"The presence of the seaplane opens access between regions and facilitates the evacuation of patients in emergencies," he remarked in Makassar on Monday.
At the inaugural launch of the amphibious aircraft, Purwagandhi described South Sulawesi's introduction of the seaplane as a major breakthrough for strengthening inter-regional connectivity and accessibility.
"This is an extraordinary innovation that will help the community, especially in island regions," he remarked.
For the initial test phase, the amphibious aircraft used was a special edition Cessna 172. The plane can land on both water and land, making it versatile for serving passengers at different locations.
Purwagandhi stated that the seaplane will be deployed for a range of strategic purposes, ranging from medical evacuations to tourism and responding to urgent situations in coastal and island regions.
"We commend South Sulawesi as the first province to launch a seaplane program to link coastal and island areas. However, safety must always remain the top priority," he remarked.
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Translator: M Hasanuddin, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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