New Delhi: Just three days after the launch of seaplane service between Statue of Unity and Ahmedabad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SpiceJet on Wednesday suspended its services and said the aircraft is undergoing routine maintenance.
"The aircraft is undergoing routine maintenance on November 4 and 5 and will be back in operations on 6 November," SpiceJet spokesperson told ETV Bharat.
SpiceJet has wet-leased the 18-seater Twin Otter 300 seaplane from Maldives Island Aviation Services and as part of the agreement the same entity will provide the crew and engineers to the airline.
The plane saw its first flight on July 14, 1971, meaning it is 50 years of age.
According to Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), "Pressurised Aircraft intended to be imported and used in passenger services (Scheduled/ Non-scheduled) and General Aviation operation, shall not have completed 18 years of age or 65% of designed economic life in terms of pressurization cycle, whichever is earlier."
Also read: PM Modi launches seaplane service in Gujarat
"In the case of unpressurised aircraft, the decision will be on a case to case basis and on a complete examination of the record of the aircraft being procured. However, Director General of Civil Aviation would normally not allow such aircraft which are more than 20 years old," another clause of the CAR added. The Twin Otter 300 is a high winged, un-pressurised aircraft.
Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet had on Saturday said that SpiceJet has received as much as 3,000 bookings for the route between Sabarmati riverfront and Statue of Unity shortly after the launch of operations in Gujarat.
SpiceJet has also a plan to start a similar service connecting Surat in south Gujarat with the 182-meter tall statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near Kevadiya.
Other routes and destinations which are under consideration for the seaplane service are Port Blair to Havelock, Delhi to Haridwar, Delhi to Rishikesh and Naini lake, Udaipur, Dal lake, Leh and backwaters in Kerala, said Ajay Singh.
