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

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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 attract diverse individuals, from those fulfilling a bucket-list dream to aspiring owners and professional pilots, with Seattle being a prominent training hub.
Seaplane flying presents unique challenges compared to land-based aircraft, requiring pilots to adapt to operations without brakes, manage energy on water, and maintain heightened situational awareness for marine traffic and wildlife.
Pilots with prior tailwheel or sailing experience often find seaplane training easier, typically achieving basic proficiency in 5-8 hours of flight time.
Seaplanes have a significant historical role, including William Boeing's first aircraft, the Model 1, which was a floatplane designed in the Pacific Northwest.

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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).