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Alaska Float Ratings

Alaska's #1 Back Country Flight School

"The CFIs are great. The Super Cubs are great. But these lakes are something else. Wow! What an experience. I could have only had that here."
Jim
Student

You've discovered Alaska Float Ratings, Alaska's original backcountry seaplane school.

We are the original Alaska Float Ratings, providing the "Backcountry" experience since 1975. Super cubs are the optimal aircraft for mountain flying and provide you with the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular country in Alaska.

Get a glimpse of what it's like Flying with us in Alaska - Watch this video by John Esperienza, one of our students.

Mountain Flying

Located in Alaska's gorgeous backcountry, the heart of the Chugach Mountains, every flight provides an immersive interaction with Alaska's mountains.

Floatplane Heaven

Trail Lake, Alaska's ultimate backcountry training location, is centrally located on the Kenai Peninsula offering convenient proximity to popular fishing, hiking and tourist attractions while providing a spectacular environment for Floatplane and Mountain Flying.

"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 Alaska Float Ratings. 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 Alaska Float Rating instructors pass on to their 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. Alaska Float Ratings 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 of Alaska Float Ratings in Moose pass.”

Steve M
July 2020

OUR COURSES

Get your seaplane rating in a Supercub on floats.

FLOAT AND/OR MOUNTAIN REFRESHER COURSE.

$1795

This is for you if you already have your SES or just want float plane instruction and mountain flying.

  • 1-2 Days
  • 4 hours of flight time
  • Extra aircraft time A/C @ $395 per hr
  • Course ONLY $1795
  • Course with 1 room cabin rental $2062
    * Larger family cabins available upon request (for additional charge)
 
 
Alaska Float Rating Mountain Flying Course

OPTIMAL FLOAT BACKCOUNTRY COURSE

$3595

This is our most popular course to obtain your float plane rating in the least amount of time.

  • 3-4 days
  • 8 hrs of flight time
  • 1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
  • Extra aircraft time A/C @ $395 per hr
  • Checkride fee NOT included
  • Course ONLY $3595
  • Course with 1 room cabin rental $3998
    * Larger family cabins available upon request (for additional charge)
 

PREMIUM FLOAT BACKCOUNTRY COURSE

$4395

This course is for you if you want a little less time pressure and a little more time to fine-tune your float skills.

  • 4-5 Days
  • 10 hrs of flight time
  • 1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
  • Extra aircraft time A/C @ $395 per hr
  • Checkride fee NOT included
  • Course ONLY $4395
  • Course with 1 room cabin rental $4934
    * Larger family cabins available upon request (for additional charge)
 

ADVENTURE BUSH FLYING COURSE

$6395

This is even better — A float rating and then time for exploring, fly-in fishing, and aerial photography.

  • 5-6 Days
  • 15 hrs of flight time
  • 1-2 hrs of ground school orientation
  • Extra aircraft time A/C @ $395 per hr
  • Checkride fee NOT included
  • Course ONLY $6395
  • Course with 1 room cabin rental $7070
    * Larger family cabins available upon request (for additional cost)

ONE BEDROOM CABIN RENTALS

$135/ NIGHT

Conveniently located on-site at Alaska Float Ratings, only feet from the float plane dock.

  • 1 Bedroom Cabin (Pictured above)
  • Small bedroom
  • Kitchenette (sink, small fridge, microwave)
  • Full Bathroom
Trail Lake Alaska Floatplanes on Dock

LAKE SIDE ONE BEDROOM CABIN WITH LOFT

$179/NIGHT

Beautiful view of Upper Trail Lake, conveniently located on-site at Alaska Float Ratings, only a few feet from the float plane dock.

  • 1 Bedroom + Loft (1 Queen Bed, 2 Twin Beds)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Bath
  • Half Kitchen

TRAIL LAKE VIEW LUXURY COTTAGE

$389/NIGHT

Comfort and roomy accommodations with a spectacular view of Trail Lake, a few minute drive from Alaska Float Ratings.

  • 2 Bedrooms + Loft (2 Queen Beds, 2 Twin Beds)
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1.5 Baths
  • Full Kitchen
  • Washer/Dryer

THE ALASKA FLOAT EXPERIENCE

Flight training with amazing scenary.