"Sylvain" wrote in message
...
snip
In the case you describe, you have a US PPL, you were flying a
whatever registered aircraft, I imagine a single engine land for which
you are rated on your US certificate, and were (I presume) the
sole manipulator of the controls: as far as the FAA is concerned, you
log this flight as PIC, whether there was an instructor on board or
not and regardless of the registration of the aircraft;

The proper authority for flight operations in Canada is the CARs, which are
the Canadian equivalent of the US FARs. The CARs are available on line
http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/re.../cars/menu.htm
but are hard to navigate and it is often difficult to find the proper
section.

IIRC and AFAIK, You must have a Canadian licence or permit in order to ACT
as PIC of a C-registered aircraft, and similarly you must have a US
certificate or ??? to ACT as PIC of an N registered aircraft.
see CARs 401.03(1)
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Re...401.htm#401_03
see also CARs 401.07(1) on the same page.
The holder of (only) a Canadian licence or permit is NOT permitted to act as
PIC of any non C-registered aircraft, see CARs 401.04
The validation of foreign licences is covered in CARs 421.07
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Re...ndards/421.htm
and see also
CARs Division VI 421.26 (6) (b)

Transport Canada (TC) does not use the 'sole manipulator of the controls'
terminology, so while you MAY be able to log this flight as PIC for FAA
purposes, you would not be able to ACT as PIC (or fly solo) or claim the
time as PIC for Transport Canada purposes. If the person ACTING as PIC is a
TC certified instructor then you could log the time as dual instruction
received but if the person ACTING as PIC is not a CFI then you could not
claim dual and would be considered to be acting as a passenger even if you
were the sole manipulator.

Strictly speaking, an instructors certificate is not required to give
instruction for a float endorsement (IIRC, Some ATPL or CPL with the proper
type and class ratings may give instruction for type and class to properly
(Canadian) licenced pilots, who may claim flight as either PIC and/or dual
instruction received)
see CARs Division III 425.21 (6) & (7)
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Re...425.htm#425_21
Many (most?) float plane instruction is not given by CFI instructors. There
is a requirement for some solo time (Canadian Licence or permit required)
and TO/landing cycles, see CARs Division X 421.38 (1)
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Re...s/421.htmAFAIK it is not difficult or expensive ($25?) to obtain a Canadianvalidation of a US airman's certificate and does not require a Canadianmedical (there are some conditions). I have been told that this validationprocess is much easier for USCanadian than for CanadianUS (since 911) andthat today it is almost impossible to obtain a US validation for a CanadianCPL, at one time these validations were permanent (subject to validity oforiginal licence) but now are issued for a 5? year term. YMMVGood luck & Happy landings,