seaplane training Qs

[snowman]

I am headed to Seattle to add-on a ses to my commercial ticket. I am looking for advice and/or tips for flying on/off of water. I will be flying a Cub for the 1st time as well. Any suggestions/advice and/or info would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
snowman

 

[skid]

Have not done my SES add on yet, but I have looked into it quite a bit. From what I hear. You will probably end up getting some really good instruction if you go to the guys up in Seattle. I had a friend do his add on to his commercial a year ago and his only comment was that it was some of the coolest flying around. Be prepared for a whole bunch of T/o's and landings. he said they did well over a hundred. I am not sure how they do it up hear in the NW, but he did it on the Mississippi river, and had a several hundred mile runway to practice all those T/o's. He mentioned the best part being able to go under all of the bridges at 80+ mph on step.

As for the cub nothing to worry about there. That is one of the easiest airplanes to fly known to man. If you are flying in the back seat you will get a lot of experience stepping on the head of the guy in the front seat. Kinda works like the ball in a turn corridinator. Also the guy in the back seat can get a ride kinda like a 35 Bonanza if they are not good with a rudder. But all in all the thing is slow and stable.

 

[Steveair]

I am headed to Seattle to add-on a ses to my commercial ticket. I am looking for advice and/or tips for flying on/off of water. I will be flying a Cub for the 1st time as well. Any suggestions/advice and/or info would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
snowman

Well son, you better prepare yourself because sex (and all other flying for that matter), is going to be dissapointing after you taste floats. It's the best flying that there is! It's a pretty standard checkride / make sure you've got down the following:

Calculating float size for aircraft weight

Step, Displacement, Plow taxi (what / why)

Lake Assesments

Determining Wind Direction (looking at a lake only)

River ops

Docking / Beaching / Sailing.

I recommend you purchase "Flying a Floatplane" by C. Marin Faure.
ISBN - 0-07-021304-6

Have a blast!

 

[Yank McCobb]

And if you do it in a place like Seattle, which has extremely heavy recreational boating traffic in the summer, it is also a must to learn the "combat/defensive takeoff and landing" techniques.

 

[Otterjock]

Sounds like you might be headed for Kenmore at the north end of Lake Washington. Great people. They have a Super Cub on floats for the initial training. I flew it for my BFR. You will get good training there is thats where you are headed. Best of luck and to paraphrase Yank its the most fun flying.

 

[snowman]

NICE!
I am so freakin excited! I appreciate the info. I am headed to Kenmore. I will look for the suggested book. I am afraid that I will want to fly only from floats form here on out. Now, if I could only find a job.... Assuming I get through the ride....
Thanks again
I'll let ya'll know what happens..
Adios
snowman

 

[imacdog]

Some fun places to go into are Calligan Lake and a stretch of the Snohomish River. Also, going into Lake Union can be challenging but a very rewarding experience. Have fun.

 

[pmcustom]

I talked to Wiley's Seaplanes close to Portland, and they said an SES takes a minimum of ten hours on average. Is this right? I want to do it, but I don't have a grand to spend on flying.

 

[imacdog]

6-8 plus the checkride seems pretty average depending on the school. Some schools can get you done for under $1000 but not many. Seaplane insurance and operating costs are very high.

 

[snowman]

IMACDOG,
I will take your suggetions with me to Kenmore and see what they say. I see you have time in the Beaver. If I can I am going to go for an hour with an Instructor. Do you think it would be beneficial? Or would it be a waste of time. I have a 6 hr. block of time with Kenmore. I hope it is enough. Is there such a thing as a cheap way to build time on floats? My long term goal is to get a job flying the Beaver. Suggestions?
Thanks
snowman

 

[imacdog]

My suggestion would be to get your rating in the 172 or Super Cub, whatever they are using now for instruction. Once you learn how to fly floats and pass your checkride, reward yourself with an hour in the Beaver. It is an expensive plane to rent and you would probably enjoy it most if you already have the basics down. Talk to Kenmore if you are interested in building some float time; I haven't worked for them but I understand they do move guys up from line (dock) positions to instructor positions, then on to charter positions. Float flying is very hard to get into, but spending some time with the company will definitely help your chances. I worked line at a float operator out of the south end of Lake Washington for two summers before getting a flying position with them. Good luck and have fun with your training.

 

[P3 Tweek]

COML ASES in 180/185

Anyone know where training is available in the 180/185 or perhaps 206? I have a lot of experience in the older 182B - save me some familiarization time.

Anything in Alaska? This training is going to double as a long ago earned vacation.

P3 (Orion) Tweek


Kenmore in Seattle???...anyone had experience with them? I could drive there in a day. FL a bit too far unless I go via SWA. Thanks for the FL training base recommends. Looks like you had mucho fun and didn't get eaten by an alligator.

 

[JeffSKDTW]

I did my PP-ASES addon at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Florida, and I have to agree it was a lot of fun. My training was over the course of two days with a checkride at the end of the second day.

I have posted pictures and a description of the training here (click on the link to the description and scroll down):

http://www.pbase.com/jlsphoto/aircraft_seaplane

 

[Tinstaafl]

A C180 amphib is available for training at Flagler county airport (Bunnell) in FL.