Transport

Pollensa civil seaplane activities are not ministry's responsibility

Who is likely to authorise seaplanes if it isn't the defence ministry? | Elena Ballestero

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterPollensa09/02/2017 00:00

The Ministry of Defence has clarified the situation with regard to landings by civil seaplanes in the bay of Pollensa. It says that responsibilities for regulating planes' activities in the bay lie with civil authorities and not it.

The ministry has responded to a Pollensa town hall declaration of "indignation" arising from the ministry's authorisation for seaplanes to land. The first civilian seaplane did indeed then land, which led the president of Majorca Aeronautical Foundation, Miquel Buades, to announce that it was a landmark. With the approval of the ministry, he noted, the bay would become the first water surface in Spain in which civil seaplanes can land.

However, the ministry says that it gave specific authorisation for a landing in early June last year and then another authorisation for seaplanes to be based in Puerto Pollensa for three days in October.

The foundation spoke about various possibilities, such as a commercial seaplane route to Formentera and training schools for seaplane pilots. Last week, it established the International Mediterranean Seaplane Club, of which there are seven members. Buades says that there have been fourteen applications from pilots in Europe.