The United States from seaplane base to seaplane base
This plan complements Route 66, the Alaska Crude Oil Route and the U.S. Air Mail with a United States crossing designed for seaplanes.
The route links seaplane bases, lakes, rivers and coastlines from Maine to the Pacific Coast, then toward Alaska and Lake Hood.
Lakes, channels, rivers and bays, often without lighting.
Cross the country by water rather than classic runways.
An amphibious Cessna Caravan works very well.
Water lanes are not always obvious.
Understanding the flight
The route does not chase the shortest line. It builds a ribbon of water from New England to the Great Lakes, plains, South, Pacific and Alaska.
The pleasure comes from water approaches, wind reading and landscape variety.
Before departure
- Choose a seaplane stable at low speed.
- Check wind before every water landing and keep a go-around path.
- Split the journey into regions; the route is very long.
- Keep weather readable on narrow water areas.
Suggested route
New England and New York
The Maine departure descends through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
ME37 → ME57 → NH37 → VT58 → 6MA0 → MA25 → RI06 → CT87 → 6N7
Great Lakes and Midwest
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota create a rich lake crossing.
6N7 → NK13 → K21 → 2NY2 → 6NJ7 → NJ07 → PA15 → PS88 → 5IN7 → 51MI → 1MI0 → 3MI9 → 0MI5 → M47 → 50MI → WS01 → 96WI → 16WI → 7WI1 → WI04 → 11WN → 8MN0 → 6MN5 → 9MN8
Plains, Rockies and Northwest
The seaplane bases spread out across Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
9MN8 → M14 → 0G5 → MY38 → 8NA1 → SD50 → M35 → MT92 → 0W7 → 0W0 → 2OG3
South, Florida, Louisiana and Texas
The route turns east and south before Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.
2OG3 → H63 → 1MU2 → 8IL9 → IS03 → K45 → WV35 → WV37 → WV41 → M06 → DE13 → VG21 → 7VA7 → 4NC9 → 2SC3 → GE00 → 0FL8 → 0FL2 → 0FD6 → X44 → 61FD → 29FA → FD46 → 5FD0 → 4FD5 → 5AL2 → 1AL9 → AL46 → 3TN2 → LA38 → 5LA6 → LA64 → 2LA3 → 4O6 → 1TE8 → 9TE4
Pacific, Canada and Alaska
The final section follows the West Coast, Northwest and British Columbia before Lake Hood, the natural gateway to the Aleutians.
9TE4 → L11 → 0O0 → 22CA → Q87 → Q86 → C39 → Q74 → O06 → 5CA9 → Q83 → Z43 → 5Z1 → 2Y3 → LHD
Experience tips
On water, the approach starts earlier than on a runway: wind, axis, obstacles and escape path must be decided before final.
Alternate short and long sessions. A seaplane-base route works best when every landing remains careful.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2009