The seaplane, which arrived in Ahmedabad from the Maldives via Kochi, Goa and Kevadia, is said to be 50 years old. The registration number of this seaplane is 8Q-ISC.
According to the website, www.airport-data.com, which provides information on the manufacture and sale of various aircraft, the Twin Otter 300 model was manufactured by the Plane de Havilland Canada Company in 1971.
It was first delivered to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ottawa, Canada on July 27, 1971. Since then the number of owners of these planes has changed. It is currently registered with the Maldives airline.
According to Viking Air, which has a fleet of sea-planes, the age limit of this plane is very long.
The fare of this flight from Ahmedabad to Kevadia is Rs. 4800. The flight will be operated by SpiceJet in Gujarat.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said the SpiceJet-selected (Twin Otter 300) seaplane is one of the safest aircraft used in the world and in the Maldives. The aircraft is regularly serviced and is in top-class condition.
People are constantly inquiring about the booking, fare and discounts on this plane. More than 500 people inquired on Monday on the airline’s helpline number along with tour operators.
The difference between an airplane and a sea-plane is that airplanes land and take-off on land. While seaplanes can land and take-off on the water surface i.e. sea, river or lake.
The Ahmedabad-based twin-otter seaplane weighs 3,377 kg and has a fuel tank with a capacity of 1419 litres, maximum 5170 kg can fly with weight. The seaplane is 15.77 metres (51 feet) long and 5.94 metres (19 feet) high.
According to Captain Ajay Chauhan, the seaplane PT6A-34 has two engines with single-stage free turbines. The Sea-plane has a capacity of 19 passengers.
Capt. Chauhan further said that the seaplane does not have computer controls and flies at low altitudes where all the controls are in the hands of the pilot. Airplanes land and take off on a stable surface of the ground while seaplanes take off and land on a liquid and dynamic water surface. This makes the operation of a sea-plane pilot more challenging.