Skipping is a form of instability which may occur when landing with excessive speed at a nose up trim angle. This nose up attitude places the seaplane at the upper trim limit of stability, and causes the seaplane to enter a cyclic oscillation when touching the water, resulting in the seaplane skipping across the surface. This action may be compared to "skipping" flat stones across the water.

   Skipping can also occur by crossing a boat wake while fast taxiing on the step or during a takeoff. Sometimes the new seaplane pilot will confuse a skip with a porpoise. Pilot's body feelings can quickly determine whether a skip or porpoise has been encountered. A skip will give the body vertical "G" forces similar to bouncing a landplane. The porpoise is a rocking chair type forward and aft motion feeling.

   Correction for skipping is made by first increasing back pressure on the elevator control and adding sufficient power to prevent the floats from contacting the water. Then pressure on the elevator must be adjusted to attain the proper trim angle and the power gradually reduced to allow the seaplane to settle gently onto the water.

   Skipping will not continue increasing its oscillations, as in porpoising, because of the lack of forward thrust with reduced power.