Best Place to do Sea Plane Certificate

BoundaryWaters

BoundaryWaters

Filing Flight Plan
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Jan 25, 2014
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Grand Forks ND
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BoundaryWaters
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Grand Forks International
I live in Central Minnesota, but I am a student at UND (University of North Dakota) currently getting my privates pilot license. When I finish at the end of the semester, I want to get my Sea Plane certificate so I can do lake landings in Northern Minnesota or Canada. I would eventually like to become a Bush Pilot in Alaska and I feel like this would be a great way to get started. Any information is welcome.
THANKS
BoundaryWaters
 
BoundaryWaters said:
I live in Central Minnesota, but I am a student at UND (University of North Dakota) currently getting my privates pilot license. When I finish at the end of the semester, I want to get my Sea Plane certificate so I can do lake landings in Northern Minnesota or Canada. I would eventually like to become a Bush Pilot in Alaska and I feel like this would be a great way to get started. Any information is welcome.
THANKS
BoundaryWaters
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Wait until you get your commercial done. That will add an additional class rating to your commercial certificate vice your private certificate.
 
hook_dupin said:
Wait until you get your commercial done. That will add an additional class rating to your commercial certificate vice your private certificate.
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This. Much cheaper (and fewer check rides) if you do it after the commercial.
 
FYI I believe the Boundary Waters are off limits to seaplanes. http://www.seaplanes.org/spa/ has a water directory with that info. IIRC There is/was a place in MN that rents seaplanes to rated pilots. Most seaplane schools do not rent even if you train with them. Waiting for the Commercial isn't a bad idea, waiting 2 years if you are in school then doing a commercial seaplane add-on as you graduate and need a FR can save you a few bucks. Will take a bunch of hustle to build the seaplane time needed to get a job, not impossible but the path is not laid out through a college program and probably involves loading and fueling seaplanes for some time.
 
I recommend Jack Brown's outside of Orlando if you decide to go on a Florida adventure at some point....
 
hook_dupin said:
I recommend Jack Brown's outside of Orlando if you decide to go on a Florida adventure at some point....
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I also have heard good things about Browns, which is in Winter Haven right next to KGIF.
 
If the op is planning on flying floats up north I think he'd be better off getting the rating up north. Nothing against Brown's just that FL flying is easy.
 
Fearless Tower said:
This. Much cheaper (and fewer check rides) if you do it after the commercial.
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Does it matter?:confused: I'm not sure since I did my CSES and CSEL ride simultaneously in a Lake LA-4 200. However, if he wants to fly sea planes as a pro, I'd suggest he go ahead and get his PP-SES and build his 200hrs towards his commercial as much in a seaplane as he can, maybe pick up a 140 on floats.
 
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Henning said:
Does it matter?:confused: I'm not sure since I did my CSES and CSEL ride simultaneously in a Lake LA-4 200. However, if he wants to fly sea planes as a pro, I'd suggest he go ahead and get his PP-SES and build his 200hrs towards his commercial as much in a seaplane as he can, maybe pick up a 140 on floats.
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Yeah, it matters to a lot of folks who want to get into this business, but don't have a lot of money to build seaplane time as a PP. Get the comm first and find ways to get paid while you build time. Unless you can do your ASES in a Lake and there aren't that many schools that use amphibians compared to floats, you're adding an extra check ride and examiner fee.
 
Could it be done in a couple of summers working as a gas filler, plane cleaner, etc. working for someone like ken more in Seattle? They are really in it big time and have been for years.
 
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