Preparing to augment air connectivity between unconnected destination union transport minister Nitin Gadkari requested Japanese plane manufacturer Setouchi to set a manufacturing plant in Nagpur, India after a successful trial run of the firm aircraft here.
Assuring support, Gadkari said, “What I will request you (Setouchi) is that you need to start to Make in India We will ensure that the land is available to you near the airstrip (and) you can manufacture your (sea) planes in Nagpur”.
He was speaking at the second phase of the seaplane trials at the Girgaum Chowpatty off the city coast yesterday.
The trial was held by Spicejet pact with Setouchi’s 10 seaters Kodiak Quest 1000 seaplane.
He said there is a lot of potential for seaplanes. And if we start domestic production it will tend to bring down the manufacturing cost of the planes.
He added that norms for seaplanes are expected to be finalized in three months in consultation with the civil aviation ministry.
“Raju (referring to civil aviation minister PA Gajapati Raju) calls it a seaplane, I call it a flying boat. If it is a seaplane, it is controlled by the civil aviation ministry. If it is a flying boat then it is under my control,” he said.
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