​Seaplane Bases That Really Make a Splash

Seaplane flying is widely regarded as one ultimate way of experiencing aviation. Flying off the water is a uniquely rewarding experience, offering a sense of freedom, access to breathtaking landing sites, and a level of tranquility rarely found in other forms of aviation.

The Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) is the primary organization focused on this special segment of aviation and catalogs seaplane flying opportunities, training, and background information on its website (seaplanepilotsassociation.org). One of the SPA’s many resources is the Water Landing Directory app, which highlights seaplane bases and other places that welcome floatplane operations, as well as related regulations.

There are about 200 public-use seaplane bases and 300 private ones in the U.S. Naturally, suitable facilities are found more frequently in states where water is prevalent, such as Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, Washington, and Maine. Seaplane flying, like backcountry flying, presents the opportunity for pilots to also truly explore and visit waterways where there is no infrastructure at all. Charted seaplane bases range from simple affairs on a small lake with no dock to those with significant infrastructure and commercial traffic. 

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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Here is a selection of seaplane bases that are each special in their own way. 

Surfside Seaplane Base (8Y4)

Surfside Seaplane Base in Lino Lakes, Minnesota, is a general aviation-friendly destination with a long history and attractive location.

“Surfside is a very unique airport, a welcome oasis to your busy life,” said Dan Kedrowski, the base’s co-owner. “It might be in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (on the northwest side of Rice Lake), but at water level the entire place has a distinctly wilderness ambiance that goes with airplanes on floats. You feel like you’re on a lake in Canada or northern Minnesota.”

The lake is part of the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, which boasts numerous trails and restaurants near the airport for those wanting to experience other types of outdoor recreation. Surfside can provide a crew car, bikes, and kayaks. There are campsites at the airport and an FBO house overlooking the lake. For those just seeking to enjoy seaplane flying, there are few other places that compare.

• READ MORE: Pilots Now Able to Earn Seaplane Rating in Wyoming
• READ MORE: Seaplane Operator Addresses East River Hard Landing

“We claim to be the oldest and largest seaplane base in the Lower 48,” Kedrowski said. “The base has been here since 1946, and we typically have 30 to 40 planes based here during the float season. My partner, Robert Timm, and I purchased it in November 2024.”

Surfside has become a well-regarded destination for pilots near and far, including for maintenance reasons. Timm also owns Seaplane Services, a full-service maintenance business. There is a private grass strip (MN24) on the property used to support the company’s customers for maintenance and seasonal landing gear changeovers.

The typical float season at Surfside runs from May through October, although the lake will sometimes be open even in mid-winter. August sees the most traffic due to the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association Pig Roast (scheduled for August 9). The grass strip is kept open year-round to support both wheel and ski planes during the winter months.

Kedrowski said he and Timm are proud of their investment and intend on keeping Surfside one of the premier seaplane destinations in the country. They hope that people see it as an approachable destination worthy of visiting, whether they are a seasoned floatplane pilot or someone seeking to learn more about this exciting type of flying.

Surfside Seaplane Training provides initial type rating instruction, as well as advanced instruction. It has a Cessna 172L and recently purchased a Cessna 180 that will be added to the training program. One of its goals is to offer aircraft for “controlled” rentals to those that go through a training program and want to build float time and experience locally. Additional focus is also being put toward improving the docks and land facilities.

Rangeley Lake Seaplane Base (M57)

Rangeley Lake in Maine is roughly 10 square miles in size, and the bottom is almost 150 feet at the deepest point. The seaplane base on its waters was initially created by Bud Russell, actor Kurt Russell’s grandfather. Keith Deschambeault has leased the base since 2007 and uses the lake as a central base of operations for the commercial seaplane outfit he owns, Acadian Seaplanes. 

Having long lived in the Western Mountains region of Maine and routinely flying tourists around the diverse scenery, Deschambeault understands that the area’s natural beauty is second to none. Acadian offers several tour options aboard its Cessna 185s. Options include a half-hour flight over several lakes and historic Upper Dam, an hour and 15-minute flight over the mountains and the Canadian border, as well as a jaunt to a remote lakeside lodge for dinner. 

The commercial seaplane operations comprise many of the lake’s on-water aircraft operations, and plenty of other aircraft visit as well. The published seaplane lane is 7,000 feet long, but there are several miles in either direction where you can easily land. The base is in City Cove, though, which serves as natural protection against the wind that would cause choppy conditions during takeoff or landing. 

“The Maine Warden Service has three Cessna 185s and uses the base a lot to refuel. Then anything from J-3 Cubs to Cessna 206s to de Havilland Beavers also come in to refuel,” said Deschambeault, noting that the seaplane base is near the shore of Rangeley, where there are several restaurants that make the seaplane base an attractive day trip destination.

An NDB approach was added many years ago to aid pilots. This has since been replaced by an RNAV (GPS)-C approach, which Deschambeault believes is one of the few (if not only) instrument approaches to a water landing surface in the country (see Chart Wise on page 22). 

Tavares Seaplane Base (FA1)

The town of Tavares in central Florida is known as “America’s Seaplane City” for good reason. The Tavares Seaplane Base represents a key focal point for the town of around 25,000 residents that sits 45 minutes north of Orlando.

The base is located on Lake Dora, which is roughly 4,500 acres in size, and has only been in operation since 2010. The published seaplane lane is 3,000 feet long, but there are miles of potential landing space on the lake, including protected spots where the water is typically calmer. 

“The goal of the seaplane base is not to be like many others, which are usually attached to fairly large land-based airports that just happen to have a seaplane ramp and facility,” said Daniel Charles, waterfront operations manager for Tavares. “Our goal is for someone to be able to leave their house in flip-flops and a tank top, jump in their seaplane, and park here—then go easily grab some food or maybe stay at a hotel for a couple of nights. We see the seaplane base as an economic engine because it’s nestled in the very center of our downtown area on the waterfront. It makes it really cool because you can come down here and sit in a rocking chair and watch planes take off.”

Whether it’s a park bench or a spot at one of the restaurants (Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill & Bar is a popular plane-spotting destination), there is a lot to see. The shoreside walkways are good places to view operations and even dip your toes in the water. Another fun nearby spot to check out is the wedding and event space, Tavares Pavilion on the Lake. The historic two-story building overlooks the water and the views are spectacular. 

Florida overall is a seaplane heavy state and there is also a commercial operation, Jones Brothers Air & Seaplane Adventures, located on Lake Dora. Their fleet consists of a variety of Cessnas, as well as Searay aircraft, and it’s expected that a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (see Sim Lab on page 86) will soon be added. The organization provides training as well as scenic tours. 

There are typically two fly-in events at Tavares Seaplane Base in the spring and fall. The facility is basically open year-round, only closed for six days. It provides full-service marine and 100LL fuel, as well as jet-A with advance notice. 

Tanglefoot Seaplane Base (D28)

Tanglefoot Seaplane Base sits on the visually distinct Priest Lake in north Idaho. The pristine, 300-foot-deep alpine lake was carved by glaciers, and its 22 miles of shoreline is surrounded by mountainous wilderness. 

Custodians of a wildlife refuge on the sheltered shore of Cavanaugh Bay are Loel and Olson Fenwick, husband-and-wife pilots and caretakers of a handful of noteworthy floating aircraft that were attracted to a bay that’s an ideal spot for seaplane flying. Three decades ago, the Fenwicks built a private seaplane ramp to taxi a Grumman Goose and Mallard onto a lakeside parking field or into a hangar buried into the hill so you couldn’t see it from the lake. 

“Having a ramp and space with the capability of accommodating flying boats with wingspans of 110 feet and more, and welcoming all, Tanglefoot became an attraction for seaplane owners from all over the USA, Canada, and Mexico,” Loel Fenwick said. “It began with spontaneous Grumman get-togethers of the 1990s attended by Widgeons, Gooses, Mallards, Albatrosses, and the occasional PBY Catalina. Our family was introduced to seaplane people—intelligent, adventurous, capable, sharing and successful—[who became] fine friends and examples for raising our four children. Seaplane flyers have a special bond that brings them together.”

Today the privately owned, public-use facility has an established 10,000-foot-long landing site, which is more than enough space for the array of aircraft that utilize it. Winds dictate most landings should be on Runway 15, and takeoffs go the other way. Tie-downs are available at the floating docks, and aircraft can also be beached on the shore. Use of the ramp and parking on the shore is by permission and at no charge. 

Fenwick noted that over time the initially informal gatherings of fellow flying boat owners have become popularly attended by other seaplane model owners and enthusiasts. The Western Seaplane Pilots Association (WSPA) has hosted a “Splash-In” weekend at Tanglefoot for many years. This event has become so frequented that attendance is now restricted to WSPA members. An average of 250 people and 50 aircraft attend each year, and it is not a stretch to say that you are just as likely to see a Grumman Mallard landing as you are a Cessna 182.

New York Skyports Seaplane Base (6N7)

One of the most unique spots on Manhattan’s east side is the New York Skyports Seaplane Base, which is predominantly utilized by commercial operators and has been around for 87 years. Located along the water off East 23rd Street and FDR Drive, this is a fun place to watch Caravans, Kodiaks, and others splash down with the world’s most iconic skyline in view. 

Landing is a unique challenge due to the congested airspace and the water conditions of the East River, which flow in a south-southwest direction at a little over 2.5 mph. There is also heavy boat traffic that must be navigated, both on the river and at the marina, and docking can be a challenge as well. 

Only authorized pilots with specified training flying a seaplane powered by a propeller with no fewer than three blades can utilize the base. There are several other operational notes of importance, including the requirement not to fly over the Queensboro Bridge and no takeoffs unless the plane is at least 1,000 feet from the Manhattan shoreline. 

Even if you are a seaplane pilot, this may not be a base you ever visit via aircraft. But if you are in town, it is a great place to watch an interesting variety of traffic navigate a complex airspace before splashing down on the East River. 

Lake Hood Seaplane Base (PALH)

Those who have flown into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (PANC) in Alaska may have seen some floatplane activity out their window, likely heading to Lake Hood Seaplane Base. This facility is located next to the commercial airport, sitting atop lakes Hood and Spenard. 

With almost 200 operations per day during peak season, it is both the largest and busiest seaplane facility in the world. The base was activated in 1947, but activity there dates back years more and serves primarily as a connection point for remote communities across Alaska that are best accessed via aircraft. 

Rust’s Flying Services highlights that it is the largest and oldest operator at Lake Hood and has been in business since 1963. Its fleet consists of Cessna 206s and 208s, as well as de Havilland Beavers, and Turbine Otters. Rust’s provides many options to experience seaplane flying while enjoying the great Alaskan wilderness, including tours focused on the glaciers, Denali National Park and Preserve, fly-fishing excursions, and several experiences that (hopefully) end in bear sightings.

There are other tour operators based at Lake Hood, as well as a handful of training providers. If looking to make a memorable trip out of getting your rating, these may be good options to consider. After all, few other places in the world provide better scenery from the air than Alaska. 

If you can’t make it out to the base and are curious what makes flying at Lake Hood special, there is a publicly accessible webcam on YouTube. The live video has been going since 2019, and commenters explain more about the unique operations for those unfamiliar. One of the interesting notes is that the same control tower that is operational for Anchorage
International supports Lake Hood’s operations from its three charted water runways.

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From Seaplane Base to Ice Runway

Alton Bay (B18) in New Hampshire serves as the location of the most unique seaplane bases in the country. This distinction is not due to its water facilities (which do not consist of a dock), but rather because it’s the only FAA-recognized ice runway in the continental U.S.. 

The typical season for winter operations only lasts about a month, at which point the ice atop Lake Winnipesaukee is usually around 2 feet thick. 

Jason Leavitt is employed by the New Hampshire Department of Transport-Bureau of Aeronautics, which is the managing entity for the base. Leavitt explained that the first record of the ice runway dates back to 1952 and that operations have steadily increased since the state assumed ownership in the 1990s. 

“The ice runway opens as early as mid-January and is pretty much wrapped up most of the time by the beginning of March,” Leavitt said. “We had 1,011 landings this year. That included everything from experimental ultralights up to a Cessna Caravan and even a Stearman biplane.”

Operations follow a standard left-hand traffic pattern, and there are marked power lines at the south end of the runway. Landings during ice season are only on Runway 1, as there is additional margin in the event of a runway overrun. Sometimes there is too much of a tailwind and operations,  monitored by Bureau of Aeronautics employees, are temporarily stopped.

“Landing here is not that much different to landing anywhere else if you treat it like a short field landing without brakes,” Leavitt said. “This year we plowed the runway at 2,900 foot by 100-foot, and airplanes didn’t have any problems. Most turned on the crossover to the taxiway at about the midfield point.”

Takeoffs are a little more challenging, as the P-factor has a bigger impact when there is less friction on the wheels—particularly the nosewheel. Adding power slowly until you have rudder authority is the best procedure to follow, and flying in with someone who has landed on ice before is also recommended. 

When landing on the ice, it is likely you will have some spectators—whether it be a normal day or during the city’s annual Winter Carnival. This event is an Alton Bay staple, and this year’s crowd consisted of more than a thousand attendees that watched 131 on-ice landings. 

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Earn Your Seaplane Rating

There are approximately 80 schools nationwide that specialize in seaplane rating training. These providers have become increasingly important in preserving the future of the industry, as the number of rated pilots alarmingly declines. 

According to Steven McCaughey, executive director for the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA), at the most recent count there were 19,820 pilots rated to fly seaplanes, and over 50 percent of those reside in 10 states. The overall number of pilots in the segment has declined about 38 percent since 1998. The trend currently is a loss of 1,000 each year, with age and costs being key factors, even when accounting for the roughly 900 new pilots being trained. 

The SPA catalogs a number of resources created specifically to get up to speed with training requirements. Of note it said that the “FAA does not specify a minimum amount of instruction required to earn the rating or endorsement, so it’s up to you and your authorized seaplane instructor. It may be as few as four hours of dual flight instruction, or many more if you want to be razor-sharp on all aspects of handling a seaplane, including operating out of confined lakes, docking, and river ops.” 

In that vein, the training provider you visit and the level of instruction you choose is based entirely on your goals with earning a rating. If it is something you want to pursue as a fun goal, or a way to skip a biennial flight review, then most operators would be suited to help you out. Introductory training is often able to be completed in a few days if everything goes as planned. Some operators are better suited toward helping students with aspirations to fly professionally as seaplane pilots than others.

There is no written test required for a single-engine sea (SES) or multi-engine sea (MES) rating—just ground and flight instruction followed by a practical exam. Each school has its own methodology for introducing and teaching students the art and science of seaplane flying.

While talking about how to fly a floatplane is important, nothing replaces actually doing it. So much of your time at the base will be spent behind the controls, learning how to assess a lake’s landing condition, practicing the various taxiing methods, or trying out glassy-water takeoffs. 

Some seaplane providers worth checking out include Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in Winter Haven, Florida, Goodspeed Seaplane Academy in East Haddam, Connecticut, and Alaska Float Ratings in Moose Pass, Alaska. 

Jack Brown’s trains about 450 new seaplane pilots each year and is just as busy providing introductory flights and advanced training. During its 60-plus years in business, the outfit has minted more than 26,000 seaplane pilots.

Goodspeed Seaplane is located at the historic Goodspeed Airport (42B), situated alongside the Connecticut River. This is a convenient option in the Northeast for seaplane instruction and flight tours—all completed in a Cessna 172 on floats.

Alaska Float Ratings offers students the ability to experience “Wild Alaska,” by simultaneously honing their mountain and seaplane flying skills. 

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This feature first appeared in the June Ultimate Issue 971 of the FLYING print edition.