A seaplane rating or privilege and an aircraft equipped for operating on water provide many new opportunities for aviation in countries like Finland with its numerous rivers and lakes. In Finland, the rules for using seaplanes are specified in the EU Air Operations Regulation 965/2012, as well as in the Water Traffic Act, Water Act, Aviation Act and aviation regulations. Some areas may also have special rules and restrictions for reasons of land ownership or nature conservation, for example.
According to the Aviation Act, an aircraft may temporarily use an open water area for take-off and landing. Under the Water Act, everyone has the right to move in a water body without causing unnecessary disturbance.
This means that in principle seaplanes may land on any lake, if the operations are temporary. In some cases, however, it may be difficult to draw a line between ‘temporary’ and ‘continuous’ use or define ‘unnecessary disturbance’.
Pilots are responsible for finding out whether there are any restrictions or prohibitions in the water area that the aircraft must observe (e.g. restrictions concerning the use of motorised vehicles).