Land on Water, with Confidence.

AquaSkid is a rigid floating skid that snaps directly onto your helicopter's landing skids — on each side — via sealed high-buoyancy air chambers. No specialized tools required, compatible with multiple helicopter models.

View Specifications

The Concept

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Lateral Snap-On Fit

Two high-resistance polymer half-shells clip around each landing skid — like a water ski — with no structural modification to the aircraft.

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Sealed Air Chambers

Redundant sealed air compartments generate buoyancy (Archimedes principle). If one chamber is punctured, the remaining chambers keep the aircraft afloat.

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Widened Stability Base

The wider skid footprint lowers the tipping point and compensates for the helicopter's high center of gravity to prevent capsizing.

Why AquaSkid?

✅ Adaptable

Adjustable kits for light helicopters (R44, Bell 206, H125) and RC/drone versions.

✅ Light & Durable

Reinforced UHMW composite polymer: impact-resistant, UV-resistant, and saltwater-resistant.

✅ Fast Installation

Mount and dismount in under 30 minutes, no specialized tools required.

✅ Dual-Purpose

Also protects skids from abrasive wear during landings on rough terrain.

Preliminary Specifications

SpecificationValue
MaterialUHMW composite polymer / fiberglass-reinforced nylon
BuoyancyMultiple sealed air chambers with redundancy
Target capacityLight helicopters up to ~2,500 kg (depending on kit model)
Water conditionsCalm water — Sea State 1 (waves < 15 cm)
AttachmentSnap-on half-shell fit + locking straps
Kit weightTo be determined by model
⚠️ Notice: Product under development. Any installation on a real aircraft requires STC certification from Transport Canada / FAA / EASA before flight use.

Evidence and Certification Reality

Buoyancy validation

Operational flotation kits must demonstrate reserve buoyancy and post-damage stability. Redundant chamber architectures are standard practice in safety-critical flotation systems.

Flight and drag impact

Any skid-mounted add-on changes drag, vibration, and performance margins. Evidence-based deployment requires measured effects on hover, autorotation envelope, and fuel burn.

Regulatory path

Real-world use requires approved design data, installation instructions, and certified airworthiness pathway (typically STC or equivalent authority acceptance).

Pilot KPI framework: buoyancy margin (% above MTOW), capsize resistance in crosswind/wave tests, installation repeatability time, vibration delta vs baseline skid, and emergency egress operability after water landing.

References and Standards

  1. FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook: faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook
  2. EASA Certification Specifications (CS-27 / CS-29): easa.europa.eu/.../certification-specifications
  3. Transport Canada rotorcraft airworthiness publications: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation
  4. FAA Supplemental Type Certificate guidance: faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/stc
  5. ICAO safety management resources: icao.int/safety
  6. ISO materials standards catalog for polymer/composite selection: iso.org/standards.html
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