The development of scheduled seaplane passenger operations in India received a boost from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flew on a seaplane on an election trail in his home state of Gujarat, the Financial Express has reported. This support can benefit SpiceJet and Zoom Air (India) (ZO, Delhi Int'l) which both eye seaplane operations in West Bengal.
The Indian PM flew on a single-engine seaplane earlier in January, taking off from the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad and landing near the Dharoi Dam in Mehsana. Such a flight, while convenient, was ostensibly in violation of the PM's own safety protocol which requires him to always fly on twin-engine aircraft.
India has been mulling seaplane operations as a viable way to improve connectivity of remote areas in the country without the need for building costly airport infrastructure for a while. Development of such traffic is currently blocked by the law, which does not allow for commercial passenger operations on single-engine aircraft.
SpiceJet and Zoom Air both see a potential for seaplane operations particularly in West Bengal state, but before this can happen the law needs to be revised. Modi's flight could be a boost for these changes.
Seaplanes could improve connectivity to the Sunderbans, Gangasagar and Murshidabad in West Bengal, boosting tourism in these areas, the Financial Express noted.
30/01/18 ch-aviation
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
The Indian PM flew on a single-engine seaplane earlier in January, taking off from the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad and landing near the Dharoi Dam in Mehsana. Such a flight, while convenient, was ostensibly in violation of the PM's own safety protocol which requires him to always fly on twin-engine aircraft.
India has been mulling seaplane operations as a viable way to improve connectivity of remote areas in the country without the need for building costly airport infrastructure for a while. Development of such traffic is currently blocked by the law, which does not allow for commercial passenger operations on single-engine aircraft.
SpiceJet and Zoom Air both see a potential for seaplane operations particularly in West Bengal state, but before this can happen the law needs to be revised. Modi's flight could be a boost for these changes.
Seaplanes could improve connectivity to the Sunderbans, Gangasagar and Murshidabad in West Bengal, boosting tourism in these areas, the Financial Express noted.
30/01/18 ch-aviation
0 comments:
Post a Comment