Floatplane lessons - Canada

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Below are the Transport Canada requirements to obtain your seaplane rating.

Floatplane - Seaplane training

To become a seaplane pilot, it is necessary to satisfy the same requirements as for the private or recreational pilot license.

It is also necessary to satisfy some additional requirements concerning the number of hours carried out on a seaplane.

Although one can technically start by directly learning how to control seaplanes, the majority of the pilots starts initially by obtaining a license on a conventional plane making hours on fleets in order to obtain its annotation of pilot on a floatplane.

 

Here are the requirements of Transport Canada to obtain its seaplane pilot qualification.

IMPORTANT: This is for information only. Always check the latest info from the officials sources.

DIVISION X - AEROPLANE CLASS RATINGS

421.38 Requirements

(1) Seaplane Rating - Requirements

(a) Experience

(i) An applicant for a seaplane rating shall complete a total of 7 hours of seaplane training, including:
(amended 1998/03/23)

(A) a minimum of 5 hours of dual instruction, and
(amended 1998/03/23)

(B) a minimum of 5 take-offs and landings as sole occupant of the aeroplane, except for two crew aircraft, in which case the take-offs and landings shall be done as pilot-in-command.

(ii) The following exercises shall be included in the seaplane training:

(A) taxiing,

(B) sailing,

(C) docking,

(D) take-offs, and

(E) landings, and

(F) as conditions exist, operations on glassy water, rough water and in crosswind conditions.

(b) Skill

Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for a seaplane rating, an applicant shall have successfully completed a qualifying flight under the supervision of a Transport Canada Inspector or a person qualified in accordance with CAR 425.21(6) by demonstrating the level of skill specified in the Instructor Guide - Seaplane Rating (TP12668).
(amended 2000/09/01)

(c) Credits for DND Applicants
(amended 1998/03/23)

Active and retired personnel of the Canadian Forces who are qualified for the pilot aeroplane wings standard shall be deemed to have satisfied the seaplane training requirements specified above, provided that the applicant:

(i) has completed not less than 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in seaplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or

(ii) has met the prescribed standard of the Canadian Forces to act as pilot-in-command of seaplanes during the 24 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

(d) Credits for Foreign Applicants
(amended 1998/03/23; no previous version)

The holder of a pilot license - aeroplane category - issued by a Contracting State, shall be deemed to have met the seaplane training requirements specified above, provided that the applicant:

(i) has completed a minimum of 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in seaplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or

(ii) has met the prescribed standards of the State concerned, to act as pilot-in-command of seaplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

(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 of dual instruction, and

(B) a minimum of 5 take-offs 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) take-offs.

(b) Credits for DND Applicants

Active and retired personnel of the Canadian Forces who are qualified for the pilot aeroplane wings standard shall be deemed to have satisfied the landplane training requirements specified above, provided that the applicant:

(i) has completed not less than 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in landplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or

(ii) has met the prescribed standard of the Canadian Forces to act as pilot-in-command of landplanes during the 24 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

(c) Credits for Foreign Applicants

The holder of a pilot license - aeroplane category - issued by a Contracting State shall be deemed to have met the landplane training requirements specified above, provided that the applicant:

(i) has completed a minimum of 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in landplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or

(ii) has met the prescribed standards of the State concerned, to act as pilot-in-command of landplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

(3) Multi-engine Class Rating - Requirements

(a) Skill

An applicant for a multi-engine class rating shall complete a flight test to the standard outlined in the Flight Test Standard, Multi-Engine Class Rating.

(b) Credits for DND Applicants

Active and retired personnel of the Canadian Forces who are qualified for the pilot aeroplane wings standard shall be considered to have satisfied the skill requirements as set forth above provided that the applicant:
(amended 1999/03/01)

(i) has acquired a minimum of 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in multi-engine aeroplanes during the 24 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or

(ii) has met the prescribed standards of the Canadian Forces to act as pilot-in-command of multi-engine aeroplanes during the 24 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

(c) Credits for Foreign Applicants

The holder of a pilot license - aeroplane category - issued by a Contracting State shall be considered to have satisfied the skill requirements as set forth above, provided that the applicant:
(amended 1999/03/01)

(i) has acquired a minimum of 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in multi-engine aeroplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or

(ii) has met the prescribed standards of the State concerned for issue of a multi-engine class rating during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

(4) Multi-engine Centre Line Thrust Class Rating - Requirements
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(a) Skill
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

An applicant for a multi-engine center line thrust class rating shall complete a flight test to the standard outlined in the Flight Test Standards - Multi-Engine Class Rating (TP219E).
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(b) Credits for DND Applicants
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

Active and retired personnel of the Canadian Forces who are qualified for the pilot aeroplane wings standard shall be considered to have satisfied the above skill requirement, provided that the applicant
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(i) has acquired a minimum of 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in multi-engine center line thrust aeroplanes during the 24 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(ii) has met the prescribed standards of the Canadian Forces to act as pilot-in-command of multi-engine center line thrust aeroplanes during the 24 months preceding the date of application for the rating.
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(c) Credits for Foreign Applicants
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

The holder of a pilot license – aeroplane - issued by a Contracting State shall be considered to have satisfied the above skill requirement, provided that the applicant
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(i) has acquired a minimum of 50 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in multi-engine center line thrust aeroplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(ii) has met the prescribed standards of the State concerned, for issue of a multi-engine center line thrust class rating during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating.
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

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