Just around two months after the Union Government launched the Guidelines for Seaplane Operations in India, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd, one of the world’s largest seaplane manufacturers, is sending a DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G to India this Wednesday. The aircraft will arrive at Ahmedabad Airport and begin its journey across India, starting in Vijayawada, followed by Mysore, Lakshadweep, and finally Shillong.
From Ahmedabad, the aircraft will proceed to Vijayawada, where Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu will launch India’s first demo of the Twin Otter amphibious aircraft, showcasing take-offs and landings on the Krishna River on November 9th
Four years ago, Ahmedabad hosted India’s first seaplane service when PM Modi inaugurated a route between the Statue of Unity near Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district and the Sabarmati Riverfront. While that service was short-lived, sources suggest that the relaunch of seaplane services in India, expected by next February, will be more sustainable, with the government keen to include seaplanes on regional routes under the UDAN scheme.
The seaplane en route to India, branded specifically for the country, traveled from Canada through Switzerland, Greece, Riyadh, and Oman, and is scheduled to arrive in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. With a two-pilot crew, the aircraft is capable of ferry flights lasting up to 5 hours without passengers.
India has developed regulations for seaplane operations, including specifications for seaports. According to industry insiders, the government is eager to implement seaplane services, and the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Lakshadweep has given further momentum to the initiative. Announcements from key players are expected soon.