On demo flight, Kerala's first seaplane lands at Mattuppetty

The official flag-off of a seaplane service took place on Monday morning at Bolgatty Palace, Kochi, with Tourism Minister Mohammed Riyas presiding over the event. The seaplane, a nine-seater amphibious aircraft, took off from Bolgatty Palace and flew to Mattupetty Dam in Idukki. The aircraft is designed to land on both land and water, with the test flight demonstrating its ability to land at the water level of the dam.

The flight is part of an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to explore the potential of inland transport through amphibious aircraft. Minister Riyas described the event as a significant step forward, highlighting the potential for tourism growth through such services. He also indicated that the seaplane project could be expanded to other locations in Kerala in the future.

Industries Minister P Rajeev and Education Minister V Sivankutty were also present at the flag-off ceremony.

Test flight was done earlier

The seaplane project aims to connect water bodies and airports across the state. A test flight for the project was conducted the previous day, with a De Havilland amphibious aircraft taking off from Kochi International Airport at 3.15 pm and landing at the Bolgatty Palace Water Aerodrome.

The amphibious planes used for the project are equipped with large windows, offering scenic aerial views for passengers.