CAAT director-general Manat Chavanaprayoon said on Monday it was planned to pilot a commercial seaplane port on Koh Kradan island in Trang before year’s end, reports the Bangkok Post.
It would service the needs of local aviation and local people, government agencies and private organisations, which all supported the idea.
“Thailand has never had a seaplane port. This sandbox operation will show the reality, especially aspects of safety and the impact on laws, local communities and the environment,” ACM Manat said.
He said Phuket also had seaplane-port potential, but the waves and the wind were stronger there than in Trang.
“So, it will be piloted on Koh Kradan of Trang first,” the CAAT director-general said.
PHUKET PLANS
Last year, the focus was launching a seaplane service in Phuket, with the Transport Ministry aiming to launch operations by the end of 2024.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said during a workshop in Phuket in May last year that the government is seeking to optimise the country’s aviation capacity to support growing numbers of international visitors.
Seaplane operations, she explained, will help visitors access far-flung marine destinations, as well as assist in disaster mitigation and emergency rescue in such areas.
The workshop was arranged to tighten cooperation among air operators, with a focus on how seaplanes can fly to popular marine sites, including Ao Por and Ratsada Ports in Phuket and Phi Phi Island in Krabi.
Suthipong Kongpool, CAAT director, said that the CAAT has prescribed safety measures and regulations to be put in place for seaplanes to ensure they are fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.
Nopasit Chakpitak, President of Aerothai, said Aerothai had studied the feasibility of introducing seaplane operations, which he said would provide an added travel option for people and a timely response in the event of medical, public health or disaster emergency.