Heralding a new chapter in the aviation history of Kerala, Kairali Aviation's six seat Cessna touched down at Cochin International Airport Limited on Thursday Afternoon to a warm reception. The aircraft, leased to Kairali Aviation from a Dubai-based aviation company, will be manned by Belgium pilot Michael Fabry, who has 3,000 hours of flying experience.
"I hope to train a few Indian pilots in another three months," Fabry said, adding that he was yet to operate from the waterdromes set up by the state government.
Initialy, the aircraft will operate between Ashtamudi, Kumarakom and Bekal, It will also operate services from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Mangalore airports. Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar Said: "Already five firms, including Pawan Hans, have registered for launching sea plane services here."
State tourism Secretary Suman Billa said government would not allow refuelling and maintenance activities in lakes to prevent oil spills. "Maintenance and fuelling will be done at airports. The department has also identified four more lakes in the state where waterdromes will be set up. At present, we are following a zero subsidy open sky policy wherein the service providers compete in the open market to fix service rates, " the secretary said.
"We have set up security counters at the waterdromes where personal of Kerala police will complete the required security checks of the passengers, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has already given training to the security personal." he said. The aircraft, priced at $7,50,000 can fly non-stop for five hours and can operate night flights.
An Official of Kerala Tourism Infrastructure in Alappuzha said: "We have made all arrangements. The seaplane will land at the waterdrome and commuters can get down at the floating jetty. Houseboat will be used for security checking and passengers will be shifted to mainland using speed boats." However, Inland fisherman in Alappuzha have decided to start agitation programmes against the project claiming that the flight process will affect fishing activities during the day.
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