Looking back, I now understand but when I went to a landplane school to get get my PPL with the intention of taking my CPL after, I was told to get my PPL and keep building hours with the school. After getting my PPL I burned another 100 hours of so and then was told oh you need this rating and your multi and IFR, etc. etc. Why didn't they tell me that sooner? It's my fault as I should have done my research! I then did do my research and just want to share my experience with you. I always knew I wanted to be a bush pilot and eventually figured it may be in my best interest to finish my hours on a floatplane. The only floatplane school I could find that offers PPL/Commercial on floats was Air-Hart so I went there to finish up the commercial/50 hour there. .

The other day I got a call from an operator I sent my resume to last year and they were looking to hire someone with 50 hours on floats, preferably 180 time. It was for dropping fuel drums for fihing/hunting camps. I had to turn it down but got in touch with the school and they had some guys. Now I understand why the landplane school I went to didn't tell me to get some float time, they wanted me to stay with them. It's their business. but do your research. One of the other guys I met at Airhart who finished up his commercial / bush course also ended up getting a job over these a whole bunch of higher time guys because he way more hours on floats.

Do your research.

superbflyer wrote:Looking back, I now understand but when I went to a landplane school to get get my PPL with the intention of taking my CPL after, I was told to get my PPL and keep building hours with the school. After getting my PPL I burned another 100 hours of so and then was told oh you need this rating and your multi and IFR, etc. etc. Why didn't they tell me that sooner?

You don't "need" to get an M-IFR while doing your CPL, nor for many first jobs. They didn't tell you because they can't read your mind to know what path you would like to follow. It's your call.

You do however need the hours.

superbflyer wrote: Now I understand why the landplane school I went to didn't tell me to get some float time, they wanted me to stay with them.

Why should they have to tell you to get float time? Not everyone wants it, it's not a requirement for your training, and they cant read your mind.


Sorry if I sound like a jerk, I don't mean to. However, it's no ones job to hold your hand, or to guess what you would be interested in doing. From what you described the schools did nothing wrong. I do however agree 100% with your conclusion - do your research.

Your second post ever reads like a first class infomercial

But I agree..do your research..I think you will find that the testimonial regarding the value of the 50 hour float courses are very much over rated and not typical.

However, if operators are standing by waiting for your call...and they include not only the float rating but some valuable work experience at no extra charge, who wouldnt go for it.

Polar one,

If you want a job working for a floatplane operation, how can you say the hours are over rated? I am sharing my experience as I had a hard time deciding what to do when building my hours. Well before I finished my training. I called some of the floatplane operators directly and they told me that I should consider taking a 50 hour bush course and that many operators have insurance minimums of 50 hours. Although some will train, you will most likley spend a lot more time working the docks, especially if someone has more hours on floats than you do. When I asked my flight school about the best approach for me to get a job in the bush, my instructor didn't suggest I do any float hours. I am saying I understand why they wouldn't. And yes I did do my research and it is my responsibility but I thought I would share my experience for others and of course share how it worked out for me. The reason I posted this was because when I looked on the forms a year ago, I hadn't seen much on this. I thought it may help someone.

It's a funny world...
A million hours in other flying will not qualify you for the float job like 50 hours on floats will.
It's expensive to get those float hours when you struggle to live on what Canada pays its flying slaves.

But all experience is good experience and it will all pass in time and so make the best of what you do now.
Keep plugging at the float time but do not regret the wheel time. You've gained valuable experience, and as a pilot on floats you can't have too much wheel experience. Once airborne you'll have to make the same decisions, and experience is about gaining the ability to make safer decisions in the future.

There is probably no more dangerous job in Canada than being a bush pilot, being asked to fly overloaded and perhaps under maintained aeroplanes out of lakes that might be too short for the temperature and for the actual power output of the engine.
50 hours on floats with 200 hours or so total is not as good a situation as more overall hours.

MichaelP wrote:
There is probably no more dangerous job in Canada than being a bush pilot, being asked to fly overloaded and perhaps under maintained aeroplanes out of lakes that might be too short for the temperature and for the actual power output of the engine.

Micheal,

While I can wholeheartedly agree with most of what you write, I think you're overstating the case somewhat with the above - I can think of many applications that are more "dangerous" for lack of a better word... Most of them involve helicopters.

stl