Front Matter

SEAPLANE, SKIPLANE, and FLOAT/SKI EQUIPPED HELICOPTER OPERATIONS HANDBOOK 2004

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
• FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
• Flight Standards Service

PREFACE

This operational handbook introduces the basic skills necessary for piloting seaplanes, skiplanes, and helicopters equipped with floats or skis. It is developed by the Flight Standards Service, Airman Testing Standards Branch, in cooperation with various aviation educators and industry.

This handbook is primarily intended to assist pilots who already hold private or commercial certificates and who are learning to fly seaplanes, skiplanes, or helicopters equipped for water or ski operations. It is also beneficial to rated seaplane pilots who wish to improve their proficiency, pilots preparing for flights using ski equipped aircraft, and flight instructors engaged in the instruction of both student and transitioning pilots. It introduces the future seaplane or skiplane pilot to the realm of water operations and cold weather operations, and provides information on the performance of procedures required for the addition of a sea class rating in airplanes. Information on general piloting skills, aeronautical knowledge, or flying techniques not directly related to water or cold weather operations are beyond the scope of this book, but are available in other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publications. This handbook conforms to pilot training and certification concepts established by the FAA. There are different ways of teaching, as well as performing specific operating procedures, and many variations in the explanations of operating from water, snow, and ice. This handbook is not comprehensive, but provides a basic knowledge that can serve as a foundation on which to build further knowledge. The discussion and explanations reflect commonly used practices and principles. Occasionally the word “must” or similar language is used where the desired action is deemed critical. The use of such language is not intended to add to, interpret, or relieve a duty imposed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

It is essential for persons using this handbook to also become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR and the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). The AIM is available online at http://www.faa.gov/atpubs. Performance standards for demonstrating competence required for the seaplane rating are prescribed in the appropriate practical test standard.

The current Flight Standards Service airman training and testing material and subject matter knowledge codes for all airman certificates and ratings can be obtained from the Flight Standards Service web site at http://av-info.faa.gov. The FAA greatly appreciates the valuable assistance provided by many individuals and organizations throughout the aviation community whose expertise contributed to the preparation of this handbook.

This handbook supercedes Chapters 16 and 17 of FAA-H-8083-3, Airplane Flying Handbook, dated 1999. This handbook is available for download from the Flight Standards Service Web site at http://av-info.faa.gov. This Web site also provides information about availability of printed copies.

This handbook is published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Airman Testing Standards Branch, AFS-630, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Comments regarding this handbook should be sent in e-mail form to AFS630comments@faa.gov.

AC 00-2, Advisory Circular Checklist, transmits the current status of FAA advisory circulars and other flight information and publications. This checklist is available via the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/aba/html_policies/ac00_2.html.

Photo credits:

Cover (Lake amphibian): Lanshe Aerospace Cover (Skiplane), Tom Evans Photography Page 2-1, bottom right: Wipaire, Inc. Page 7-1, left column: Airglas Engineering

Downwind Arc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14

Downwind Takeoffs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14

Glassy Water Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15

Rough Water Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16

Confined Area Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16

CHAPTER 5—Performance

Performance Considerations for Takeoff, Climb, Cruise, and Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Climb and Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Flight Characteristics of Seaplanes with

High Thrust Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Multiengine Seaplanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

CHAPTER 6—Seaplane Operations – Landings

Landing Area Reconnaissance and Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Landing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

Normal Landing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

Crosswind Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

Downwind Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Glassy Water Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Rough Water Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Confined Area Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Go-Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Emergency Landing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Postflight Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8

Anchoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9

Mooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9

Docking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10

Beaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10

Ramping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10

Salt Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11

CHAPTER 7—Skiplane Operations Skiplane Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Construction and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Plain Ski Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Combination Ski Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

CHAPTER 1—Rules, Regulations, and Aids for Navigation Privileges and Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1

Seaplane Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

14 CFR Part 91, Section 91.115, Right-of-Way Rules: Water Operations . . . . . . 1-2

Rules of the Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Inland and International Waters. . . . . . 1-2

United States Aids for Marine

Navigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Seaplane Landing Areas . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Buoys and Daybeacons . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Nighttime Buoy Identification. . . . . . . 1-4

CHAPTER 2—Principles of Seaplanes Seaplane Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Seaplane Flight Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

CHAPTER 3—Water Characteristics and Seaplane Base Operations Characteristics of Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Determining Sea Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Water Effects on Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Seaplane Base Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

CHAPTER 4—Seaplane Operations – Preflight and Takeoffs Preflight Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Starting the Engine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Taxiing and Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Idling Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Plowing Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Planing or Step Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Turns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Porpoising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9

Skipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10

Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10

Normal Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12

Crosswind Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12

Controlled Weathervaning . . . . . . . . . 4-13

Using Water Rudders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14

CONTENTS

Operational Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Types of Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Types of Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Surface Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

Preflight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

Taxiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Takeoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Off-Airport Landing Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6

Glaciers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6

Lakes and Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6

Tundra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6

Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6

Landings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7

Parking/Postflight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7

Emergency Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Ski Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Night Emergency Landing. . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

CHAPTER 8—Emergency Open Sea

Operations Operations in Open Seas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Sea State Evaluation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Swell System Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

High Reconnaissance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Low Reconnaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Select Landing Heading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Select Touchdown Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

Landing Parallel to the Swell . . . . . . . 8-4

• Landing Perpendicular to the Swell . . 8-4
• Landing with More Than One Swell

System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

Effect of Chop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5

Night Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5

Sea Evaluation at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

Night Emergency Landing. . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

Landing by Parachute Flare. . . . . . . . . 8-6

Landing by Markers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

Emergency Landing Under Instrument

Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7

Escaping a Submerged Seaplane . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Water Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Flotation Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Normal and Unusual Exits. . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

CHAPTER 9—Float and Ski Equipped

Helicopters Float Equipped Helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Construction and Maintenance . . . . . . . . 9-1

Operational Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2

Preflight Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3

Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3

Taxiing and Hovering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3

Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4

Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4

Autorotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6

Shutdown and Mooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6

Ground Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6

Ski Equipped Helicopters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6

Construction and Maintenance

Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

Operational Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

Preflight Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

Starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

Taxiing and Hovering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8

Autorotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8

Ground Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1