For Those Aviators Attracted to Water

Flying on floats is a bucket-list item for many pilots.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, September 04, 2024 at 09:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

One of the most common questions is: How long does it take to earn a seaplane rating? [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Seaplane ratings are pursued for various reasons, from fulfilling a bucket-list item or aspiring to ownership to securing professional pilot roles, especially in regions like Seattle where floatplanes are iconic.
Training involves unique challenges, such as managing energy without brakes, adapting from land-plane habits, and maintaining heightened situational awareness for water operations alongside boats and wildlife.
Earning a seaplane rating, typically taking 5-8 hours of basic VFR flight training, offers a fun and skill-honing experience that enables unique flying activities like step turns and beaching.

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With the exception of the Space Needle, there is perhaps no image more iconic than a floatplane flying over water with Mount Rainier in the background. Floatplanes are as much a part of Seattle as Starbucks and the early days of Boeing Aircraft Co.

As such, there are two seaplane/floatplane training operations in the area: Seattle Seaplanes, located on the southeast corner of Lake Union (0W0), and Kenmore Air, with two locations, one on the northwest side of Lake Union (W55) and another on Lake Washington on the north tip of Renton Municipal Airport (KRNT).