Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews Feb 1 2013 Blackstone has announced that a private equity fund managed by it has acquired a controlling interest in two Maldives-based seaplane operators - Maldivian Air Taxi "MAT" and Trans Maldivian Airways "TMA". Following the transaction, Lars Erik Nielsen (Founder, MAT), Lars Petre and Hussain Afeef (majority shareholders, TMA) will retain a substantial shareholding, will continue to play a significant role in the companies, including serving as directors on the board. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With a unique 'one-island one-resort' concept, Maldives has witnessed a strong increase in tourist arrivals over the last ten years with 2012 witnessing an all-time high tourist arrival of almost one million tourists. Established in 1989, TMA is the oldest air services operator in the Maldives and operates over 20 seaplanes. Established in 1992, Maldivian Air Taxi has grown to become the biggest seaplane operator i...

ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS Sea plane operators in The Maldives face plenty of unusual challenges writes Neelam Mathews Even as India struggles to connect the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands for tourism with a lone wetleased seaplane operation, neighbour Maldives is finding innovative solutions for running and maintaining its fleet of over 50 Canadian de Havilland 19-passenger Short Takeoff and Landing DHC-6 Twin Otters. The Maldives has 1190 islands, of which 200 are inhabited, with the largest seaplane fleet after Canada and Alaska. Seaplane operations in the Maldives face many challenges. Flights have to be conducted during the day giving them limited flying time, changes in tides and swell can result in planes getting stuck at resorts, often, no brakes on the plane makes it difficult to taxi on water and with no simulators,  training has to be done in airplanes which is costly and time consuming. Essentials for MRO are constant supply of electrical power; fresh wat...