Skylinks Aviation (Goa Dabolim) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Mallard Aircraft (Cleburne Regional) to acquire four 19-seat ME-1A amphibious aircraft. The LOI was signed last month in Venice, Italy.
“We see a vast potential to operate ME-1A amphibious aircraft and are quite confident that this is the aircraft of the future for India as most of the terrain is exposed to sea and rivers," said Skylinks CEO Jagdish Kotecha.
Skylinks is a Goa-based operator of seaplanes that provides last-mile regional air connectivity. Founded in 1986, it started as an aviation tourism business and was the first private ground-handling agent at Goa Dabolim Airport. Since then it has grown and provided ground handling services at airports across India, dealing with executive charter and aeromedical flights. According to Kotecha's LinkedIn profile, he has been its chief executive since its founding.
The still-under-development ME-1A is a multi-purpose composite hull regional amphibious aircraft able to take off from land or water. It will have a range of 648 kilometres with 19 passengers and luggage and an extended range of 1,945 kilometres with six passengers, all including typical airline reserves.
"The ME-1A, with its competitive economics, amphibious capability, and green credentials, fits very well with Skylinks Aviation's vision, and we see not only the opportunity to reconnect many existing regional routes but also open many more new ones," said Mallard's co-founder and CEO, Mohan Chunduri.
The LOI is Mallard's second deal with an Indian aviation business, it having previously signed a memorandum of understanding with VMAN Aero Services for ten aircraft in January.
