Founded 2007 Industry Tourism Industry Tourism | Type Private Founder Stuart Wheeler Headquarters Dubai | |
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Seawings is a luxury seaplane tour operator based in the United Arab Emirates. The company was established in August 2007 and provides aerial tours and charters to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Its services include scenic flights, customized excursions, MICE/corporate packages and exclusive aircraft charters to over 20 destinations within the UAE, providing complete travel solution across the region.
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The seaplane services are operated by Jet Ops FZE, a Dubai-based company and holder of a UAE Air Operator Certificate (AOC). Jet-Ops FZE is owned by Air Charter International Arabia LTD, a leading aviation management company based in Dubai since 1994.
Seawings LLC launched a sister company named as Seawings lifestyle in the year 2013, which provides customized and luxury tour packages in UAE.
Operating base & fleet
The fleet consists of three Cessna 208 Caravan Seaplanes which take off from three operating bases, located in convenient parts of Dubai. The original operational location is in Jebel Ali. They also operate tours from the Dubai Creek and The World.
The Cessna 208 Caravan seats nine passengers with one pilot and cruise at approximately 130 knots. The Seawings aircraft are equipped with:
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single engine utility aircraft designed and manufactured in the USA. It utilizes one of the world’s most reliable engines - the Canadian Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A. The prototype first flew in December 1982 and was certified by the FAA in October 1984. The aircraft are maintained by highly qualified engineering professionals with the highest possible qualifications; issued by GCAA, the United Arab Emirates aviation governing body. They have extensive knowledge of the aircraft and their systems allowing them to maintain the aircraft to the highest standard on a daily basis.
History of Seaplanes in Dubai
Aviation began in Dubai in 1937, when the first Imperial Airways flying boat, operating a weekly service between the UK and Pakistan, landed on the Dubai Creek. From 1940 to 1950, the Horseshoe Route from Durban to Sydney via the Gulf was established. By the end of 1944, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was operating 8 flying boats a week. January 1947 saw the last of the ‘C’ class, Short Empire flying boats operating the Horseshoe route through Khartoum, Luxor, Cairo, Kallia (Dead Sea), Habbaniya (Iraq), Basra, Bahrain, Dubai and Jiwani to Karachi.
Seaplane and Environment
Seaplanes are more environment friendly than most other aircraft and emit no oil discharge into the water. As the propeller, engine and exhaust are above the water no disturbances are caused to marine life. Seaplanes also have low external noise and an excellent safety record.