The Central government has given the initial no-objection certificate to a Kerala-based company to operate seaplanes, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said on Thursday.
“Initial no-objection certificate has been granted to Sea Bird Seaplane Private Ltd., a Kochi-based company, to operate non-scheduled air transport services with seaplane Quest Kodiak 100 type of aircraft,” the Minister told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
He was responding to a query on whether seaplane services are to start shortly between Kochi and Lakshadweep. Generally, seaplanes are aircraft that can take off as well as land on water.
Air Operator Permit
Mr. Sinha said the applicant operator had to complete the certification process to obtain Air Operator Permit, following which it can ‘undertake operations from any waterdromes in the country with due approval from the authorities concerned.’
To a query about other places where the government proposes to launch seaplane services, the Minister said there was no such proposal.
