Capt Michael Fabry, a Belgium National who piloted the aircraft, during reception ceremony for the Kerala's first sea plane at Nedumbasery International Airport in Kochi on Thursday. The Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala will starts its seaplane service this month, with the inauguration to be held at Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam on June 2. The initial operations will be in a prioritised circuit consisting of Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Munnar, Bolgatty and Bekal, with Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut and Mangalore airports as base stations. |
Houseboats will serve as terminals at the landing and takeoff sites with lounges for tourists. Seaplane operations will be limited to daytime. The project aims to connect 25 tourist destinations. The seaplane project is related to various ideas of the Emerging Kerala.It offers tremendous potential to boost in Kerala tourism. The service will provide a unique experience to travellers, both as a joy ride and as an effective mode of air transport to distant destinations.
Bengalurubased Kairali Aviation Pvt Ltd will operate the seaplane service. Four other tour operators, including Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited (PHHL), have registered with the state government to start seaplane operations.
Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. (KTIL) was assigned to coordinate the project and was appointed as the nodal agency. The state government has provided the necessary infrastructure by setting up facilities like a floating jetty, passenger frisking, etc., to operate seaplane services, based on an open sky policy. The Security of the waterdromes is ensured by a speciallyformed Airport Security Group (ASG), trained and certified by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) of India, under the Kerala Police.
The main attraction of seaplane services will help the tourists to save the travel time. This will be a new experience for tourists.