The ‘Guidelines for Seaplane Operations’ were introduced in India on Thursday by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. The country’s extensive network of rivers and lakes, along with its lengthy coastline, make it a promising location for the growth of this swift means of transportation.
The Minister said during his speech at the function held at the Indian Aviation Academy that these regulations not only incorporate seaplane operations into India’s aviation landscape for travel and tourism but also support economic empowerment and job creation, making seaplanes a representation of the nation’s progress, inventiveness, and dedication to inclusive development.
The Minister also announced that the demonstration flights of the seaplane by manufacturer DeHavilland would be held shortly.
Naidu said India’s 7,517 km long coastline and extensive network of rivers and lakes present a unique opportunity for the development of seaplane operations in the country. After a careful study of the situation and drawing from the experience of helicopter operations, the Government has taken a flexible and pragmatic approach to ensure the growth of seaplane operations.
“By giving local workforce development top priority, we hope to establish a legislative environment that stimulates innovation, growth, and job possibilities for ground crews, maintenance personnel, and pilots. For smooth connectivity between seaplanes and other transport modes, we foresee building multimodal transport hubs,” the minister stated.
He clarified that the rules would allow seaplane operations operating under the Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) to utilize the operations under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). The first boost for the operators would come from the RCS’s extension of the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to seaplane operations. He continued, “Due care has been taken to ensure the safety and security of the operations while striving to promote seaplane operations.”
The Minister added that the government has adopted a flexible and practical strategy to guarantee the continuous expansion of seaplane operations, in spite of early difficulties, notably in the construction of water aerodromes.
In order to guarantee a smooth and effective seaplane operation across the country, these rules highlight the safety and security of operations and specify the roles of all parties. The government’s effort to improving regional connections has advanced significantly with the implementation of the Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) framework for seaplanes.
Additionally, Naidu introduced the UDAN scheme’s version 5.4 for commercial flights to smaller airports. As part of the plan, new bids will be accepted for the unserviced air routes where no flights have yet been introduced or have been canceled for various reasons.
The Union Minister emphasized that in order to lower carbon emissions and be in line with India’s commitments under the UN Framework on Climate Change, there must be supportive policy environments for the seaplane industry in India as well as encouragement of research into technologies like electric seaplanes.
According to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, the seaplane effort has the potential to increase connectivity, promote economic growth, increase tourism, and strengthen ties amongst India’s most remote regions.
The Seaplane NSOP Guidelines, according to Union Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam, would offer a safe and organized framework for seaplane operations to flourish and expand even “as we work towards the full development of water aerodrome infrastructure.”
