Why pilots choose Aero Club Como
01
Challenging Conditions
Boat traffic, mountain weather and changing water conditions create excellent training every day.
02
Experienced Team
Four full-time and around eight part-time instructors flying more than 4,000 hours each year.
03
Flying Beyond Como
Advanced training prepares pilots to safely operate on lakes across northern Italy.
04
International Training
Pilots from across Europe and beyond come to Lake Como for their seaplane training.
"What is really interesting in aviation is being away from airports. As seaplane pilots, we potentially have seventy percent of the Earth's surface available to us. We use natural water as our infrastructure without changing the landscape. That's something very special."
Cesare Baj, honary president of Aeroclub Como
The world's oldest seaplane school
Most pilots first hear about Aero Club Como because of the SEP (SEA) rating. What many don't realize is how much bigger the organisation actually is. The club has been teaching seaplane flying since 1930 and is the oldest continuously operating seaplane school in the world. Every year, around 100 to 150 pilots earn their seaplane rating here, while another 20 to 30 students complete their private pilot licence from scratch. Behind that is a team of four full-time and around eight part-time instructors, flying more than 4,000 hours every year. Besides flight training, Aero Club Como also operates sightseeing flights, supports civil protection missions and preserves one of Europe's largest collections of seaplane history.
Why so many pilots choose Lake Como
There are easier places to earn a seaplane rating. Lake Como is probably not one of them. The lake sits between mountains, creating local weather effects that change throughout the day. Boat traffic constantly produces new waves, while reflections from the shoreline make the water surface even more demanding. According to Cesare Baj, honorary president of Aero Club Como, this is exactly why many pilots benefit from training here. Conditions are rarely identical from one flight to the next. Students learn to assess the water before every takeoff and landing instead of simply repeating the same exercise. It is one of the reasons why pilots who train on Lake Como often feel much more comfortable when they later fly from calmer lakes elsewhere in Europe.
"Lake Como is demanding. That's exactly why people learn so much here."
More freedom than most pilots expect
Italy is one of the very few countries in Europe where seaplanes can legally operate on almost any lake or river, with only a few local restrictions. That gives pilots possibilities that simply do not exist in many neighbouring countries. Training on lake Como is only the beginning. Pilots who complete the Advanced Seaplane Course learn how to safely operate away from the home base. It is a simple system that allows pilots to gradually build experience while exploring much more than just one lake.
A club built around water flying
Cesare did his SEP (SEA) rating first and didn't make his first landing on a runway until almost ten years later. After around 5,000 hours on floats, he still describes water flying in a very simple way: every landing is different. That experience is reflected throughout the club. Whether it is discussing wave conditions on Lake Como, restoring a flying boat from 1935 or preparing future firefighting pilots from Vietnam, everything revolves around operating safely on water. You quickly get the feeling that seaplanes are simply part of everyday life.
Quick Facts
Aircraft Fleet
5x Cessna 172 on floats / 2x Cessna 172 on amphiban floats / 1x Cessna 206 on amphiban floats / Piper PA18 Super Cub on amphiban floats / 1x Republic RC3 "Seabee" / Macchi MB308 of the 1950s (restoration is in progress)
Best Season
from autumn to spring
Availability
Flexible. The SEP (SEA) is usually completed in one week. Can also be split into two shorter visits if needed.
Languages
English, Italian & French
Club Membership
Required
Location
Lake Como, Northern Italy
About this provider
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