The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is all set to introduce 'Sea plane service', a unique tourism package.

An amphibious aircraft carrying nine passengers can take off and land on either land or water. These seaplanes are designed for short distance services and currently, the APTDC is considering a tourism package covering Hyderabad, Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam.

The tourism corporation has recently signed an MoU with the Mumbai-based Maritime Energy Heli Air (MehAir) Services in this regard and talks are in progress. The APTDC has agreed to set up the required facilities, while the MehAir would have to get clearance from the AP irrigation department under the purview of which fall the Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam dams.

Approval will also have to be taken from the Director General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi.

Sources say the proposed package could be launched within a month's time and a package involving 12 hours would be apt for covering the tourist destinations.

Meanwhile, the APTDC has also joined hands with Spice Jet this month, for its Tirupati air package.

B Manohar, APTDC deputy GM, informed that the corporation has a tie up with Jet Airways for its Tirupati air package and now Spice Jet has come forward to operate the same from all over the country starting from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 28, the APTDC had launched the much-awaited 'Helicopter City Tour', which covers major monuments in the city in a 15-minute air ride.

The aviation operator Deccan Aviations Pvt Ltd, has not been able to start operations till date, as it has not been able to obtain permission from the Director general of Civil Aviation, New Delhi. According to an official in the department, “The application is being considered and it has not been rejected so far. So there is hope that operations will start very soon”.

Express News Service