PPL on floats

[Freetime]

Can you get your PPL entirely on a floatplane?

[fish4life]

Yes

[Bede]

Almost. You still need spin training and I know of no float plane that is approved for spins.

A few years ago I did a PPL on a Citabria. We went out for one flight in a 150 for spins (and taxiing lol).

[Conflicting Traffic]

A few years ago I did a PPL on a Citabria. We went out for one flight in a 150 for spins (and taxiing lol).

Interesting. Did your student have a landplane rating at the end of his/her licence? CAR 421.38(2) spells out more requirements:

(2) Landplane Rating - Requirements
(a) Experience
An applicant for a landplane rating shall complete the following:
(i) a total of 3 hours of landplane training including:
(A) a minimum of 2 hours dual instruction, and
(B) a minimum of 5 takeoffs and five landings as sole occupant of the aeroplane.
(ii) The following exercises shall be included in the landplane training:
(A) taxiing,
(B) landings, including crosswind landings, and
(C) takeoffs.

[digits_]

Almost. You still need spin training and I know of no float plane that is approved for spins.

A few years ago I did a PPL on a Citabria. We went out for one flight in a 150 for spins (and taxiing lol).

And sideslips apparently

[photofly]

I've wondered about a PPL flight test on floats. The landing and takeoff exercises would have to be float-appropriate, as would the forced approach. I wonder what a precautionary landing would look like.

[digits_]

I've wondered about a PPL flight test on floats. The landing and takeoff exercises would have to be float-appropriate, as would the forced approach. I wonder what a precautionary landing would look like.

Probably the same as every approach/landing into an unfamiliar lake.

Forced approach would be easier. You could survive water and land landings.

I'd be curious to see how a super nervous student could possibly *not* end up in the water while crawling around the plane during the pre flight inspection with an examiner asking questions and possibly being in the way, or standing on the float while approaching the dock and *just* missing the dock


Side note: are there any FTUs around that are approved to train for land ratings?

[PilotDAR]

My friend in Norway did his PPL there on a PA-18 on floats, then a bit of 180 floatplane. He had not flown a landplane at all. He had to do ten hours training in a 172 to get a landplane rating, so I could train him in the 182 amphibian.

[photofly]

Something we've discussed here before is that you don't need a landplane rating to fly an amphib in Canada

[Freetime]

Thanks for the answers, everyone!

[PilotDAR]

Something we've discussed here before is that you don't need a landplane rating to fly an amphib in Canada

Yeah, but how do I explain to the insurance company that I want to check him out, then let him loose in an expensive amphib, on a runway in winter, with zero wheel time?

[photofly]

Oh I agree he *should* have one…

[Bede]

Interesting. Did your student have a landplane rating at the end of his/her licence?

No. Landplane rating was done after- on skis.

That student went 0-PPL flight test in 35 hours. He was sharper than normal, but the big thing it made me realize was how much wasted time is involved in a big airport. No taxi time, no transit to practice area, circuits at 500', no go arounds because of conflicting traffic, etc.

Flight test was normal landing and obstacle landing. Precautionary was done at the lake where they did the obstacle landing. Instrument was partial panel because there was no 6-pack.

[Squaretail]

but the big thing it made me realize was how much wasted time is involved in a big airport

The time savings are enormous if you got your own patch to play and learn at. The stuff to be learned with traffic in the way can be learned later at leisure.

[matt17]

I got my RPP on floats at Sudbury Aviation a few years back. Still only have a float rating. Worked out well for me as I finished with 50 hours of "float time" (including 6 hours of post flight test rental time) which made it possible to find insurance when I purchased a plane.