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AviationRough water approach and landing
In a seaplane, onto waves and swells, you line up with the right waterway, fly a stabilized approach and touch the water in the attitude that fits the kind of rough water. It is Task L of Area IV, Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds, in the FAA Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards, for the airplane classes listed below.
Free to startScenarios
- Airplane single-engine sea (ASES).
- Airplane multiengine sea (AMES).
The steps
- Complete the appropriate checklists.
- Make radio calls as appropriate.
- Make sure the airplane is lined up with the correct or assigned waterway.
- Scan the landing area for traffic and obstructions.
- Select and aim for a suitable touchdown point for the wind, the landing surface and the obstructions.
- Set the recommended approach and landing configuration, airspeed and trim, and adjust pitch and power to keep a stabilized approach.
- Hold the manufacturer's published approach speed or, without one, no more than 1.3 VSO, +10/-5 knots with the gust factor applied.
- Keep directional control and the right crosswind correction through the approach and landing.
- Use smooth, timely and correct power and control inputs to hold the right pitch attitude and rate of descent to touchdown.
- Touch the water at a proper pitch attitude for the type of rough water.
Safety rules that stop the station
- If there is no rough water that day, the examiner has you simulate the task.
- Any action, or lack of action, that makes the examiner step in to keep the flight safe is unsatisfactory.
- Not clearing the area with a proper visual scan before and during the maneuver is unsatisfactory.
- Consistently exceeding the tolerances of the task, or not correcting promptly when you exceed them, is unsatisfactory.
To pass
- Approach speed +10/-5 knots, a stabilized approach and a touchdown in the attitude the rough water calls for.
- Know the stabilized approach and energy management, how the atmosphere and the wind change the approach and landing, wind correction, when and why rough water technique is used and how to fly it, and the risks of the approach path and touchdown area, crosswind, windshear, tailwind, wake turbulence, the water surface, a go-around, collision, low-altitude stalls and spins, distractions and the gear position in an amphibian.
- Missing the standard on this task fails the task and its area of operation.
Official source
Federal · FAA Private Pilot ACS
Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6C)
The FAA publishes the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards free: every task of the checkride with its knowledge, risks and tolerances.
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