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  • 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…

  • RULES OF THE SEA › INLAND AND INTERNATIONAL WATERS

    Coast Guard (USCG) regulations, the definition of a vessel includes virtually anything capable of being used for transportation on water, including seaplanes on the water. Therefore, any time a seaplane is operating on the water, whether under power ... Printing Office. These rules apply to all public or private vessels navigating upon the high seas and certain inland waters. INLAND AND INTERNATIONAL WATERS Inland waters are divided visually from international waters by buoys in areas with frequent ocean traffic…

  • Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 6. Potential Flight Hazards › 7-6-9. Seaplane Safety

    Except for the far north, the available bodies of water are no longer the exclusive domain of the airman. Seaplane pilots must be vigilant for hazards such as electric power lines, power, sail and rowboats, rafts, mooring lines, water skiers ... Coast Guard’s (USCG) Navigation Rules, International-Inland, and 14 CFR section 91.115, Right-of-Way Rules; Water Operations. The navigation rules of the road are a set of collision avoidance rules as they apply to aircraft on the water…

  • LANDING › GLASSY WATER LANDING

    GLASSY WATER LANDING Flat, calm, glassy water certainly looks inviting and may give the pilot a false sense of safety. By its nature, glassy water indicates no wind, so there are no concerns about which direction to land, no crosswind ... consider, no weathervaning, and obviously no rough water. Unfortunately, both the visual and the physical characteristics of glassy water hold potential hazards for complacent pilots. Consequently, this surface condition is frequently more dangerous than it appears for a landing seaplane…

  • 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…

  • 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…