Seaplanes

The civil aviation ministry on Thursday announced simplified regulations for seaplane operations, including allowing non-scheduled entities to operate such services and putting in place a simplified certificate process. The relaxed norms are aimed at encouraging seaplane operations under the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik). Generally, seaplanes are amphibian aircraft that can take off and land on the sea. Under the relaxed norms of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there will be no need for a waterdrome license and compliance requirements have also been reduced. Waterdromes are for landing and take off of seaplanes. The revised regulations have been carefully planned and prepared after extensive consultations, said Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu. Speaking at an event in the national capital to announce the revised regulations, Naidu also said that seaplane operations can help stimulate tourism. Among other regulatory chang

Several companies such as SpiceJet, Mehair, and Heritage Aviation, along with international OEMs, have expressed interest in commercial charter operations for seaplanes

These collaborative efforts have ensured that the new regulations address key stakeholder concerns and pave the way for growth in this niche area

A Parliamentary panel on Tuesday asked the civil aviation ministry to expeditiously formulate a seaplane policy and also instruct airports as well as airlines to provide assistance to differently-abled people to board an aircraft. The recommendations are part of the report tabled by the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. In March this year, the ministry launched the Small Aircraft Scheme (SAS), which includes the operation of seaplanes. However, the committee noted that the seaplane policy has not yet been finalised. "The committee, therefore, reiterates its recommendation that a seaplane policy may be formulated expeditiously in consultation with various stakeholders, which will provide last-mile air connectivity to the common people living in far-flung and remote areas of the country," it said. Chaired by YSR Congress member V Vijayasai Reddy, the panel submitted the report on the action taken by the government on the ...

The government is in the process to launch seaplane services on several routes, including Delhi-Ayodhya, in collaboration with the airline operators

The airline has got an overwhelming response to its Ahmedabad-Statue of Unity seaplane service

Canada's Harbour Air will test-fly a prototype electric aircraft in December

It initially seeks to connect state capital Bhubaneswar to Puri, Chandipur and Hirakud dam