Will support seaplanes in India: Nitin Gadkari

Mumbai: Preparing to boost air-connectivity to remote and unconnected destinations, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has requested Japanese firm Setouchi to manufacture seaplanes in the country following the successful trial runs of the firm’s aircraft here.

Assuring the firm of the government’s support, Mr Gadkari requested the company to start the manufacturing project at Nagpur. He was speaking at the second phase of the seaplane trials at the Girgaum Chowpatty off the city coast on Saturday. The trial flight, conducted by SpiceJet, was carried out with Setouchi’s 10-seater Kodiak Quest 1000 seaplane. He said that there is a lot of potential for seaplanes in the country. Mr Gadkari added that norms for seaplanes are expected to be finalised in three months in consultation with the civil aviation ministry.