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While kettuvallams, or traditional houseboats, are a cherished site over Kochi’s scenic backwaters, an indigenously developed seaplane just took its first test run over these waters on Sunday, 1st October. Godson D’souza, a BTech graduate, paired up with father Shabel to build the six-seater plane that would take off from and land on water. In their welding workshop at Ponnarimangalam near Bolgatty, they first developed a weightless prototype out of ACP sheets. When the vessel floated successfully, they initiated building the actual seaplane.
The body of the plane is made of ACP sheets and fibre coating over steel frames, making the entire contraption weigh around one tonne. The two wings are fixed with airtight bows that help the seaplane maintain balance. With a Maruti Omni engine, it can reach a speed of 100 kmph, far greater than the usual speed of motorboats in the backwaters. Shabel told Times of India in this report that while 30% of the seaplane’s body touches water, 70% remains above water level. Built in a span of 20 days, the craft is fully air-conditioned for optimum comfort in a thrilling water-ride. Godson’s friend Neil Alex, who is a naval architect, helped them throughout the entire process.
While its features make it perfect for a completely new tourist experience of the backwaters, the duo shall seek the necessary permissions for that, according to this report by The Better India. After the success of the trial runs, the next action in their schedule is approaching the Cochin Port Trust and Ports departments to grant them a consent for its commercial use. They would also like to fly the craft up to two meters above the surface of water, given that they receive a nod from the Indian Navy.
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