The Hindu : Kerala News : Lakshadweep plans seaplane service

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Lakshadweep plans seaplane service

R. Ramabhadran Pillai

In a bid to boost transport facilities and tourism

Seaplanes can takeoff and land on water bodies
Study of safety and operational aspects done

KOCHI: The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is keen on launching a seaplane service to the islands from Kochi. The Lakshadweep administration intends to take up the proposal in a bid to boost passenger and cargo transport facility as well as tourism, according to a top official of the administration.

Seaplanes are capable of taking-off and landing on water bodies. These aircraft have been operating from Maldivian waters for about two decades.

The seaplane services are also available in the US, Canada, Bangladesh and several other countries.

A private aviation company had submitted a proposal to operate seaplanes between Kochi and Lakshadweep a few years ago. The proposal was approved by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation but further processing was delayed, according to the head of the company who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A report, ‘Seaplane operating bases,’ containing safety and operational requirements was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration, USA. The operations of Maldivian Air Taxi, an operator based in Maldives, were also studied. Parameters such as area, depth, current speed, wave height and boating activity were analysed. Based on the study, the islands of Bangaram, Kadamat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti and Minicoy were found to be ideal from the safety and operational points of view, he said. Seaplane services were also being planned from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to him.

Inadequate air services

The present passenger services by air and sea to Lakshadweep are inadequate to meet the demand. The island’s administration had recently inducted high-speed boats connecting different islands of the Union Territory, according to Lakshadweep Administrator B.V. Selvaraj.

An aircraft belonging to Pawan Hans, serving the administration had crashed recently. The company has inducted a new craft in its place, according to Mr. Selvaraj. The Lakshadweep administration has been exploring new options to improve transport facilities to the island. There is only one airport and reaching other islands by air is difficult. The induction of seaplanes is expected to mitigate the problem to a considerable extent.

The water body should have a length of 750 metre, breadth of 60 metre and depth of 1 metre to safely operate a 10-seater seaplane, according to experts.

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