Seaplane service in India began in 2010, when Pawan Hans Helicopters flew the first seaplane from Juhu Airdrome, Mumbai. At that time it was presented as a major revolution in the air sector. Services under the name Jal Hans also started in Andaman and Nicobar. But the initial enthusiasm did not last long. Many projects were started but stopped due to financial and operational challenges. A seaplane project started on private initiative in Kochi also came to a standstill within a few years.
Government’s new bet: subsidies and incentives
Now the central government has once again decided to promote this sector. In the recent budget, the Finance Minister has announced Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for seaplane services. Its objective is to provide financial assistance to those projects which are socially and strategically important, but are not able to earn profits on their own. Along with this, it has also been said to encourage domestic manufacturing under Make in India.
Preparation for new flight from Lakshadweep
A company named Skyhop Aviation is soon going to start service from Kochi to the five islands of Lakshadweep, Agatti, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Kadmat, with a 19-seat Twin Otter aircraft. The company claims that India can become a big market for seaplanes in the coming years.
Tourism and connectivity may get a boost
Experts believe that India is a suitable country for seaplanes due to its 11,000 km long coastline and many islands. This can convert long ferry journeys into short flights. This service can also prove useful in areas like tourism, medical emergency and disaster relief.
However, lack of trained pilots, safety standards and development of infrastructure are still major challenges. Now it remains to be seen how successful the efforts of the seaplane are this time.