Seaplanes in India –Unlocking New Opportunities

Seaplane services have the potential to unlock new opportunities in remote locations, boosting tourism, creating employment opportunities for locals, and spreading prosperity to regions that were previously considered distant and inaccessible

BY ROHIT GOEL

Seaplanes present an inherent advantage over traditional fixed-wing aircraft as they eliminate the need for expensive infrastructure such as airports and runways. Instead, they can land on lakes, calm rivers, backwaters, dams, and other water bodies, making them ideal for connecting diverse destinations. From the northern reaches of Kashmir to the southern tip of Kanya Kumari, from the western state of Gujarat to the North-Eastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal to the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea, seaplanes have the potential to support tourism and drive economic growth.

Seaplane services have the potential to unlock new opportunities in remote locations, boosting tourism, creating employment opportunities for locals, and spreading prosperity to regions that were previously considered distant and inaccessible. By leveraging India’s vast network of lakes, rivers, backwaters, and coastal areas, seaplanes can connect the length and breadth of the country, fostering economic growth and transforming the tourism landscape.

Once considered a mere possibility, the launch of seaplane services in India has now becoming a reality, offering a new dimension to the country’s civil aviation industry. The potential for seaplane operations had been recognised early on, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) acknowledging the significance of such services for the economy of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands. The Minister for Civil Aviation considered seaplane services as an extension of the UDAN scheme. In a series of transformative initiatives under UDAN, the Regional Connectivity programme of the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry is promoting the use of seaplane services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flight aboard a seaplane on December 12, 2017, was seen as an opportunity to revitalise the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)

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