Seaplane returns to Mistra Bay

Mistra Bay, a former base for seaplanes, saw the return of an amphibian aircraft on Wednesday, courtesy of a local company which hopes to operate a seaplane service.

L'Air De Rein Aviation Incorporated operator Victor Mercieca said his company was interested in operating a seaplane service. However, he said, there was too much bureaucracy to go through before starting to offer such a service.

He told The Times that if such an operation became feasible, the company was interested in making the investment. Mr Mercieca said a 12-seater seaplane would cost about $1 million (Lm350,000).

In an attempt to show that seaplanes can be operated safely, the company brought a six-seater seaplane for demonstration flights in association with Viset Consortium, which is also interested in such an operation.

Mr Mercieca said seaplanes could ferry passengers from cruise liners, take them for tours around the Maltese islands and also transport passengers between Malta and Gozo.

The amphibian, operated by Italian company Aquair, landed at the airport, from where harbour master Richard Gabriele and Viset executives were flown to the old seaplane base at Mistra Bay. The plane taxied up the slipway there, turned around on the road and took off again from the bay.

Viset chief executive Chris Falzon said the consortium was very much in favour of a seaplane operator in Malta.

The presence of seaplanes would add another characteristic to Maltese ports, he said, pointing out that up to some 40 years ago seaplanes were a common mode of transportation in Malta.

Both Mr Mercieca and Mr Falzon described the demonstration as a success, Mr Falzon even adding it was a "fantastic experience".

Mistra Bay was used as an alternative base for seaplanes when the weather would not allow landing in Marsaxlokk, which was the main base, Aviation Museum director general Ray Polidano said. He explained that the slipway in the bay was used frequently during World War II and even earlier.