Five Hour float rating

[ottawa,kan]

Been reading many of your informative posts. Great forum. Lots of pilot advice and career advice.My question is this:I get the impression that a float rating in Canada takes 50 hours?? There's a place in Moline Illinois ( that's a little south of 50) that gets you the US rating in 5 hours on a C-180 for $950 US$. I realize it must be easier to learn on North Americas longest and widest river, but that seems like a huge difference. I also think I vaguely remember an article in Flying magazine that a US rating was valid in Canada, but a Canadian rating (if earned by a US pilot, but in Canada) was not valid in the US. That seems ridiculous, doesn't it? Any comments?

[Oil Burner]

A Canadian Float Rating is 7 hours. 5 Dual and 2 Solo. Winnipeg Aviation used to do them at Selkirk, but I don't know if they still do. Getting a job with 7 hours however, seems to be tough these days.

[KenoraPilot]

Ya Winnipeg Aviation is still doing them in C-FAZR a 172XP with 180HP. I am instructing on it during the summer. $186 Wet and $40 and hour for an instructor.

[Adam Oke]

A Canadian Float Rating is 7 hours. 5 Dual and 2 Solo. Winnipeg Aviation used to do them at Selkirk, but I don't know if they still do. Getting a job with 7 hours however, seems to be tough these days.

It's 7 hours Total. With a min. 5 solo take offs and landings. There is no hourly solo requirement.

[sdp]

kenora pilot, when did you start?

[youngflier]

A Canadian Float Rating is 7 hours. 5 Dual and 2 Solo. Winnipeg Aviation used to do them at Selkirk, but I don't know if they still do. Getting a job with 7 hours however, seems to be tough these days.

don't you need at least 20 hours or so to even be insurable with a company?

[185_guy]

don't you need at least 20 hours or so to even be insurable with a company?

Every company is different. Depends on everything from what type of plane it is, to what kind of a mood the agent is in when you ask to get a pilot approved.
Some companies have an open pilot clause, which allows them to insure whoever that want (in a nutshell). I think this sort of coverage is getting less and less common though. And even if an operation had it, you are still going to have to satisfy the owner /CP that you can fly thier plane safely, and keep thier customers happy. That could take some pilots 5 hrs of float time, or 500.

[2R]

To get a FAA seaplane rating used to require a Flight Test to demonstrate the required level of skills for that rating .The minimum time for training may be only five hours for . Jeager types .I would be interested in the school average for the Average pilot .If you took more than forty hours for your private training chance are that you will require a little more Training .Adding to that the flight tests and examiner fees.Travel costs hotels food etc .
The best way to look at it would be a flying holiday and only do it if it looks like a lot of fun as you will learn a lot more if they take you to interesting places I guess that is why Fort Langley is such a great place to do the Float rating.

Does anyone seriously think that they could pass a flight test after only five hours ??? i would be interested in seeing how many pilots have been able to complete the course and do a flight test at those minimums .
I think it would be a minimal list.

It is because their is no Flight test requirement for the rating that it is not recognised by the FAA as an add on.
Do not rush the rating.Take your time to learn it well and you will get more enjoyment out of it when you are flying.And a little regional variation training is the best fun you can have on holiday.

Go into a flight school in Florida and ask for one of the discovery flights .The best forty bucks you will spend on holiday and the instructor will think you are a natural .He may even let you land the plane on the first flight

[ottawa,kan]

Thanks for the info, especially the last. It took me about 65 hours and over 300 landings ( almost all in a C-150) to get my private. Then about 10 more hours to get my tailwheel. I do think I'm a little slow on the uptake. I always thought that if they could just line up about 10 airports about 1 mile apart I would learn a lot faster. It was going around the square to land again and again that took all the time. The idea of a river 100's of miles long and a mile or more wide is really appealing. But I can see learning in some other places too. I'm going to be out on Vancouver Island this summer with some dive buddies, where's a good place to get a lesson out there??

[2R]

Courtenay flight center in courtenay has some good equipment and some good instructors .It is very beautiful and scenic.If you want some free lessons go watch the float guys landing and taking off at the campbell river spit.Some of the best float dogs in the world work out of there.
There is some interesting diving on a wreck in Nanaimo and you can sit and watch the float planes come and go all day in the harbour .You can learn just as much watching someone do it right as you can watching someone doing it wrong .
If you want to savour the best food on the island try the Old Mill Restaurant on the river just along from the Courtenay Airpark.
Do not tell them i sent you or they will charge you extra
And the wine list is as good as the desert menu .Tell the wife/girfriend /boyfriend to wear the fat pants as the servings are big and you will not be able to leave it on the plate .

[KenoraPilot]

I instructed part time last summer about mid-july.

[youngflier]

don't you need at least 20 hours or so to even be insurable with a company?

Every company is different. Depends on everything from what type of plane it is, to what kind of a mood the agent is in when you ask to get a pilot approved.
Some companies have an open pilot clause, which allows them to insure whoever that want (in a nutshell). I think this sort of coverage is getting less and less common though. And even if an operation had it, you are still going to have to satisfy the owner /CP that you can fly thier plane safely, and keep thier customers happy. That could take some pilots 5 hrs of float time, or 500.

well im not going to doubt you

[Rudder Bug]

Hello Stinson,

Pm Cat Driver if you want to learn water flying around Vancouver Island. You can't afford not doing it, and enjoy!

RB