Seaplane rating on the DHC-2 or C180???

[MetalGearSolid]

Hi,

Obviously the DHC-2 is going to cost more but is there any benefit in getting certified on this aircraft as opposed to the C180, or the piper cub for that matter??

Thanks.

[cessnafloatflyer]

I think you'll be hard pressed to find an operator that will send you solo in their Beaver -- in fact i think impossible.
Otherwise it all depends on your interest -- want to learn on a 180 -- a good idea if you're interested in flying an aircraft that is used commercailly. Learn about engine management, constant speed prop, some horsepower etc. But, many here will tell you to do it the cheapest possible way. If you can afford it, learn on what you find most interesting and what you will learn the most from and who you will learn the most from.

Then get egress training -- best money you'll ever spend if you're going to be near or on the water. www.dunk-you.com

[Ralliart]

Use the cheapest cost per hour aircraft, and save your money for the most float experienced pilot (instructor) you can find.

[Jerz]

C180 makes good float trainer, but something with less performance would be even better. Super Cub and to some extend lightly loaded Beaver or C185 are too easy to fly to prepare you for this first float job. I would go with something cheap and low performance with maybe a couple hrs on C180, 185, DHC2 for desert. If you are seriuos about flying floats for a living, get the best training you can afford. The bare float rating with minimum hrs is a license to kill.

[ScudRunner]

Well first you have to find a Beaver that actually has two yokes in it, good luck.
And then you have to find a company willing to take you up and teach you. Get an underpowered 172 for the cheapest rate and giver. Your first float gig probably won't be on a beaver, more than likely a 185 or 180.

Just thinking about training on a beaver, I recall someone did that a few years back out of YVR and got in a ton of trouble with TC because of the yoke problem. Not sure if they revoked the students ratings or not but food for thought.

[cessnafloatflyer]

From the Employment forum:

This summer, I got a job on the dock in Ontario with only my 7 hour rating. I learned a huge amount in 3 months catching planes. I also spent a lot of time networking (drinking beer) and managed to be in that coveted "right place at the right time". I got an interview with a different operator which consisted of me hopping in the left seat of a single control fully loaded 180 and heading to camp with the boss. It was at this moment I thanked my lucky stars I opted for the 180 during the rating. It cost a little more but gave me that extra little bit of confidence and experience. The 180 is a very common commercialy viable airplane. The 172 is not (in the bush). Just my 2 cents. I got the job by the way.
Good Luck!

[North Shore]

Well, this will probably get beaten to death, one way or another. However this:

Then get egress training -- best money you'll ever spend if you're going to be near or on the water. www.dunk-you.com

bears repeating (and bolding).
It's a fun course, and might just save your or your passengers' life.

[angry inch]

In my opinion there is definitely no reason to get your seaplane rating in a Beaver. Aside from costing a lot, the Beaver is much easier to fly than a 180/185, which is what you would most likely start flying commercially.

[CoastFloater]

you can of course do all your training in a C180/182/185, then get a check out on a Beaver...

...check out www.seaplaneacademy.ca for details on this. Also, you will get the training from the most qualified guy around it seems!?

[Panama Jack]

A few years ago Harbour Air, in Vancouver, ran a 15-hour seaplane rating program that was quite good. Most of the training was on the Cessna 180 with a few hours on the C-185 and DHC-2. Not sure if they do it anymore.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Empty Beaver vs Fully loaded Beaver = 2 different airplanes. So unless you ballast the beaver to MTOW for every training flight, you will not really learn to fly the Beaver. By far the most important consideration for float training is to have an instructor with lots of real world commercial float plane flying experience.

[Cat Driver]

Even if he / she does not hold a flight instructors rating?

[Strega]

The bare float rating with minimum hrs is a license to kill.

How did you manage then? Are you special?

[cessnafloatflyer]

How did you manage then? Are you special?

Oh come on now ---

[Big Pistons Forever]

Even if he / she does not hold a flight instructors rating?

In a perfect world you would learn float flying with someone who has training on how to teach new skills to low time pilots (the benefits of a flight instructor rating) and a lot of practical experience (the benefits of a couple of years flying the line in a commercial float operation) Unfortunately that combination is hard to find. However even if the instructor
has no instructor rating he/she should have a goodly number of ratings taught under their belt and will have hopefully have a good feel on how to get their knowledge across to you.
What you don't want is either, to be taught by a flight instructor who has never flown the line, or a high time guy who has never done a float rating.

[ETOPS]

... the Beaver is much easier to fly than a 180/185...

Then why is a Beaver so difficult to rent, or even go solo in as part of your endorsement (as was mentioned above)?

[cessnafloatflyer]

Then why is a Beaver so difficult to rent, or even go solo in as part of your endorsement (as was mentioned above)?

Because they cost over $400k - $45K annual insurance (with qualified pilots who have experience and ratings) and over $700 per hour to charter. As well as the abuse that a rating puts on the airframe and engine.

So your rating at charter rates would be $5000+ and nobody will buy the insurance to cover the rating, or risk their aircraft for a few or less ratings per year at that cost as they are done for a fraction of the cost on smaller aircraft.

Remember, it is a business and if it ain't going to have many customers and the numbers don't work, nobody will do it. So, nobody does it.

[CoastFloater]

Then why is a Beaver so difficult to rent, or even go solo in as part of your endorsement (as was mentioned above)?

Remember, it is a business and if it ain't going to have many customers and the numbers don't work, nobody will do it. So, nobody does it.

Seaplane Academy is doing it though...go figure the high time guys are on board with offering it.

[cessnafloatflyer]

Seaplane Academy is doing it though...go figure the high time guys are on board with offering it.

I could be wrong but i am quite sure they are doing it on a 180 (it being the rating) and not in a Beaver -- they may offer training in a beaver but i really doubt that the solo is done.

[viccoastdog]

Seaplane Academy is doing it though...go figure the high time guys are on board with offering it.

I could be wrong but i am quite sure they are doing it on a 180 (it being the rating) and not in a Beaver -- they may offer training in a beaver but i really doubt that the solo is done.

The 'Seaplane Academy' webpage shows the option of a Beaver "add on introductory course" using Whistler Air planes.

BTW, I think you'll find that CoastFloater IS the Seaplane Academy....correct me if i'm wrong...