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

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALASKA PILOTS REGARDING LAKE HOOD

Please read this Really Important message to Alaska pilots about flying at Lake Hood

"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

Call Vern cell number: 907-362-9178

BEST If you e-mail us:  vernkingsford@yahoo.com or alaskafloatratings@gmail.com

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Our mailing address:   Vern Kingsford

                                P.O. Box 4

                                Moose Pass, Alaska 99631