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  • LANDING › ROUGH WATER LANDING

    pilot can be certain that the landing configuration and 150 f.p.m. descent will be established well above the water’s surface, starting the final glide nearer the surface shortens the descent time and overall landing length. This technique usually produces ... long, shallow glide consumes considerable landing distance. Be certain there is sufficient room for the glide, touchdown, and water run. ROUGH WATER LANDING Rough is a very subjective and relative term. Water conditions that cause no difficulty for small boats…

  • LANDING › GLASSY WATER LANDING

    lowest possible safe altitude so that a reliable height reference is maintained to within a few feet of the water surface. When adequate visual references are not available, make glassy water landings by establishing a stable descent in the landing ... attitude at a rate that will provide a positive, but not excessive, contact with the water. Recognize the need for this type of landing in ample time to set up the proper final approach. Always perform glassy water landings with…

  • SKIPPING › ROUGH WATER TAKEOFFS

    Using the proper procedure during rough water operation lessens the abuse of the floats, as well as the entire seaplane. During rough water takeoffs, open the throttle to takeoff power just as the floats begin rising on a wave. This ... prevents the float bows from digging into the water and helps keep the spray away from the propeller. Apply a little more back elevator pressure than on a smooth water takeoff. This raises the nose to a higher angle…

  • SKIPPING › GLASSY WATER TAKEOFFS

    GLASSY WATER TAKEOFFS Glassy water makes takeoff more difficult in two ways. The smoothness of the surface has the effect of increasing drag, making acceleration and lift-off more difficult. This can feel as if there is suction between ... water and the floats. A little surface roughness actually helps break the contact between the floats and the water by introducing turbulence and air bubbles between water and the float bottoms. The intermittent contact between floats and water…