KOCHI: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi grabbed headlines by taking off in a seaplane from Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi dam in Mehsana district, about 180 km away, as part of the Gujarat Assembly election campaign. It has been billed as the first-ever flight by such a craft in the country. But back home, the much-touted seaplane project of Kerala, which has been hanging fire for the past few years, is yet to take wings.
However, the high-octane publicity garnered by the Prime Minister’s seaplane journey has once again rekindled the hopes of starting seaplane services connecting various destinations inside Kerala and Lakshadweep.Sasikumar K R, managing director of Kairali Aviation, which had a couple of years ago brought a Cessna 206 H amphibian aircraft to the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbaserry for commencing operations, said the company has decided to approach the state government seeking permission to start the services. Kairali Aviation had taken the aircraft on lease from a Dubai-based company for launching the services.
“The service can be launched only if the state government gives an exclusivity in holding services to Kairali Aviation for a certain period. The company has already incurred a loss of `1.57 crore in connection with taking the aircraft on lease from a Dubai-based firm and retaining the pilot apart from paying parking fee to the Cochin International Airport. With uncertainty prevailing over the launch of the services, the aircraft was later handed over to the Maritime Energy Heli AIR Services Pvt Ltd,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state government has already spent an amount of `13.57 crore for developing infrastructure for seaplane at Ashtamudi and Punnamada lakes after getting clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The state government feels permission for launching services can be given after taking the fishermen communities into confidence and if the licensed seaplane service holders approach the government.
Reshma, director of Kairali Airlines, which had earlier approached the state government with the proposal to start seaplane services, said the company has almost dropped the project as they have incurred a substantial loss in connection with the project. “At present, we are planning to launch domestic flight services after taking aircraft on lease. The company has already applied for a licence for starting scheduled domestic services,” she said.
Kochi-based ‘Seabird Seaplane Pvt Ltd, an initiative of two technocrats and financially supported by an associate company of INKEL Ltd, had announced they would launch the service from Cochin International Airport to Lakshadweep. They had also brought an amphibian aircraft ‘Quest Kodiak 100 amphibian - the first aircraft purchased by the company from US and customised to suit to Indian conditions - to the Cochin International Airport for getting clearance and other security checks. But, the company was yet to get the necessary clearances from the civil aviation authorities for commercial operations, according to reports.