Aerospace Diary

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  APRIL 22, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS The state of Kerala in India plans to use houseboats as terminals for a new seaplane operation due to start in mid-May. April 22, 2013, 12:50 PM The state of Kerala in Southwest India has invested $2.2 million in a seaplane operation to promote major destinations located near its 24 lakes and water bodies known for backwater tourism and houseboats. Kerala Tourism Infrastructure ( KTIL ), the nodal agency for the project, awaits a Directorate General of Civil Aviation no-objection certificate ( NOC ), and plans a launch in mid-May. Of six operators that have shown interest, Kerala Seaplanes and Pinnacle Air, offering a mix of Twin Otters, Cessna Caravans and Cessna 206s, stand ready to start operations once they complete trial flights. As an incentive, the state has waived parking and landing charges for a year for those registered before January 3...

AVIATION INTERNATIONAL NEWS  »  OCTOBER 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Maldivian Air Taxi’s Twin Otters work hard in a challenging salt-water environment. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) October 2, 2012, 3:45 AM Arguably nowhere on earth is the business case for seaplanes more compelling than in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives with its 1,190 islands (200 of them inhabited). The scattered nation, situated 250 miles southwest of India, has the world’s largest fleet of de Havilland Canada  DHC -6 Twin Otters, offering high-end tourists a time-saving alternative to the boat connections between its low-lying islands spread over 35,000 square miles. Maldivian Air Taxi operates 20 Twin Otters, flying approximately 2,500 hours each month and making between 150 and 200 flights each day (with sectors ranging from 30 nm to 110 nm). The airline carries approximately 400,000 passengers a year. At more than $130 for a 30-minute r...