Welcome to Buckeye Flight Services, LLC
Buckeye Flight Services, LLC, operating in conjunction with Belford Flying Service is the only flight school in Ohio that will add a seaplane rating to your Private, Commercial or ATP certificate.
Buckeye Flight Services provides seaplane ground school and flight training in a Lake LA-4 Amphibian aircraft for the Central Ohio area.
Pilots holding an SES rating may also purchase dual/wet flight time in the Lake LA-4 on an hourly basis.
Please contact Captain Belford for details at cptrick@ix.netcom.com
If you are interested in experiencing this unique flying experience, we encourage you to call:
For more information call 800-992-2376 or fill out the form at the bottom
We accept cash, check or credit/debit card payment.
Call today to enroll in the next ground school which will be starting soon!!!
The Seaplane Rating package includes:
- Ground School
- Training Manual
- Flight Training Syllabus
- Boating Guide
- Laminated Aircraft Checklist
- POH Reprints
- 5 hours of flight time (4 hour test prep & 1 hour flight exam)
- Pre and Post Flight ground time as required
- Test Prep
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Testimonials
Wow what an awsome experience, its like flying and boating all at the same time...
Kevin Parsons
The Single Engine Sea Rating
Many newly-minted seaplane pilots exclaim that training for the single engine sea rating was the most fun they've had in an airplane (or variations on that theme, but we digress...). Don't take it from us though - find out for yourself!
Overview
Presuming that you are a certified and proficient single-engine land pilot, the Single Engine Sea add-on rating requires only a few hours of training and, in the United States, a check ride with an FAA examiner. In the process, you'll learn to handle an airplane on the water, read the environment for wind speed and direction information, verify the suitability of a landing area, and secure the airplane at a beach, ramp, dock, or mooring buoy. You'll also learn better judgment, as your choice of runway, traffic pattern, and parking spot is your choice alone. Some of the new things you'll learn during the transition are described below.
Taxiing
Taxiing a seaplane is not the simple affair that land-based pilots are accustomed to. A seaplane is always in motion on the water -- there are no "brakes" in the conventional sense to bring you to a stop. Even the run-up is done in motion, with the pilot's attention divided between checklist items and navigation. The pilot must maintain constant vigilance for obstacles such as boats, submerged snags, and floating debris. The seaplane pilot must also be familiar with the vastly different characteristics of seaplanes when taxiing at various speeds
Takeoff and Landing
Unlike land-based aircraft, seaplanes have some unique types of landings and take offs. For example, glassy (calm) water inhibits depth perception during landing, and adds significant drag during takeoff. Rough water pummels the airframe and passengers, prompting expedited liftoffs and prompt deceleration on landing. Crosswind landings have much in common with land-based crosswind procedures, but crosswind landings are rarely necessary in a seaplane because the landing surface is usually large enough to land into the wind regardless of its direction.
In the Air
Essentially, seaplanes handle the same when airborne as their land-based brethren. The two most significant differences are speed and yaw stability. Speed is obviously reduced by the bulky floatation gear, whether that be floats, sponsons, or the "step" in the hull. Yaw stability is eroded in float-equipped seaplanes by the addition of surface area in front of the center of gravity. When the airplane yaws, air hitting the front of the floats tries to maintain the yaw. Many floatplanes have enlarged vertical stabilizers to counteract this destabilizing effect, but adroit rudder control is still a valuable skill for seaplane pilots.
Coming Ashore
Flying a seaplane is the easy part. Docking, ramping, and mooring are where a seaplane pilot proves his or her ability. Precise control of the seaplane on the water, accounting for the effects of wind, current, obstacles, and momentum, leads to a respectable finale to the flight. Failure to exercise such vigilance results in very expensive dents.
One more thing...
It is wind that the seaplane pilot curses most often -- and doesn't thank often enough. Seaplanes naturally weathervane to point into the wind, and this is often the downfall of an otherwise perfect approach for docking or beaching, and sometimes a good reason to abort a takeoff or avoid a landing. But wind can also shorten a takeoff or landing, assist a docking or beaching, or act as a brake when motion is not desired. The ability to recognize and take advantage of wind conditions is critical for the seaplane pilot. The good news is that Mother Nature provides an abundance of clues. Learning to pick up on those clues is as much a part of learning to fly a seaplane as is mastering taking off and landing.
Past Events & Articles
| post date | title | description |
|---|---|---|
| 05.25.2009 | Grand Lake St Marys Fly In | Lakefield Fly-In and Expo |
| 06.18.2009 | Plane & Pilot | Sea Planes Come Back To Ohio |