<p class="title">Airports on water, where seaplanes and amphibian aircraft can land, will soon be a reality in the country with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issuing licensing norms for setting up 'water aerodromes'.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A 'water aerodrome' is explained in the latest Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) as a "defined area on water, including any buildings installations and equipment, intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and movement of aircraft".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The DGCA issued the CAR last Thursday following the growth of aviation industry and India is expected to witness an increase<br />in the area of aircraft operations including seaplanes, particularly due to Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This will also require operation of seaplanes from coastal/river/canal as well as terrestrial water bodies. Thus there is a necessity to regulate these water bodies for seaplane operations on regular basis through license by DGCA," the CAR said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The water runway shall be free from large obstructing coral rubbles to a definite depth and located inside protected waters which are safe to use during landing or take-off by a definite aircraft.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The water aerodrome should have an 'Accountable Manager', who will be in-charge for the operations and maintenance of the facility.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Anyone seeking to set up a water aerodrome has to take approvals from various authorities, including the Defence, Home, Environment and Forests and Shipping ministry.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat have already expressed keenness in starting large-scale seaplane operations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, no-frills carrier SpiceJet had announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan's Setouchi Holdings to buy up to 100 amphibian aircraft, which can make a landing both on land and water, in a deal valued at $ 400 million.</p>
<p class="title">Airports on water, where seaplanes and amphibian aircraft can land, will soon be a reality in the country with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issuing licensing norms for setting up 'water aerodromes'.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A 'water aerodrome' is explained in the latest Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) as a "defined area on water, including any buildings installations and equipment, intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and movement of aircraft".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The DGCA issued the CAR last Thursday following the growth of aviation industry and India is expected to witness an increase<br />in the area of aircraft operations including seaplanes, particularly due to Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This will also require operation of seaplanes from coastal/river/canal as well as terrestrial water bodies. Thus there is a necessity to regulate these water bodies for seaplane operations on regular basis through license by DGCA," the CAR said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The water runway shall be free from large obstructing coral rubbles to a definite depth and located inside protected waters which are safe to use during landing or take-off by a definite aircraft.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The water aerodrome should have an 'Accountable Manager', who will be in-charge for the operations and maintenance of the facility.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Anyone seeking to set up a water aerodrome has to take approvals from various authorities, including the Defence, Home, Environment and Forests and Shipping ministry.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat have already expressed keenness in starting large-scale seaplane operations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, no-frills carrier SpiceJet had announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan's Setouchi Holdings to buy up to 100 amphibian aircraft, which can make a landing both on land and water, in a deal valued at $ 400 million.</p>
