impeding their navigation, and shall give way to any vessel or other aircraft that is given the right-of-way .
." This means that a seaplane should avoid boats and commercial shipping when on the water. If on a collision
course, the seaplane should slow, stop, or maneuver to the right, away from the bow of the oncoming vessel. Also,
while on the surface with an engine running, an aircraft must give way to all nonpowered vessels. Since a seaplane
in the water may not be as maneuverable as one in the air, the aircraft on the water has right-of-way over one
in the air, and one taking off has right-of-way over one landing. A seaplane is exempt from the USCG safety
equipment requirements, including the requirements for Personal Flotation Devices (PFD). Requiring seaplanes
on the water to comply with USCG equipment requirements in addition to the FAA equipment requirements
would be an unnecessary burden on seaplane owners and operators.
c. Unless they are under Federal jurisdiction, navigable bodies of water are under the jurisdiction of the state,
or in a few cases, privately owned. Unless they are specifically restricted, aircraft have as much right to operate
on these bodies of water as other vessels. To avoid problems, check with Federal or local officials in advance
of operating on unfamiliar waters. In addition to the agencies listed in TBL 7-6-1, the nearest Flight Standards
District Office can usually offer some practical suggestions as well as regulatory information. If you land on a
restricted body of water because of an inflight emergency, or in ignorance of the restrictions you have violated,
report as quickly as practical to the nearest local official having jurisdiction and explain your situation.
d. When operating a seaplane over or into remote areas, appropriate attention should be given to survival gear.
Minimum kits are recommended for summer and winter, and are required by law for flight into sparsely settled
areas of Canadnd Alaska. Alaska State Department of Transportation and Canadian Ministry of Transport
officials can provide specific information on survival gear requirements. The kit should be assembled in one
container and be easily reachable and preferably floatable.
TBL 7-6-1

Jurisdictions Controlling Navigable Bodies of Water
Authority to Consult For Use of a Body of Water
Location

Authority

Contact

Wilderness Area
National Forest
National Park
Indian Reservation
State Park

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
USDA Forest Service
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
USDI, Bureau of Indian Affairs
State government or state forestry or park service

Local forest ranger
Local forest ranger
Local park ranger
Local Bureau office
Local state aviation office for
further information

Canadian National and
Provincial Parks

Supervised and restricted on an individual basis from province to Park Superintendent in an
province and by different departments of the Canadian
emergency
government; consult Canadian Flight Information Manual and/or
Water Aerodrome Supplement

e. The FAA recommends that each seaplane owner or operator provide flotation gear for occupants any time
a seaplane operates on or near water. 14 CFR Section 91.205(b)(12) requires approved flotation gear for aircraft
operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore. FAA-approved gear differs from
that required for navigable waterways under USCG rules. FAA-approved life vests are inflatable designs as
compared to the USCG"s noninflatable PFD"s that may consist of solid, bulky material. Such USCG PFDs are
impractical for seaplanes and other aircraft because they may block passage through the relatively narrow exits
available to pilots and passengers. Life vests approved under Technical Standard Order (TSO) TSO-C13E
contain fully inflatable compartments. The wearer inflates the compartments (AFTER exiting the aircraft)
primarily by independent CO2 cartridges, with an oral inflation tube as a backup. The flotation gear also contains
a water-activated, self-illuminating signal light. The fact that pilots and passengers can easily don and wear
inflatable life vests (when not inflated) provides maximum effectiveness and allows for unrestricted movement.
It is imperative that passengers are briefed on the location and proper use of available PFDs prior to leaving the
dock.

7-6-8

Potential Flight Hazards