Question : Amphibious Planes

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce air services using amphibian
planes and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to formulate a policy in this regard;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be formulated;
(d) the names of airlines which have shown interest to use amphibian planes
for air services;
(e) whether any airlines has conducted trials of such planes in the country recently;
(f) if so, the details thereof and the result of the said trials; and
(g) the time by which it is likely to become functional?

(a)to(c): Madam, currently there is no proposal to introduce air services using amphibian planes by government. With repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operateanywhere in the country. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik),operations are permitted through fixed wing aircraft (including seaplanes).
(d)to(g): Spice Jet has conducted demonstration flights with foreign registered Kodiak – 100 aircraft registration No N18KQ at Mumbai, Ahmadabad and Vijayawada. The government is not in a position to envisage the timeline by which amphibious planes would become functional, as the operation of amphibian planes would be decided by the operating company based on commercial considerations.
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