Steve M
July 2020
Best float school in the world
If you could imagine flying in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, surrounded by majestic mountains, deep blue lakes around every ridge, seeing the big Alaskan brown bears, moose, bald eagles and big horn sheep on almost every flight, combined with the best float plane instruction you can get.....then you might be getting close to what its like to get your float plane rating at Vern’s school. It’s nothing short of amazing.
As a captain for Delta Airlines with over 18000 hours of flying time and prior experience in the USAF, night freight, corporate, and flight instructing, I was the low man on the ladder experience wise. The wisdom, expertise, and generations of experience that Vern and his flight instructors pass on to his students is invaluable. They’ve been teaching for a long time and their system and method of instruction are very well thought out and organized. Vern’s school is one of the most thorough, professional and safety conscious programs I’ve ever attended. I was challenged and I worked hard preparing both before and during the program, but there’s a saying in life that the more you put into something the more you get out of it and that definitely applies to his program. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.....like a good movie that you never want to end.
The day I finished my check ride my instructor and I flew up to this little hidden gem of a lake and caught rainbow trout on almost every cast. We were catching and releasing them but one got hooked pretty deep and didn’t survive. It was floating about 10 yards in front of us when a bald eagle swooped down with its talons extended and snatched it off the surface. It was a National Geographic moment.
Bottom line: I can’t imagine learning to fly float planes anywhere in the world that would surpass the experience at Verns school in Moose pass.
You've discovered Vern Kingsford's Alaska Float Ratings. Alaska's only - Backcountry Seaplane School.
We are the original Alaska Float Ratings, providing the "Backcountry" experience since 1975.

NEW...Now we have, four Super cubs Waiting For You...
Watch this video by John Esperienza one of our students and see what it is actually like Flying with us in Alaska,
Mountain Flying
Our Backcountry location...In the heart of Alaska's Chugach Mountains. Means on virtually every flight you interact with the mountains.
Floatplane Heaven
Alaska's Ultimate Backcountry Training Location
Alaska Float Ratings Ultimate Seaplane and Mountain Training
Supercubs Ultimate Alaska Airplane


WHO WE ARE
OUR COURSES
Earn your CFI in my 172 on floats and seaplane rating and be ready for teaching floats. Call for Price

This course is a blast!
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Includes up to ten hours of dual.
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Pickup & drop off Anchorage.
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Very low cost use of Auto at Moose Pass. No need to rent a car.
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extra ground school, $50 per hr, paid to instructor
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extra aircraft time A/C @ $350 per hr
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checkride fee NOT included
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lodging NOT included
*Call for Price

This is our most popular course. It’s more fun and no pressure.
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3-4 Days
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8 hrs of flight time
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1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
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extra ground school, $50 per hr, paid to instructor
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extra aircraft time A/C @ $350 per hr
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checkride fee NOT included
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lodging NOT included
$2999

This is for you if you already have your SES, or just want mountain instruction.
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1-2 Days
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3 hours of flight time
$999

This is our most popular course. It’s more fun and no pressure.
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3-4 Days
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8 hrs of flight time
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1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
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extra ground school, $50 per hr, paid to instructor
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extra aircraft time A/C @ $350 per hr
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checkride fee NOT included
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4 nights in a cabin
$3499

This is even better — time for exploring, fly-in fishing, and aerial photography.
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5-6 Days
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15 hrs of flight time
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1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
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extra ground school, $50 per hr, paid to instructor
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extra aircraft time A/C @ $350 per hr
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checkride fee NOT included
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5 nights in a cabin
$5499

ALASKA FLOATPLANE SAFARI
Customized Itinerary. This is the best of the best.
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3-4 days
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10-15 hours of flight time
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2-3 nights in a lodge
Price... depends on Itinerary, total aircraft time, lodge cost, etc

This is our original course. Would be good to be current in a Super Cub for this one.
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2-3 Days
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6 hrs of flight time
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1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
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extra ground school, $50 per hr, paid to instructor
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extra aircraft time A/C @ $350 per hr
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checkride fee NOT included
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2 nights in a cabin
$2499
"The airlines and the military have invested millions of dollars designing simulators to provide realistic training devices. I just moved to Trail Lake to provide you a genuine mountain flying and bush flying experience."
I love Lake Hood. When I first started flying as a charter pilot/guide for the late Jack Lee’s Air Service and instructing off Lake Hood in 1973, watching and listening to the float planes, especially the Beavers, thrilled me, and it still does.
Cub Flying to Bench and Johnson Lakes
But by 1991, watching, listening, waiting for ATC clearance, the long taxi, waiting for Rust’s fleet or the gaggle of float planes on weekends, was costing my students valuable time from their dual session. Also it was cutting into their time and money they had budgeted for their lessons. Now, in 2021, it is even more congested.
OUR GALLERY
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Phone: 907-288-3646 This is our Alaska phone number in Moose Pass, Alaska
or Call Vern cell number: 907 362 9178
BEST If you e-mail us: vernkingsford@yahoo.com or alaskafloatratings@gmail.com
Our mailing address: Vern Kingsford
P.O. Box 4
Moose Pass, Alaska 99631