Flew a seaplane

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.

Way more, I assume. A BFR runs around $50 (assuming you own the plane). You
can throw in an IPC for an additional $30 or so, maybe cheaper. Assuming you
need to rent a seaplane, it would probably cost at least $1,500 for the
time, training and checkride to get the SES.


"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.

"Michael 182" wrote in message ...
Way more, I assume. A BFR runs around $50 (assuming you own the plane).
You
can throw in an IPC for an additional $30 or so, maybe cheaper. Assuming
you
need to rent a seaplane, it would probably cost at least $1,500 for the
time, training and checkride to get the SES.

Here in Florida there is a seaplane school called Jack Browns that is
located in Winter Haven.
The school charges $975 for a two day course to get your seaplane rating in
their
Piper J3s on floats with Continental 85 hp engines.
They also offer a multiengine rating, but I'm not sure of the price.
You can check them out at: http://www.gate.net/~seaplane/index.htm

David PP-ASEL IA-Student (KORL)

Does that include the checkride?

"CFLav8r" wrote in message
om...
"Michael 182" wrote in message ...
Way more, I assume. A BFR runs around $50 (assuming you own the plane).
You
can throw in an IPC for an additional $30 or so, maybe cheaper. Assuming
you
need to rent a seaplane, it would probably cost at least $1,500 for the
time, training and checkride to get the SES.

Here in Florida there is a seaplane school called Jack Browns that is
located in Winter Haven.
The school charges $975 for a two day course to get your seaplane rating
in
their
Piper J3s on floats with Continental 85 hp engines.
They also offer a multiengine rating, but I'm not sure of the price.
You can check them out at: http://www.gate.net/~seaplane/index.htm

David PP-ASEL IA-Student (KORL)

"Michael 182" wrote in message news:goOWc.37619$9d6.3762@attbi_s54...
Way more, I assume. A BFR runs around $50 (assuming you own the plane). You
can throw in an IPC for an additional $30 or so, maybe cheaper. Assuming you
need to rent a seaplane, it would probably cost at least $1,500 for the
time, training and checkride to get the SES.

I just did an IPC with a local CFI. Normally I ride with the local DE
every 6 months because I'm a CFI and I like to know what he likes. So
he sends me to this guy with a CFII ticket that was still wet. We flew
for 2 hours and the guy proceeded to charge me $200!!! (We flew in my
plane). He said that was with the "professional discount" because I'm
a CFI too. Check the price before had.

-Robert, CFI

According to their web site, the SES rating averages around $750. It's
an hour flight from my home base. Thanks for the great info. I'll
certainly be doing this in the next year.

chris priest wrote:
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.


--
Remove "2PLANES" to reply.

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.

(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)!

(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

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.