For the most part, sea planes are safe, when operated correctly, and with safety measures and precautions in place. However, they are more dangerous than many other types of travel transportations.
In 2019, America’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined multiple incidents involving seaplanes, in an investigation that warned that seaplanes can be highly dangerous and may no longer be a safe form of transportation.
There are a few reasons as to why this may be, as seaplanes are notoriously difficult to escape from in the case of an accident or an emergency. In addition, seaplanes and float planes are considered by many pilots as having their own set of significant challenges when it comes to flying them.
For instance, the weather and water conditions can change quickly, and rapidly. Unlike a regular aeroplane runway, the conditions for landing are always in flux, or there may be birds, obstructions, waves or dangers on the water at any given moment. This makes landing a seaplane incredibly difficult for pilots.
Another hazard that seaplane pilots and passengers may face is that they are most often used in remote areas, where other forms of travel are near impossible. This means that pilots in these locations have to rely on other pilots to report their positions, and flight paths over radio. This differs from regular flights where traffic control can coordinate flight paths, warn of obstructions, and coordinate landing and take off times across various planes. This means that pilots have to look out for other flights themselves, and plan accordingly, and safely.
In addition, seaplanes are often easily sunk at the slightest mistake or obstruction. If the pilot leaves the wheels down when landing on water, the plane will take on too much water and is at risk of sinking. This can also cause a mechanical failure, which can also lead to the seaplane sinking.
One of the greatest risks that you may face with a seaplane is that they are notoriously hard to escape from. If there is an incident where a crash landing has taken place, it is often hard for passengers to jump from the plane, or survive in the water afterwards, as these planes can sink very quickly due to their heavy components.