The historic test of the seaplane that plans to connect the Balearic Islands, carried out this Wednesday in the port of Ibiza, has left a bittersweet taste. Although from the company Ibiza Air Express have been “very satisfied” with the test on the island, the east wind emerges as an obstacle that complicates takeoffs and landings in the area authorized by Capitanía Marítima, just over a mile from the mouth. That is why the company is looking for another place for seaplanes to take off from and land in their operations in Ibiza. “From an aeronautical perspective, everything has gone perfectly. We are very satisfied with the tests in Palma, which we consider a 10, and we value the Ibiza tests at 75-80%”, explained Antoni Jiménez, the company’s delegate in the Balearic Islands, to La Voz de Ibiza. “The ditching and take-off zone is a complicated area, because with an easterly wind there is wave movement. It is a wind that is practically constant, and as the waves come bouncing back there is a more complicated hydrosurface. As we are in the testing phase, we didn’t want to run the risk of putting people inside the plane; it was a criterion of prudence,” he added.
Another place for seaplanes
On Wednesday the hydrofoil arrived in Ibiza from Palma with passengers. It was scheduled to make three flights, also with passengers, but only one was made, and without people on board. “In any case, that flight has already given us a lot of information,” added Jiménez. And he clarified: “We will try to negotiate some other place where the conditions are better to be able to make the landings and take-offs”. Wednesday’s weather conditions in Ibiza were not exceptional. In that framework, Jiménez has remarked that, although the wind has been a complication, it does not imply the inability to operate. “The seaplane left not at full capacity, but it left loaded, also with people. In between we made another splashdown and another takeoff. In other words, the area is operational. But it is not the ideal area. It is not the best area to provide a good service to the people“. In contrast, he pointed out that “in Palma, the two take-off and landing sites are impeccable. Therefore, we would have to try to find another area in Ibiza, not within the port, where we can do the operations”. In any case, Jiménez has remarked: ”
It has been demonstrated that we can operate. We have made entries and exits crossing with ferries and without closing the normal flow of traffic. “.
The plan to connect all the islands
Isla Air Express was established in 2018. Since then it has invested more than €7 million in studies, acquisitions and authorizations, and managed permits. This week it carried out its first trials. The inaugural one was on Tuesday in Palma, at the Real Club Nautico. It was a thirty-minute flight. For these tests the company had a provisional permit from the Balearic Port Authority (APB). Now, it hopes to get the authorization to start operating.
