Historic first! Seaplane – on a test flight – lands on Brahmaputra waters

GUWAHATI, Nov 15: Guwahati witnessed a historic first after a seaplane, on a test flight to explore possibilities of commercial services, landed on the waters of the Brahmaputra at Pandu Ghat today after taking off from the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.

The test run was carried out as part of a joint initiative by the Civil Aviation Ministry and Canada’s utility aircraft manufacturing firm De Havilland.

Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah took part in the test flight of the seaplane along with Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Deputy Mayor Smita Roy, other officials of the Tourism and Transport Department and representatives of the Canadian company.

“It’s a historic day for Assam and the tourism scenario of the State since it’s for the first time that a seaplane has landed anywhere in the State. We hope to begin commercial services very soon. Once services are launched to Guwahati and other parts of the State, it will augment the tourism potential the State has,” Jayanta Malla Baruah said.