Seaplane or Amphibian
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 700
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
Visit to support event. NOTAMs checked; none published. TFR's checked; none published. CVG ATC queried; No restrictions. IMS UNICOM queried; No Known Restrictions.Observed helicopter on approach; monitored landing until rotor stopped. Followed helicopter approach path to a water landing 2 miles downstream beyond coast guard floating restriction markers. River was open to boat traffic; [event] not running at this time. 4-5 knot current dictated downstream landing. 5 knot headwind dictated upstream takeoff. Maneuvered for altitude on climb out and avoided bridge and power plant; followed same path out of area. Received phone call from Indianapolis FAA that they had a test drone program and FAA inspector on site; Coast Guard had called FAA. Drone program and Flight Service checked for NOTAMs in arrears for IMS and IIU VOR NOTAMs. Local Seaplane Operator not notified of Drone program. Drones restricted to 200 feet by FAA. At no time were we below 500 feet over [event] course. No known Conflicts.
Prior to takeoff; seaplane crew noticed a small airborne helicopter. Crew waited until helicopter had completed a water landing before taking off. Crew later learned that the craft was part of an FAA test drone program and that the local seaplane operator had not been notified.