Flight Training

Are you ready to realize your dream of learning to fly? For many people, becoming a pilot is one of the most rewarding accomplishments of their lives. And nothing compares to flying a seaplane!

Become a Floatplane Pilot

Seattle Seaplanes

First Solo Flight!

Seattle Seaplanes is one of the few places in the nation where you can earn your private pilot certificate on floats.

A private pilot certificate will qualify you to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) of an aircraft. You will be able to take friends and family on beautiful flights to areas of the country few people get to see.

If your interest is to become a professional pilot, this is the first step towards an exciting career in aviation.

How long does it take?

Completion time of private pilot certificate depends on the frequency of training. Students who train 2-3 times per week can expect to spend approximately four months in training.

Students training 5-6 times per week can complete it in 5-7 weeks. The FAA requires students to log a minimum of 40 flight hours; however, most students require more hours to achieve the necessary proficiency.

Seattle Seaplanes

Personalized Flight Training

Personalized Service

The staff at Seattle Seaplanes provides personalized service to meet the individual needs of our clients.

At the completion of your training, you will be able to demonstrate through written, oral, and flight tests that you meet the requirements to be pilot-in-command of a single engine seaplane.

Over the years, our clients have found seaplane flying to be the most enjoyable form of flying. We are confident you will agree with them. We hope to see you here soon at Seattle Seaplanes!

Private Pilot Certificate Single Engine Sea

  • 40 hours minimum, 55-70 hours typical*
  • $275/hour, dual - Cessna 172

Single Engine Sea Endorsement

  • 6-10 hours average to complete add-on training.*
  • $365/hour, dual - Cessna 172

*Actual flight training varies with each student. The average listed is based upon our student history; prices subject to change. Contact Seattle Seaplanes for more information.

Private Pilot Requirements

  • Must be 17 years of age
  • Must be a US Citizen, or be in the US on a visa that allows flight training. Click here for more information from AOPA.
  • Must receive a third class medical from an FAA-approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)

To obtain your Private Pilot license, you’ll need

A minimum of 40 hours of flight time, including at least:

  • 20 hours with a Certified Flight Instructor
  • 3 hours of cross country
  • 3 hours of night flight
  • 10 hours solo
  • 5 solo cross country
  • Successful completion of the Private Pilot written exam
  • Successful completion of flight check ride with an FAA-approved Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)

To obtain your Airplane Single-Engine Seaplane (ASES) rating, you’ll need

An estimated 6-10 hours of flight training with a Certified Flight Instructor

  • Taxiing and sailing
  • Docking, mooring, and beaching
  • Takeoffs and landings in various water conditions (normal, glassy, rough, crosswind)
  • Emergency operations
  • Successful completion of flight check ride with an FAA-approved Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)

Useful Links

Foreign Pilots

New TSA policies affecting foreign pilots training in the US were implemented after
September 11, 2011. A letter of verification from the FAA is now required. A pilot
holding a US certificate based on foreign, must request this letter of verification from
his/her country which will then send the necessary forms to the FAA in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, USA. The verification letter will subsequently be sent to the requested FSDO
or faxed to the training facility designated by the pilot. If the foreign pilot has never been
issued a US based on foreign certificate, he/she must also obtain a letter of verification.
Once the letter is in hand, he/she may go to a foreign pilot designee to get his/her new
US certificate based on foreign. The letter is valid for six months. Seattle Seaplanes can
convert a foreign pilot's license once we have the letter of verification.

Contact us today for more information about our flight training programs.

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Seattle Seaplanes is located at the southeast corner of Lake Union in Seattle. Visit us year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. until sunset on Sundays. We’ve been flying from Lake Union in Seattle for over 30 years! Contact us now and begin your Seaplane adventure today!