Flight Instructor for Airplane Category › II. Technical Subject Areas › Task L. Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES)

AI.II.L.K1g

Knowledge

Characteristics of a water surface as affected by features, such as:

Vessel traffic and wakes

Practice questions Ask the tutor

Study note

Get a short, cited explanation of this element written from the FAA handbooks: the core idea, the numbers that matter, common test traps, and a quick self-check.

From the FAA library

Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook p. 4-5
TAXIING AND SAILING › PLOWING POSITION
craft that were designed for the water, so avoiding other vessels is much more difficult. Besides the obvious danger of collision, other water traffic creates dangerous wakes, which are a much more frequent cause of damage. If you see that…
Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook p. 4-11
SKIPPING
hazardous objects or obstructions. Make absolutely sure the takeoff path ahead is free of boats, swimmers, and other water traffic, and be sure it will remain so for the duration of the takeoff run. Powerboats, wind-surfers, and jet-skis ... normal taxi speed and may be passing the seaplane from behind. In addition to the vessels themselves, also scan for their wakes and try to anticipate where the wakes will be during takeoff. Operators of motorboats and other watercraft often…
Aeronautical Information Manual p. 3-5-10
Chapter 3. Airspace › Section 5. Other Airspace Areas › 3-5-7. Special Air Traffic Rules (SATR) and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)
Special Air Traffic Rules (SATR) and Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) a. Background. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prescribes special air traffic rules for aircraft operating within the boundaries of certain designated airspace. These areas are listed ... part 93 and can be found throughout the NAS. Procedures, nature of operations, configuration, size, and density of traffic vary among the identified areas. b. SFRAs. Airspace of defined dimensions, above land areas or territorial waters, within which the flight…
Aeronautical Information Manual p. 7-6-8
Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 6. Potential Flight Hazards › 7-6-9. Seaplane Safety
pilots must have a thorough understanding of the right-of-way rules as they apply to aircraft versus other vessels. Seaplane pilots are expected to know and adhere to both the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Navigation Rules, International-Inland ... collision avoidance rules as they apply to aircraft on the water. A seaplane is considered a vessel when on the water for the purposes of these collision avoidance rules. In general, a seaplane on the water must keep well clear…
Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook p. 1-2
SEAPLANE REGULATIONS
flight. (a) General. Each person operating an aircraft on the water shall, insofar as possible, keep clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation, and shall give way to any vessel or other aircraft that is given the right ... rule of this section. (b) Crossing. When aircraft, or an aircraft and a vessel, are on crossing courses, the aircraft or vessel to the other’s right has the right-of-way. (c) Approaching head-on. When aircraft…
Aeronautical Information Manual p. 7-4-5
Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 4. Wake Turbulence › 7-4-5. Operations Problem Areas
Operations Problem Areas a. A wake turbulence encounter can range from negligible to catastrophic. The impact of the encounter depends on the weight, wingspan, size of the generating aircraft, distance from the generating aircraft, and point of vortex encounter ... generally aligned with the flight path of the generating aircraft. b. AVOID THE AREA BELOW AND BEHIND THE WAKE GENERATING AIRCRAFT, ESPECIALLY AT LOW ALTITUDE WHERE EVEN A MOMENTARY WAKE ENCOUNTER COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. NOTEA common scenario for a wake…