I found myself in Canada recently, and as you do when you're a private pilot, you look into the possibilities of a flying adventure. Since I have a US private pilot's license, getting a Canadian piggyback license is pretty straightforward. For those interested check out the Transport Canada website. The question was, what to fly?
They even have a large seaplane terminal downtown Vancouver:
I did a quick bit of research (Google machine) and contacted Graeme at the Victoria Flying Club which is based at the Victoria International Airport, Sidney, British Colombia. The names Victoria and Sidney had this Queenslander a bit confused at first. I managed to take a Friday off work and scheduled a seaplane and instructor for 3 days of intensive training.
I had studied up the Victoria Flying Club's very nicely and concisely written Seaplane Training Manual during the week nights. New terms such as step taxi, sailing, glass water landing had me raring to go. The requirements in Canada to get a Seaplane rating are as follows:
I've often marveled at the floatplanes that frequent the harbor of many Canadian towns and even large cities. Like this beauty:
They even have a large seaplane terminal downtown Vancouver:
I did a quick bit of research (Google machine) and contacted Graeme at the Victoria Flying Club which is based at the Victoria International Airport, Sidney, British Colombia. The names Victoria and Sidney had this Queenslander a bit confused at first. I managed to take a Friday off work and scheduled a seaplane and instructor for 3 days of intensive training.
I finished up work in Vancouver Thursday afternoon and took the last flight to Sidney (there's a Cold Chisel song in there somewhere). It's a short flight from Vancouver - exactly 12 minutes in the air - in this hearty Beech 1900 flown by Pacific Coastal Airlines:
I had studied up the Victoria Flying Club's very nicely and concisely written Seaplane Training Manual during the week nights. New terms such as step taxi, sailing, glass water landing had me raring to go. The requirements in Canada to get a Seaplane rating are as follows:
TRANSPORT CANADA SEAPLANE RATING REQUIREMENTS: CARs421.38:
(1) Seaplane Rating - Requirements
(A) Experience:
(i) An applicant for a seaplane rating shall complete a total of 7 hours of seaplane training, including:
Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for a seaplane rating, an applicant shall have successfully completed a qualifying flight under the supervision of a Transport Canada Inspector or a person qualified in accordance with CAR 425.21(6) by demonstrating the level of skill specified in the Instructor Guide - Seaplane Rating (TP12668).
A quick drive to Sidney and tucked in for the night. I slept well dreaming of my air/sea adventures to come.
Click here to read about day 1 training.
(1) Seaplane Rating - Requirements
(A) Experience:
(i) An applicant for a seaplane rating shall complete a total of 7 hours of seaplane training, including:
- a) A minimum of 5 hours dual instruction, and
- b) A minimum of 5 takeoffs and landings as sole occupant of the aeroplane, except for two crew aircraft, in which case the takeoffs and landings shall be done as pilot-in-command.
- a) Taxiing,
- b) Sailing,
- c) Docking,
- d) Takeoffs, and
- e) Landings, and
- f) As conditions exist, operations on glassy water, rough water and in crosswind conditions.
Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for a seaplane rating, an applicant shall have successfully completed a qualifying flight under the supervision of a Transport Canada Inspector or a person qualified in accordance with CAR 425.21(6) by demonstrating the level of skill specified in the Instructor Guide - Seaplane Rating (TP12668).
A quick drive to Sidney and tucked in for the night. I slept well dreaming of my air/sea adventures to come.
Click here to read about day 1 training.
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