Robert M. Gary wrote:
(Ace Pilot) wrote in message . com...

(Robert M. Gary) wrote in message . com...

chris priest wrote in message ...

Robert M. Gary wrote:

Isn' it great! The rating isn't very hard (usually can be done in 2
days) and counts as your BFR.

Does it cost much more than a normal BFR? If not, then I think I'll do
this for my next BFR.

Figure around $1500.

Rates seem to vary widely. I got my rating at Northwoods Aviation in
Cadillac, Michigan for under $800 (including a 1-year membership in
the Seaplane Pilots Association). SPA has a good database of seaplane
training that allows you to make some comparisons.

http://www.seaplanes.org/training/index.htm

By far some of the most fun flying I have ever done (and that includes
a launch off an aircraft carrier)!



This rate ($1500) includes checkride and books. However, its also in
Calfornia dollars.

-Robert
Seaplanes are fun. I spent every Saturday morning for a summer
learning from a crusty, old, retired ATP. As a side benefit, it is good
preparation for working on an instrument rating because you learn to do
a very precise ("glassy water") approach and landing.

I gather seaplane pilots all want to be bush pilots and set up a shack
on Lake Hood outside Anchorage. They will take fearless hunters into
the wilderness, drop them off and return in a week or two to see if they
find animal or human bodies. Sometimes this means landing on very small
ponds and the getting the plane out later on and this could mean
accelerating "on the step" in a circle, inducing a bow wave to pop off
the surface, or going up on one float.

And then there are techiques that one might need in the middle of
nowhere. "What do you do if you are hundreds of miles away from
anywhere and are really low on oil?" I couldn't guess. The answer
was, "Steal it from somebody's car!"

So flying seaplanes is real hairy-chested stuff. But it is fun. I
haven't used my rating because I found out that insurance is very
expensive and most places won't rent to you unless you have about 200
hours with them. Plus, salt water is really tough on airplanes no
matter how thoroughly you clean them. I suspect that reflects as
increased rental prices.