Tri-Pacer on Floats

Thursday, November 03, 2011 at 06:50 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Senior Editor Pia Bergqvist successfully obtained her seaplane rating after two days and seven hours of training at Alaska Floats & Skis in Talkeetna, Alaska, describing the experience as exhilarating.
The seaplane rating emphasizes adapting to the aircraft's unique handling characteristics, such as increased drag from floats, slower speeds, and the use of water rudders for steering on the water, with no aerial maneuvers required.

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Senior Editor Pia Bergqvist gets her seaplane ticket in Alaska.

She logged seven hours of training over two days before taking her check ride.

“Getting my seaplane rating was one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve had in the dozen or so years I’ve spent flying around in little airplanes,” Pia said.

She completed her training at Alaska Floats & Skis, set in the idyllic touristy village of Talkeetna in the pristine flatlands below Mount McKinley.

There are no aerial maneuvers required for the add-on seaplane rating. But with all the extra drage created by the floats, the airplane behaves quite differently compared with a conventional airplane.

The airplane is not only significantly slower, but also requires a great deal of right rudder.

The water rudder handle is located on the floor near the manual flaps.

Water rudders at the aft portion of the floats help steer the seaplane in the water.

They must be retracted, however, prior to takeoff.

For more, check out Pia’s feature, “Seaplane Rating, Alaska Style.“

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