Sea planes

[SimonFa]

We're on a non sailing holiday in Pollenca, Majorca. This morning we watched four sea planes land, two early and two just before lunch. The video wasn't very good because as I couldn't see the screen of my SLR in the direct sunlight but if I can rescue something I'll post when I get home.

Each plane seemed to land in a different area of the bay. The second one must have given the anchored yachts a real fright. Does anyone have access to charts of this sea and if so is there a landing zone marked?

Also, what's the drill if you see one coming in and your sailing along in the general area and nothing is marked on the charts? Sea planes weren't mentioned once on any of the RYAcourses I have done and I would have been a bit flustered if I'd been out there when they came in. As it happens nobody was sailing today.

Thanks,

Simon

 

[wiggy]

My good lady and I were there last week, the sea planes are for putting out fires ( if it was the yellow/ orange ones) they land at speed, scoop up era water and fly off to dump it.

 

[fergie_mac66]

We're on a non sailing holiday in Pollenca, Majorca. This morning we watched four sea planes land, two early and two just before lunch. The video wasn't very good because as I couldn't see the screen of my SLR in the direct sunlight but if I can rescue something I'll post when I get home.

Each plane seemed to land in a different area of the bay. The second one must have given the anchored yachts a real fright. Does anyone have access to charts of this sea and if so is there a landing zone marked?


Also, what's the drill if you see one coming in and your sailing along in the general area and nothing is marked on the charts? Sea planes weren't mentioned once on any of the RYAcourses I have done and I would have been a bit flustered if I'd been out there when they came in. As it happens nobody was sailing today.

Thanks,

Simon

20 years ago we had a berth in Porto Colomb veery unnerving if you were on a anchor.The sea planes, fire fighters, used to regularly
scoop across the harbour to pick water up coming in quick and then lifting back up over anchored yachts at the end of the scoop run, used to be every twenty, thirty mins during fires!

 

[SimonFa]

My good lady and I were there last week, the sea planes are for putting out fires ( if it was the yellow/ orange ones) they land at speed, scoop up era water and fly off to dump it.

These ones landed and then went off to to the military base at the end of the pine walk. It was fascinating to watch them come ashore under their own power. I suppose they could have been moving in to position at the start of summer.

 

[Poignard]

I have been in Pollenca, Majorca, many years ago and, as far as I can remember the seaplane 'runway' is marked on the chart.

If you stray into the area I suppose someone will come and chase you away.

 

[Resolution]

I have been in Pollenca, Majorca, many years ago and, as far as I can remember the seaplane 'runway' is marked on the chart.

If you stray into the area I suppose someone will come and chase you away.

Just had a look at my Ipad Navionics chart and cannot see any restricted area or warning about seaplanes landing.
IIRC the space needed for landing is remarkably small, whereas take off distances can be very long.

 

[Poignard]

Just had a look at my Ipad Navionics chart and cannot see any restricted area or warning about seaplanes landing.
IIRC the space needed for landing is remarkably small, whereas take off distances can be very long.

My "as far as I can remember" obviously isn't far enough! But there must be some sort of control, otherwise it could cause delay to firefighting aircraft if they have to hang around waiting for a clear landing area.

By the way, do the seaplanes use CQR anchors?

 

[vyv_cox]

The same type of aircraft is in use for firefighting duties in Spain, France, Italy and Greece that we have witnessed, and quite probably in other countries too. They pick up water wherever convenient. We were anchored between the Iles de Lerins off Cannes a few years ago when four aircraft came in line astern, scooped up water and flew away. The anchorage was crowded and it seemed amazing that the planes found space between boats.

 

[mcanderson]

There were 2 working the bay off Beaulieu Sur Mer on Sunday afternoon support fire fighting efforts near Nice. The water collection area is marked and the aircraft can call on CH16 if required. Look at the notes on the chart and there might be a note to show the local impact.

 

[knuterikt]

We're on a non sailing holiday in Pollenca, Majorca. This morning we watched four sea planes land, two early and two just before lunch. The video wasn't very good because as I couldn't see the screen of my SLR in the direct sunlight but if I can rescue something I'll post when I get home.

Each plane seemed to land in a different area of the bay. The second one must have given the anchored yachts a real fright. Does anyone have access to charts of this sea and if so is there a landing zone marked?

Also, what's the drill if you see one coming in and your sailing along in the general area and nothing is marked on the charts? Sea planes weren't mentioned once on any of the RYAcourses I have done and I would have been a bit flustered if I'd been out there when they came in. As it happens nobody was sailing today.

Thanks,

Simon

Rule 18
Responsibilities between vessels.
(e) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. In circumstances, however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of this Part.

Seems as a seaplane is a power-driven vessel Rule 18 (a)
(a) a power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:
(i) a vessel not under command.
(ii) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.
(iii) a vessel engaged in fishing.
(iv) a sailing vessel.

 

[RobbieW]

There is a fire fighting seaplane base in the NE corner of Pollensa bay. On take off the planes are preceded by a launch that ensures the area they need is clear, on landing they just pick a path through the anchored yachts and land - it can be most alarming looking but they dont actually get that close. Given aircraft prefer to t/o and land into wind any restricted area would need to be quite large, in Pollensa there doesnt appear to be a restriction per se just a note on the chart.

By observation, I think they take off empty and take on the water payload close to the target area with a touch and go. They often use the water off Alcudia as a practice area.

 

[Thunderbird7]

I have sailed boats on Lake Union in Seattle where Kenmore Air operate from. They continually come in and out and while it seems fairly alarming the first time, as far as I know, they don't have any problems. Everyone just gets on with each other! As a pilot, I'm as interested in staring at the planes as sailing the boats!!!

 

[Seajet]

Re firefighting seaplanes scooping up water, there is the old story of firemen on a mountain side in Greece discovering what they thought was a smouldering Seal; turned out it was a diver in a wetsuit, scooped up and uncermioniously dumped onto a forest fire...

 

[JumbleDuck]

Re firefighting seaplanes scooping up water, there is the old story of firemen on a mountain side in Greece discovering what they thought was a smouldering Seal; turned out it was a diver in a wetsuit, scooped up and uncermioniously dumped onto a forest fire...

Some people do this as a hobby - it's called "Fire Diving". See http://www.firediving.com/
Yes, I know it's a hoax. See snopes.

 

[Uricanejack]

Re firefighting seaplanes scooping up water, there is the old story of firemen on a mountain side in Greece discovering what they thought was a smouldering Seal; turned out it was a diver in a wetsuit, scooped up and uncermioniously dumped onto a forest fire...

urban legend. the scoops are way to small to pick up a body.

 

[Seajet]

Yes I know that, but it's an amusing story !

View attachment 42502

 

[KellysEye]

>By the way, do the seaplanes use CQR anchors?

They certainly used to I don't know if they do now.

 

[Uricanejack]

Vancouver Harbour has so many float planes come and go there is a an air traffic control tower.
Victoria harbour has a designated area for float planes to land and take off.
I live on SSI and keep my boat on a mooring at Ganges International Airport. Just after breakfast about half a dozen come and go. There are a few around lunch time then the peak is about dinner time when they arrive within minutes of each other.

Most of the time unless they enter controlled air space float planes operate under VFR. Visual Flight Rules day light only. Not just the little bitty ones even the Twin Otters.

The Beavers are pretty noisy the big 1930’s rotary engines are still the most economic. They have very short take off and landings and keep out the way.
There are a couple of turbo props which come and go they are a little quieter.

You can hear them coming they are quite slow and loud. They land and take off into the wind. When taxiing they operate just like any power vessel even so I stay out there way.

When landing or departing they land out in clear water then taxi to the designated float plane dock just the
opposite leaving.

From time to time I take one to the mainland. Its much more fun than a 747. Fortunately I relatively big so I get asked to sit up front. Which is really cool they usually give you a head set.
I don’t like using them in the winter though.

The fire fighting tankers are a rare sight down here on the coast. In the summer from time to time they are around.
They usually have the first drop already on board mixed with retardant(fertiliser). Most of the time for bigger fire there is a spotter plane controlling there movements again they fly VFR and keep out of the way of vessels.

The Martin Mars are really cool to watch. Based on Sproat lake often will pick up on lake Cowichan.
Watched them fight a fire on Galliano a couple of years ago they were picking up on Tricomalee Channel.
I believe the prefer a fresh water source.

Even the Martin Mars don’t have a big enough scoop to pick up a person.

 

[Uricanejack]

Yes I know that, but it's an amusing story !

View attachment 42502

It is.

 

[Seajet]

I think the Supermarine Walrus used a Danforth ?

BTW if you read the marvelous book ' The Lonely Sea And The Sky ' by Francis Chichester, he had a technique of landing and taking off in his float-equipped Gypsy Moth on the water perpendicular along the troughs, 90 degrees to the wind & waves; seems against all instincts to me, but he should know.