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 diverse reasons, including bucket-list experiences, aspiring ownership, and professional careers, with Seattle being a prominent hub for floatplane training.
Seaplane flying requires pilots to adapt to unique water-based operations, such as managing aircraft movement without brakes, constant situational awareness for marine traffic, and different taxiing techniques.
Training typically takes 5-8 hours for proficiency, with previous tailwheel or sailing experience often proving beneficial, and is described as a fun and rewarding way to enhance piloting skills and experience unique aviation activities.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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).