"Jay Beckman" wrote in message
newsd9lf.11192$Wu.3984@fed1read05...
Would puncturing a float be a concern when it comes to ice?

Not if the ice is flat, solid, and strong enough to support the airplane.

However, broken ice floating just below the surface is a significant risk.
It certainly can tear the skin of a float or the hull of a boat-hull
seaplane, and if the conditions are right, the ice is completely invisible.

The video posted is crappy as all get out (not only is the source analog,
but it looks like the tape's been used a zillion times before). It's hard
to tell if the ice is solid or not...it seems as though the ice during the
backtaxi isn't. But the floats do seem to stay on top during the takeoff.
Seems to me that's probably a matter of luck than good planning though,
since the airplane was clearly not supported by the ice at the beginning of
the video.

Pete