Topic Category: Seaplane

Rough Water Landing

Pitch Some say during rough water landings, it is better to land in a “flatter” pitch to allow the floats to “slice” through the waves rather than beat against them with the bottom sections.  This is often debated, but mostly comes down to the type of floats you have and what airplane you are flying. … Continue reading Rough Water Landing

Normal Seaplane Landing

A few tips to remember about good landings: Set your landing attitude early, and know what a proper landing attitude looks like (your instructor will explain this on your first takeoff) Maintain the appropriate approach speed, do not get slow or fast Using a little power (no more than 1,500rpm typically) through the landing will… Continue reading Normal Seaplane Landing

Normal Seaplane Takeoff

A few notes to recap the video above: Do use carb heat prior to takeoff to ensure you do not have carburetor ice. Do use a mnemonic device or other memory aid to ensure you are ready for takeoff (i.e. CARS, Carb Heat, Area, Rudders, Stick/Safety Belt) Porpoising is most often due to the incorrect… Continue reading Normal Seaplane Takeoff

Traffic Pattern

Setting up your traffic pattern in a seaplane may be a bit different than the aircraft you are used to.  As with any aircraft, we’d prefer to always fly it at an altitude and direction that would allow us to make a safe landing in the event of a power loss.  For a seaplane, this… Continue reading Traffic Pattern

Launching

When launching from a dock or a beach you should be aware that this is a very vulnerable time. The seaplane is slow, has limited control and maneuverability due to its slow speed, and you are likely in a confined area.  Be aware you have no brakes once the engine is running, and if the… Continue reading Launching

Water Taxiing

There are three types of water taxiing in a seaplane: Displacement (Idle taxi) Plow Taxi Step Taxi (Planing Taxi) The video above explains these three types of taxiing, and the video below covers just a few quick tips you should know about taxiing your seaplane on the water.