on floats.?

A few months after the courses I was hired intoi the right seat of a DHC-6-300 on straight floats based in STX.
That rating sure paid off quick....Tax deductible too.

 

[airnik]

Have you looked at Quad City Seaplanes? I got my SES there using a 180. It's run by Jim Goetsche (sp?) and I'm pretty sure he's listed on SPA's website. Anyway, that'll get you your SES rating and your high performance endorsement all for about $700 (fall '02 rates when I did it). Oh and all training is done on the Mississippi so you get a lot of work on landings. PM me if you need any other info.

 

[OUjetdrvr]

Did my SES rating on Grand Lake in NE OKlahoma....between Tulsa, OK and Joplin, MO. Back in 96' the price was about 650 for a two day course, complete with river and confined landings, multiple docking approaches, and high-speed taxi in a circle around a small island. Bottom line loads of fun and great experience for the buck. The instructor is Bob Billingsly 918-782-2033, super nice guy who flys for the lake patrol and power line inspection on his other work days. Hope this helps!

 

[Diesel]

Try Rangeley, Maine. Truely god's country. www.lakeregionair.com

PM me if you want more info.

 

[C425Driver]

I'm also researching getting a seaplane rating. I've heard good things about most of the places listed here. I've also heard good things about Twitchell's in Turner Maine and there's also a good school at Goodspeed Airport in CT.

 

[JeffSKDTW]

Nowadays I think they operate an Aztec on floats.?

Correct. Although it doesn't get used much:

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N14BP&distinct_entry=true

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Western Michigan University has a really nice PA-18 super cub amphibian based at Battle Creek Michigan (kbtl). Not sure what the costs are these days but it was a fun time.

 

[cezzna]

I also did my seaplane rating at Quad cities. For the same price as others you get to fly a real seaplane, a C-180. It is a bit of a rating mill but for the price you could get the rating and then do some more training; all for about the same price as most other schools.

 

[dondk]

I did mine at Jack Browns a few years back...


I remember filling out the temp certificate on day 1...

It is just about a guaranteed rating, not quite a mill. You can't beat cruising at 400' doing 40mph in a J-3 doing Splach and go's

Would I reccomend Jack Brown's? If you want get an easy and quick rating and have a blast? Sure... If you really want to take something away for the $$$ you spend? Others listed in this thread will give you that over Jack Browns.