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Seaplane Skiplane Flying Menu > Seaplane Operations ? Landings >Landing
>Normal Landing
Make normal landings directly into the wind.
Seaplanes can be landed either power-off or power-on, but power-on
landings are generally preferred because they give the pilot
more positive control of the rate of sink and the touchdown
spot. To touch down at the slowest possible speed, extend the
flaps fully. Use flaps, throttle, and pitch to control the glidepath
and establish a stabilized approach at the recommended approach
airspeed. The techniques for glidepath control are similar to
those used in a landplane.
As the seaplane approaches the water’s
surface, smoothly raise the nose to the appropriate pitch attitude
for touchdown. As the floats contact the water, use gentle back
pressure on the elevator control to compensate for any tendency
of the nose to drop. When the seaplane is definitely on the
water, close the throttle and maintain the touchdown attitude
until the seaplane begins to come off the step. Once it begins
to settle into the plowing attitude, apply full up elevator
to keep the nose as high as possible and minimize spray hitting
the propeller.
As the seaplane slows to taxi speed, lower
the water rudders to provide better directional control. Raise
the flaps and perform the after-landing checklist.
The greater the speed difference between the
seaplane and the water, the greater the drag at touchdown, and
the greater the tendency for the nose to pitch down. This is
why the touchdown is made at the lowest possible speed for the
conditions. Many landplane pilotstransitioning to seaplanes
are surprised at the shortness of the landing run, in terms
of both time and distance. It is not uncommon for the landing
run from touchdown to idle taxi to take as little as 5 or 6
seconds.
Sometimes the pilot chooses to remain on the
step after touchdown. To do so, merely add sufficient power
and maintain the planing attitude immediately after touchdown.
It is important to add enough power to prevent the seaplane
from coming off the step, but not so much that the seaplane
is close to flying speed. With too much taxi speed, a wave or
swell could throw the seaplane into the air without enough speed
to make a controlled landing. In that situation, the seaplane
may stall and contact the water in a nose-down attitude, driving
the float bows underwater and capsizing the seaplane. Raising
the flaps can help keep the seaplane firmly on the water. To
end the step taxi, close the throttle and gradually apply full
up elevator as the seaplane slows.
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