Nearly 1,000 pilots - Private pilots, Alaska bush pilots, Airline pilots, Astronauts, along with Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard pilots, not to mention pilots from all over the world such as England, France, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Mexico, Panama, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan have made the trek to Alaska Float Ratings here in Moose Pass, Alaska. We located here for only one reason: so you, probably for the first time in your piloting career, would have the opportunity to fly a float plane in steep walled canyons, narrow valleys, land on big lakes and short lakes, with winds, waves, and weather that will test your skills and hone them to a fine edge.

Read what some of our clients say about us.

Steve W. , 2006 -

I had a wonderful three days flying in Alaska with Alaska Float Ratings in July 2006. The training was excellent and the Seward area scenery took my breath away – almost as fast as landing short over the trees on a narrow lake surrounded by mountain spires standing like knights on a chess board. If the training was good and my strategy right, I just might land in the right place at the right time.

Steve with our instructors. and N62P

Yet Alaska, I soon learned, runs on its own time. People, planes, and weather make every day here unique and memorable. I had just three days here, but they are as big and memorable as many a three-year period of my life. Skills I learned with Alaska Float Ratings have taken me on to acrobatic flying and to appreciate that regular ongoing training is the best insurance to safe flying. Those who have been in a flight emergency are the same who say training is the reason why we walked away from it. Alaska Float Ratings makes training fun, challenging and exciting.

Steve Wightman
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Butch W., 2003, from Colorado -

Here are a few words that I sent to some of my friends with these pics.

My favorite place was a little lake in a glacial cirque without a name on the map. They call it Will's lake after Will who was the first to land there. He showed it to me and Shana and politely asked if I wanted him to talk me through the landing or have him demonstrate the landing to me. Will explained that because of the head wall of the cirque, we could only land with calm conditions or a slight tailwind up canyon to be able to take off into the wind down canyon. It is one of those one-way in, one-way (the way you came) out places. After we did the first pass to check the winds and I got a close look, I told Will I would prefer to have him demonstrate the landing and then I would do the takeoff. ;-)

Attached is a picture out the front as we turned onto short final. You can see why a go-around is not a good idea. Also, notice the altimeter and look at the landscape!

The second picture is of me and my daughter beside of the 172 on the beach of the lake. BTW, while taxiing into the beach, both Will and I had our doors open looking forward so we could spot the three VW bus size boulders just under the water guarding the beach. It wasn't very hard spotting them in the crystal clear water, but...Anyway, I did the takeoff, flew over a few more fjords and glaciers on the way back to the base at Upper Trail Lake.

Take care,

Butch W., 2003

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Major Jon C., 2006, in Korean

As a 25 year Air Force fighter pilot, air show pilot and general aviation pilot I cannot agree more with your approach and lessons from this first news letter. It doesn't matter whether you have a 60 horse J3 or 50,000lbs of thrust in an Eagle in the Susitna MOA. You need to know what you and your airplane are capable of. The only way to determine this is try it once and maybe get lucky, or practice it repeatedly until your skills and judgment is what you are relying on, not your luck!

Keep up the great work in the air and at the computer.

Major Jon C.
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Cass S., 2003, from Florida

Just want to thank you again for the great time I had at your place this past week & to thank you for letting me do it "my way". It couldn't have been more perfect for me, doing three hours or so of the basics with your instructors (all great guys by the way) & then that incredible 3hr+ flight in the mountains with Vern which put it all in perspective for me. I think you will find your "new program" will be a big hit & will attract some pilots who want the experience, not the rating like me & will ensure that everyone who flies with you will go home a prospective salesman for you rather than possibly dissappointed that they didn't get the rating or even if they did, that they didn't get to "fly for fun" with Vern which is what I think most people come all the way to Alaska for. The fun flight could be part of the program for those who want the rating (maybe after the check ride with the understanding of the additional cost & time it will take) or as the last part of the basic program like I did it (which was perfect for me because I felt like I got to experience all the procedures & takeoffs & landings & do them myself without taking the time to practice them to proficiency as would have been necessary for a rating). I hope to get back up there & fly with you again before too long.

Regards to everyone,

Cass S, 2003

P.S. I am attaching a couple of the 400 pictures I took on the Kenai - the one of me to show what a good photographer Lura is (it was the best of the bunch) & the one of the Grizzly since it is unique (at least to me) - if you blow it up enough you really can tell it’s a bear!

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John J., 2006, from Minnesota

I have some great pict's. Here are a few of my favorites.

Thank's again for the great experience!!!!!!

John M. J.

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Bob R., 2003 and 2004, from New York

Great job on the newsletter and thanks for sending it my way. I came up to your school in the Spring of 2003 and 2004 with Damian from Andover Flight Academy , NJ. As you remember, we had the time of our life. I hope to get up your way again real soon. Too often we forget the lessons learned that will keep us out of trouble. And then there are those who know those critical elements but do not practice them with each flight they make.

I vividly remember a moment when you and I were standing at the edge of your floating dock before I went up. As I was (and still consider myself) newly certified SES pilot, you said something to the effect of, the VERY first thing you want to do, before preflight, is to know the wind. Direction, speed and the way it will move in relation to your environment. I'm happy to say that I ask myself that regardless of what I am flying and where.

The recent Cirrus incident was another tragedy which struck close to home. It is unfortunate to hear of all these preventable tragedies which occur much too often. I appreciate all the valuable lessons learned at Alaska Float Ratings.

Keep up the great work and much success to all of you.

Best regards and blue skies,
Bob R., written in 2006
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Ben T., 2006, from North Carolina

Because of the training I received in Moose Pass several years ago I knew immediately what had happened in NY. I have talked to many pilots since then and have been surprised how few of them have any concept of how to fly in a canyon type environment and what effect the wind would have their ability to turn. I fly a Cirrus and had it in the NC mountains this weekend. Thanks to you guys I was hugging the mountain on the side with the up draft with plenty of room to turn.

I also have a seaplane (the Searey) which I keep at my home on Lake Norman in NC and I fly it at lest several times a week. Its a little different then floats but I constantly rely on the techniques and procedures you guys taught me.

Thanks,
Ben T., 2006
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Charlie J., 2007, from California

It's been more than six months since my trip to Moose Pass, and I'm still annoying all my non-pilot friends with my stories and photos.

Thanks so much for the greeting card and the letter! It's been more than six months since my trip to Moose Pass, and I'm still annoying all my non-pilot friends with my stories and photos. Here are some (a lot of) photos.

Here's a couple related stories:

First one -

In September, I dragged some of my non-pilot friends to the Clear Lake Splash-in, a few hours north of here [northern California]. Although it was foggy & rainy most of the time, we saw a nice variety of floatplanes. On the final day, I convinced them to take a 20-minute C-172 floatplane ride that one of the local schools was selling. (I was wearing my AK Floats hat.)

I got to talking with the pilot, a CFII named John C. who recognized the AK Floats logo immediately. "Did you get your float rating from Vern??? So did I!" "Do you know Vern?!?" (He got on the radio and called his friend) "Hey Mike! I got a guy here who also got his float rating from VERN!!!"

He shook my hand and put me in the front left seat. Since I'd never flown a 172 on floats he did the take-off. That was the highlight of the splash-in!

Second one -

Shortly after I met you, Vern, you asked me if I had ever flown into Angwin, a tiny field in the wine country not far from where I live. You told me how not long after you got your private pilot certificate that the local FBO at the Napa County Airport would not rent you a plane since you were intending to fly solo to that tiny field. They changed their minds after you told them you learned to fly at Angwin.

So I decided to check it out myself! No trouble getting in or out, and I really enjoyed the panoramic view you get immediately after take-off. (I do remember you said the strip is longer now than when you learned here.)

Charlie J., 2007
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"Alaska Float Ratings has the most professional, comprehensive, and organized course I have experienced in the civilian world." Penny Nixon, former USAF F-15 pilot, now airline pilot.
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"When I can't be on the shuttle, then I'd rather be flying with you guys at Moose Pass. Thanks for a great day!' Dr. Cady Coleman, Astronaut.
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"If they can teach a ham fisted dyslexic meat head DC-8 driver like me to fly floats, they can teach anybody." Tom Gummer, chief pilot for a major air carrier.
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"Best vacation I ever had! With customized flying and fishing, I felt catered to the whole time." Dr. Tom Bird, pilot/fisherman
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"I just coudn't see getting my float plane rating flying over trailer parks." Arnie A., C-206 pilot, from Florida
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"What a great way to obtain your seaplane rating in beautiful Alaska, with people who have hands-on bush experience. I highly recommend Alaska Float Ratings." J.J. Frey, former President of EDO Corporation and author of How to Fly Floats.
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"YEE HAW!!!" "Pinky" and "Kid," FA-18 drivers.
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"It's like flying through a National Geographic Special!" says Bob Fisher, Federal Express Captain.

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