I did it!

I did it! I have my United States SeaPlane Rating and USA Pilot's Licence - flying a Cessna 172 Amphibian N172MY at Lake Havasu, Arizona after completing my SeaPlane training there.

Check the video clip on their website here.

The training included learning how to take off and land the amphibian plane on land and water in glassy sea water conditions, rough water and normal water, take-offs and landings in confined spaces, taxiing, sailing the plane (backwards) on the water with the engine off, beaching, mooring and docking and working with other water users - boats, jetskis and skiers. The process involved getting my South African land-based Pilot's licence validated for use of the foreign licence in the USA, the issue of a temporary USA Private Pilot's licence, training on the water, a flight test by a USA FAA-approved Examiner and the issue of the rating which will then be added and a USA Pilot's licence issued to me.  

Durban Skyye Flight School CEO Dave was in Arizona this week - this is his Flight Test (called a Check Ride in the USA) where he passed his test with the Flight Examiner to earn his SeaPlane Rating and USA Pilot's Licence in addition to his South African licences.

The shadow of the seaplane shortly before landing at the airport. The plane has retractable wheels which enable the plane to land on land or with the floats on water.

Refuelling the plane on land is quite high as the undercarriage are floats which in water submerge to half-way down, but on land  are completely above the ground, and the wheels also protrude to enable the plane to land on a hard surface but which raises the height of the plane further off the ground.

Part of the training involved learning techniques in beaching the plane and taking off again from the beach.

Wearing a life vest when over the water is compulsory 

Dave flying the amphibian with instructor Moe 

Lake Havasu, Arizona

The amphibian SeaPlane at Lake Havasu Airport with wheels down 

After each flight you need to open the bulkhead covers and pump any water out with the bilge pump - there are 8 compartments on each float and there was water in at least 3 compartments each time that needed to be removed as the additional weight affects the balance of the seaplane and affects it's flight performance and safety. The plane is able to float with one of the floats completely damaged and FAA regulations prohibit flying if any 2 of the 16 compartments are flooded.

The seaplane pilot needs to understand boating, sailing and the handling of the 2550 lb weight-bearing characteristics of each float. Each of them are sufficient to support the seaplane which weighs 1790 lbs and has a useful load of 760 lbs. Of course everything was in US gallons, pounds and miles and in my head I was doing a few conversions.

Ready to roll for my training at 5.30am each morning. Sandles were preferable as I needed to jump in the water and manoeuvre the plane on the water after beaching. 

Todd Underwood was my FAA approved Flight Examiner and he flew in from Prescott, Arizona, to do my flight test or "check-ride" as it is called there.

This test took two hours and included an oral test, a familiarisation test with various aspects unique to seaplanes and the practical test which included 5 take-offs and landings on water in different conditions as well as a simulated engine failure and take-offs and landings in confined water spaces.

Reminiscent of the old west

Trucks are big out here

The barren landscape along the Colorado River where my training took place

The cockpit of the Cessna 172 amphibian I learned to fly for the first time. Note the landing gear switch (bottom right) which has lights to indicate it's status (blue - ready to land on water, wheels up; green - ready to land on land, wheels down, and red for transition) - it takes 45 secs for the landing gear to cycle up or down.

Most of the flying was low-flying - 150-300 ft above the rocky mountains and the lake

The island in the lake has 23 one fifth-size replica lighthouses built erected as memorials and to assist with navigation around the lake.

Lake Havasu is a favourite boating destination and holiday home spot similar to Ballito at home and thousands of holiday-makers, mostly with huge RV's come to migrate from the colder winter weather of North America

An amazing tourist attraction in Lake Havasu is the original 1863 London bridge. When a newer larger bridge was needed the bridge was sold for $2,5mil to the Mayor of Lake Havasu who had it dismantled and re-located from London to Arizona at a further cost of $2,5mil and the bridge now stands proudly and joins the mainland to the island in the lake.

Lake Havasu water recreation and restaurants around the London Bridge.

The RVs, motor homes and huge trailers abound as Americans do not camp like us, but bring everything with them in these mega-homes on wheels. The cost of this one was $65 000.

Most owners have trucks like this - much larger than ours, mostly double cabs and with double back wheels and they tow cars, boats and dune buggies - there are many trails in the rocky Arizona desert to go wild in.