Lake Winnepausaukee

The FARS are irrelevant when a float plane is on the surface...the marine
rules of the road apply. They virtually mirror the FAR ROW rules, however.

According to the maritime rules of the road, a 10,000 ton tanker doing 16
knots is supposed to cede the right-of-way to a sailboat crossing from its
right...but common sense tells the sailboat operator that the tanker can't
possibly maneuver or stop quickly enough. Same thing is true of floatplanes
on the water...if they are accelerating for takeoff, they have the REAL
right-of-way, no matter where the crossing traffic is. Landing is much the
same thing...the pilot of the plane doesn't have many options once he is on
short final. It's only when a floatplane is taxiing on the water that the
maritime rules make sense.

We have a ton of seaplane operations on relatively small Lake Union in
Seattle (and on larger Lake Washington) and everyone seems to make the
necessary accomodations.

Bob Gardner
USCG (Ret)

"Skylune" wrote in message
lkaboutaviation.com...
Do you think the pilot would be upset if I took my formula 27 pc, which
weighs in at about 10,500 pounds and has twin 350s and created some nice
wake action for him to make the touchdowns more exciting?

I think I have right of way on the lake, but the FARs provide me no
guidance.