Govt Announces Funding Support for Seaplane Operations Under UDAN

The government intends to prolong the regional air connectivity scheme by an additional decade and offer viability gap funding for seaplane operations, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced on Thursday. He also mentioned that the government will promote the design and manufacture of aircraft, helicopters, and seaplanes within India.

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The Civil Aviation Ministry revealed simplified regulations for seaplane operations on Thursday. Naidu stated that some states, including Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, have shown interest in participating in seaplane operations. Demonstration flights of seaplanes are scheduled to begin in October, starting with Vijayawada.

Viability Gap Funding for Seaplane Operations

According to the minister, viability gap funding will be provided to support seaplane operators. Besides tourism, seaplanes can be useful for research, environmental monitoring, coastal resource management, and coastal and island defence. Naidu emphasised that UDAN has been a successful and revolutionary scheme for air connectivity.

The UDAN scheme was initially planned for ten years and is set to conclude in two years. "We want to extend it for ten years and also bring in improvements wherever necessary," Naidu told reporters. The minister also launched a new round of bidding under UDAN on Thursday.

UDAN Scheme Achievements

Launched in 2017, the UDAN scheme has operationalised 579 routes connecting 85 airports, including 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. However, some routes have been discontinued due to various reasons. Last month, the ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that some UDAN routes were discontinued due to factors like low passenger load factor after completing the prescribed three-year tenure, airline shutdowns, and low visibility at VFR (Visual Flight Rules) airports.

Naidu highlighted that apart from tourism, seaplanes can serve multiple purposes such as research, environmental monitoring, coastal resource management, and coastal and island defence. The seaplane operations are being promoted under the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik).

The government aims to encourage companies to design and manufacture aircraft, helicopters, and seaplanes domestically. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost local manufacturing capabilities in the aviation sector.

The announcement of simplified norms for seaplane operations is expected to facilitate smoother implementation of these services. States like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have already expressed their willingness to participate in these operations.

Demo flights of seaplanes will commence in October with Vijayawada being the first location. This move is part of the government's effort to enhance regional air connectivity through innovative solutions like seaplanes.

The extension of the UDAN scheme by another ten years aims to build on its success and address any areas needing improvement. The scheme has significantly contributed to improving air connectivity across various regions in India.

In conclusion, the government's plan to extend the regional air connectivity scheme by another decade includes providing viability gap funding for seaplane operations. This initiative aims to boost local manufacturing of aircraft while enhancing regional connectivity through innovative solutions like seaplanes.