Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) has proposed to provide helicopter taxi service in Maldives, prior to a planned relaunch of commercial helicopter operations in the Maldives.
In its annual report, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) said negotiations were held with ADA after their proposal to provide helicopter taxi and ambulance service to tourist resorts across the Maldives.
The authority has last year tasked the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) to provide an in-depth review of the authority’s helicopter regulatory oversight capability. Maldives ceased commercial helicopter operations over a decade ago after a series of fatal accidents. Only the armed forces now operate helicopters on special operations such as search and rescue missions, and medical evacuations.
Government announced in December that regulations were being amended to license commercial helicopter operators again, more than 15 years after the island nation ceased using helicopters for commercial flights.
The new helicopter operations could provide a significant boost for the tourism industry and provide transportation links to several new island resorts.
