India wants to introduce 100 seaplanes into service in the next 10 years to support tourism and essential services to its coastal and island territories. The federal government has allowed 100% foreign direct investment in the seaplane sector and has urged foreign operators to take advantage of the offer. India looks at more foreign direct investment in this sector so seaplanes can be introduced on a large scale not only for tourism, but also to provide essential services and medical aid during floods and other emergencies.

NEW DELHI — India is poised to shortlist a manufacturer to provide much-needed basic trainer aircraft. The contenders — Grob’s G-120 TP, Embraer’s EMB-312 Super Tucano, Korea Aerospace Industries’ KT-1, Finmeccanica’s M-311 and Pilatus’ PC-7 — emerged following a request for proposals issued in early 2010. The deal is estimated to cost $1 billion.

India’s second busiest airport, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, will be closed for five hr. on two days—April 23 and April 30—for construction work on the cross-runway intersection area.