Planes on water, now in India

As per the civil aviation requirements (CAR), an operator would need to obtain a permit for non-scheduled (passenger) services or for charter operations. Each seaplane, either manufactured in India or imported, would need an ‘airworthiness’ certificate from DGCA and will need to comply with strict safety parameters since water operations carry an element of risk and have never been tested in the country before.

For starters, pilots would need to conduct a detailed check of the aircraft before take-off. Since passenger survival in seaplane incidents is critical in the event of a deep impact with water, a detailed pre-takeoff and pre-landing briefing would be mandatory. “Since seaplanes tend to come to rest inverted in water accidents or incidents but can remain afloat for long periods if the floats are not breached, enough stress on the importance of a thorough preflight passenger briefing is required to be given,” the DGCA notification states. Night operations of seaplanes would not be permitted.

Since no seaplane services exist in the country at present, the CAR prescribes that pilots with a general flying experience of over 250 hours, first receive special training to fly seaplanes. The training necessary would be a minimum of 10 hours which would include a certain minimum runs of taxiing, sailing and docking.

With these requirements in place, Pawan Hans can now begin seaplane operations in the country.

•Pawan Hans considering a tie-up with a Maldivian company to operate seaplanes in India

•Each seaplane, either manufactured in India or imported, would need an ‘airworthiness’ certificate