en.Wedoany.com Reported - India's first dedicated seaplane operator, SkyHop Aviation, has received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and plans to launch flights in the Lakshadweep region, connecting islands using 19-seat DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. Avani Singh, founder and CEO of SkyHop, stated: "Receiving the AOC is a significant milestone for us, providing a foundation to move forward with confidence. Our goal is simple — to provide a safe, reliable, and innovative way to connect regions in India that remain difficult to access."

SkyHop is led by Avani Singh, daughter of SpiceJet founder Ajay Singh, and its fleet comes from the now-defunct regional airline FlyBig. SkyHop will conduct India's first local modification of the DHC-6 Twin Otter, fitting floats for water takeoffs and landings. The first aircraft, VT-SHE, has completed its modifications and is undergoing validation flights.

The Lakshadweep islands, with their limited runways and dispersed geography, are considered an ideal testing ground for seaplane operations. SkyHop's model is similar to that of the Maldives, aimed at meeting tourism transport demand. The government is supporting this initiative through the UDAN regional connectivity scheme and incentives to promote sustainable operations.

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