KZhead

Flying in the Maldives - World’s Largest Seaplane Operation

Sam Chui
2023 ж. 29 Жел.
1 234 786 Рет қаралды
Жүктеу

I hopped on TransMaldivian Airways Twin Otter seaplane flying around the Maldives with some of the best views! However, the sunny weather changed and I encountered some rough weather in paradise.
TransMaldivian is the world’s largest seaplane operator with 65 seaplanes from its base in Male, Maldives. Seaplane operation is crucial for tourism in the Maldives. I managed some plane spotting at the seaplane terminal before boarding my flight. The seaplane pilots in the Maldives wear shorts and sandals to fly and earned the nickname “barefoot pilot”
My flight was commanded by Captain Saif, who flew us to 3 resorts and back. We took off from the seaplane runway, flew over Male city, headed South and went as low as 500 feet for some beautiful sightseeing. Shortly before our landing at the first resort, the weather changed with rain showers in the area.
The turnaround time at each resort was just 5-10 minutes like a bus operation. Our next stop was the LUX resort where we were welcomed by a team of staff. The weather deteriorated rapidly so we have to quickly depart. The visibility was too low to land at our last stop. We had to divert to land in a lagoon and docked on a platform in the middle of the choppy sea. It was a very unexpected experience in paradise!
I had never ever imagined I would land on a platform rocking in the sea soaking wet in the heavy downpour…

Пікірлер

  • Grateful for the opportunity to fly you. A pleasure navigating the skies together for a unique aviation experience for your viewers. I'm glad it showcases the hard work we do for our passengers on challenging days. Thank you for the adventure Sam! Hope to see you again. And Happy New Year!

    @ssighff@ssighff4 ай бұрын

    • Very good pilot

      @dolatubosun@dolatubosun4 ай бұрын

    • You’re a very handsome man 😉

      @diorcolon8543@diorcolon85434 ай бұрын

    • @@diorcolon8543he has a job and probably a wife and kids If u didn’t mean it like that then sorry

      @Progamerj175@Progamerj1754 ай бұрын

    • @@Progamerj175 So? I’m only giving him a compliment not asking to marry me 🤣

      @diorcolon8543@diorcolon85434 ай бұрын

    • What a great pilot you are @sight5323! Beautiful flying all around Maldives.

      @dinopiccio4144@dinopiccio41444 ай бұрын

  • I am a retired pilot but would love to fly there!! Great job captain! What a beautiful place. ❤

    @lrparrish227@lrparrish2274 ай бұрын

  • Real pilots!!!, real flying, teamwork, super video shots, awesome music - happy new year, Sam🥂

    @SundanceHelicopterTours@SundanceHelicopterTours4 ай бұрын

    • Happy new year!

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

    • ​@SamChui What's temperature these days ,,, THX ❤

      @syosta8637@syosta86374 ай бұрын

    • and to think in how many years those little islands will no longer have people on them as they will be 6 feet or more underwater.

      @trvman1@trvman12 ай бұрын

  • THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY HOME COUNTRY ❤❤❤ Love from the Maldives 🇲🇻🇲🇻 Hope you enjoyed the paradise of the world

    @ZamZamBoi3019@ZamZamBoi30194 ай бұрын

    • I can’t wait to visit. Looks amazing.

      @Zion66666@Zion666663 ай бұрын

    • It’s a Country of CHEATERS and Terrorists

      @shridharkarandikar9064@shridharkarandikar90642 ай бұрын

  • Hi! Sam, what an incredible video. Simply awesome 👍🏻 First time seeing such a plane and pilots in slippers having such a great teamwork to fly all passengers to their destinations safely. Kudos! for their dedication and commitment to their profession👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Sam, Thank You for sharing.

    @bernardtan3639@bernardtan36394 ай бұрын

    • Glad you enjoyed it!

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

    • @@SamChui Always interesting. Happy New Year, Sam 🥂🎊🎉🎈

      @bernardtan3639@bernardtan36394 ай бұрын

  • Now that’s some real flying. Thank you Sam for sharing incredible experience with us.

    @tanviralambd@tanviralambd4 ай бұрын

  • much respect for these pilots working in all sorts of weather and the resort staff aswell. communication is a great skill and these guys doing great. Thanks you too Sam for showing these hardworking people of the amazing maldives. Happy new year and up to more cool vids in 2024

    @semmoney5686@semmoney56864 ай бұрын

  • Incredible scenery and a great adventure.

    @TheRareVideosXL@TheRareVideosXL4 ай бұрын

  • Sam, I’d love to see the maintenance operation. With those aircraft in salt water all the time, the work to keep them going has to be staggering.

    @mlehky@mlehky4 ай бұрын

    • I would like to see that too.

      @Ryanhothersall@Ryanhothersall4 ай бұрын

    • First of all this is great "climate protection" and "sustainability" 😂

      @podunkman2709@podunkman27094 ай бұрын

    • As a seaplane maintenance technician in Maldives, i can confirm that these sea planes have a very high rate of corrosion, preventive maintenance is extensive such as using water resistant grease on all exposed areas and many other measures to prevent corrosion.

      @Axel-Jett@Axel-Jett4 ай бұрын

    • ​@@Axel-Jettsay hello to Babu in the engine shop, also Didi and Ahmed! I worked there with those guys in 2004/05, and again in 2009 at Airtaxi

      @madmotoadv6595@madmotoadv65954 ай бұрын

    • Every 125 hours according to flight maintenance

      @MrFelipefelop@MrFelipefelop4 ай бұрын

  • After watching this video, I feel like I spent the whole day in the Maldives. The sounds of waves, soft sand and emotional moments - all of them are perfectly conveyed in the frames. It's incredible the power such a beautiful place can have. It's definitely worth adding the Maldives to your list of places to visit in your life!

    @WalkingExcursions@WalkingExcursions4 ай бұрын

  • Fun fact: Many of these Twin Otters used to be with an airline in Guatemala. Used to fly these planes a lot at the time as they were the perfect aircraft for the dirt runways to visit Mayan ruins. They were all purchased in one big transaction years ago and they flew all the way from Guatemala to the Maldives. That's a long flight!

    @RogerMudd496@RogerMudd4964 ай бұрын

    • Thats an interesting fact. I ran the dock for the largest radial fleet in the world at one time in ketchikan alaska we had 10 otters 10 beavers 3 185 and the first soloy turbine 206 conversion built. These planes all have a story wonderful job

      @Largecar2165@Largecar21654 ай бұрын

    • Wow! I’m always amazed by the lives planes live…

      @erikig@erikig3 ай бұрын

  • Great video Sam! I’ve always wanted to go to the maldives! This makes me want to go more!

    @SonamKingA330@SonamKingA3304 ай бұрын

    • You should!

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

  • I have been to the Maldives, a wonderful place. I can't wait to go back. I left my heart there.

    @PhilippusCesena@PhilippusCesena4 ай бұрын

  • The vortices on those propellers on take-off are so cool! Awesome operations they have there, so professional. 👏

    @iyanmanzano@iyanmanzano4 ай бұрын

  • The audio from the cockpit was AMAZING! 🤩

    @holgerklare444@holgerklare4444 ай бұрын

  • I Respect pilot the crew and their hospitality.

    @charterd@charterd4 ай бұрын

  • When I was in The Maldives, I spent a lot of time watching those seaplanes come and go. Couldn't get enough of them!

    @sainnt@sainnt4 ай бұрын

  • Thank you for making such amazing content, Sam! Looking forward to more amazing adventures for you in 2024!!

    @maxc23920@maxc239204 ай бұрын

  • So disappointing in Greece 🇬🇷 , with so many beautiful islands we do not have such infrastructure .. Great Video , Thank you Sam 😊

    @user-pp9fv3tf3o@user-pp9fv3tf3o4 ай бұрын

  • Thanks so very much Sam for sharing this with us. Its very interesting. I learned a lot.

    @cywoods60@cywoods604 ай бұрын

  • I flew for TMA in the early 2000s. It was cool being part of the bare foot pilots. WOW things have definitely changed. That parking and terminal area is beautiful. Cool video. Safe Flying from Canada 🇨🇦 👍

    @martincyrany7544@martincyrany75444 ай бұрын

    • It really changed after the Tsunami and again after BlackRock bought TMA And MAT then merged them.

      @madmotoadv6595@madmotoadv65954 ай бұрын

    • @madmotoadv6595 very cool. Lots of time spent on Sun Island and my favorite at the time Soniva Fushi. Loved my whole time there. Long live the Twin Otter.

      @martincyrany7544@martincyrany75444 ай бұрын

    • Hey brother I’m considering applying for this airline once I finish flight school. Do you have any tips, or what’s their current position on hiring foreigners as I’m in Australia

      @hamoodtatari@hamoodtatari3 ай бұрын

  • We loved our time in the Maldives! Beautiful place, beautiful people.

    @standartenfuhrerhanslanda343@standartenfuhrerhanslanda3434 ай бұрын

  • So fun watching this video Sam! Looks like you had a great time in the Maldives as well🙌

    @NonstopDan@NonstopDan4 ай бұрын

    • nonstsopdan! I think I saw you in DXB boarding a flight to the maldives. now Im sure it was you!

      @OneWorldAllianceMan@OneWorldAllianceMan2 ай бұрын

  • wow Incredible scenery, thanks for sharing, cheers to many more avgeek adventures in the upcoming year!

    @supericeman1@supericeman14 ай бұрын

    • Thank you!

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

  • Absolutely brilliant, I didn't realise they had so many seaplanes there , thanks Sam!

    @VG-zl3eg@VG-zl3eg4 ай бұрын

  • Now I know where all the Twin Otters retired to. For a DH6 lover like me this is paradise. Thanks Sam have a healthy and prosperous new year.

    @geece1@geece14 ай бұрын

  • WOW! This is extremely exquisite, thanks a trillion Zillion times Sam Chui for this lovely video

    @teazerfemi@teazerfemi4 ай бұрын

    • Glad you enjoyed it!

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

  • Maldives is so beautiful I love the island 🏝️

    @Isaiahslifeexperience@Isaiahslifeexperience4 ай бұрын

  • Thankyou Sam for my last video for 2023 from you! LOVED IT! Can’t see myself affording to ever go to the Maldives, so Thankyou . Happy New Year! From Perth Western Australia

    @raelenesharp-rc2zw@raelenesharp-rc2zw4 ай бұрын

  • Very interesting video, not usual in so much rain compared to the postcard of the maldives. Thank you Sam!

    @kayzzooo@kayzzooo4 ай бұрын

    • Yes indeed but seems this month the weather in the Maldives are quite rainy....

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

  • Thanks Sam, love your content this time,very entertaining and informative…..❤

    @ridzwanhassan5551@ridzwanhassan55514 ай бұрын

  • One of the best airplane & pilot video & this is what real flying is about. This would be my dream job if I was 30 years younger

    @davidnguyen7281@davidnguyen72814 ай бұрын

  • Two great experiences in one, air and sea. It gives a sense of freshness all the way

    @peterbalighwa9534@peterbalighwa95344 ай бұрын

  • Now that's some real flying. Thank you Sam for sharing you amazing experience with us😊

    @TheJohn2272@TheJohn22723 ай бұрын

  • What an interesting and fascinating look at the Maldives Seaplanes, and their operations! So far I’ve only stayed at resorts within speedboat distance from MLE. After seeing this, I will likely stay elsewhere to have the seaplane experience. Also, it’s so well managed! A really great and informative video! Thanks, Sam!

    @LisaEve@LisaEve4 ай бұрын

  • That was awesome and how good was it that you and Nonstop Dan were on the same flight, love his vlogs!!

    @adelguy67@adelguy674 ай бұрын

  • I have never been a fan of seaplanes until I saw that footage. Great work by the pilot, the first officer, and excellent footage by Sam. Thanks

    @LexatNews@LexatNews4 ай бұрын

  • Sam, this looks like a pilot's paradise......thank you for the great video ❤

    @ClearedAsFiled@ClearedAsFiled4 ай бұрын

  • No words to describe but Simply Awesome video. Thanks Sam!

    @ranjitzachariah4438@ranjitzachariah44384 ай бұрын

  • As always Sam, you shared an incredible videos. Keep up the great contents and thank you for the videos.

    @hiimqueso8332@hiimqueso83324 ай бұрын

  • Heaven on earth is maldives... Very cordial and good ambiance on this ground....lovely place to spend time on leisure trip.

    @user-ll9cw4km3d@user-ll9cw4km3d3 ай бұрын

  • This is one of your Top 5 Vids in my opinion. So cool to watch. Thankyou!!!

    @DrKimGdanski@DrKimGdanski4 ай бұрын

  • this was a great video. As a ramp staff working for a seaplnae operation I just enjoyed seeing the operations in different conditions. just amazing. would love to see more of this.

    @ahmedfiraz9165@ahmedfiraz91654 ай бұрын

  • Visited the Maldives for scuba diving this summer, and went on a seaplane from Maldivian to the Raa-Atoll. They flew regardless being VFR at 3.000 ft through the clouds. 😅Amazing place to be, especially as a private pilot. This video brings back so much amazing memories. ❤Thank you Sam! 😃

    @EuroAviators@EuroAviators4 ай бұрын

  • The cyclone that’s coming off the prop from the rain is badass!!

    @hondabikez@hondabikez4 ай бұрын

  • Very cool. Thank you Sam.

    @patriciaaldaco3395@patriciaaldaco33954 ай бұрын

  • @SamChui Hi Sam, indeed, but not forgetting another 2 operators here so we have a little over 90 DHC6 Twin Otter on floats flying here in the Maldives: personally, I have been here for 28 years and flew for Maldivian Air Taxi, Trans Maldivian Airways, Maldivian Seaplanes and now Manta Air. It is an amazing pretty well-oiled machine and even though we face a tough time with the change of monsoon season as you experienced, we nearly always get our passengers in & out. Great Video and a big thank you for sharing (it's definitely passing along all my pilot friends and colleagues)!

    @jmtholl9528@jmtholl95284 ай бұрын

  • Best end of year adventure ever

    @ZHUHAI100@ZHUHAI1004 ай бұрын

  • This is an AWESOME episode. We so rarely get any exposure to making trips by sea plane. Thanks for this. Your pilots and crew seemed amazing! - Gee in Sonoma, CA

    @GeeBoggs@GeeBoggs4 ай бұрын

  • First off WOW! 🤩 Two of my favorite KZheadrs Dan & Sam! 😮 Also that Emirates 🇦🇪 Premium Economy looks pretty epic on that GORGEOUS 777-300ER! 🎉 Also at 2:06 that is NOT FULLY TRUE! The World’s Largest, Busiest Seaplane Base in the world is actually located on Lakes Hood & Spenard in Anchorage Alaska. Home to more than 190 seaplane flights per day Lake Hood followed closely by Lake Spenard with 176 seaplane flights per day make up the LARGEST floatplane operation in the world and the airlines that operate there are the BUSIEST Seaplane Operators on earth Trans-Maldives is only the largest seaplane operator by total fleet size and not by much, Harbor Air located in Vancouver, BC, Canada 🇨🇦 is the Second Largest flying De Havilland Canada Twin Otter, Otter & Beaver aircraft and only 9 planes short of the largest by fleet size, the same can be said about Air Tindi also of Canada 🇨🇦 but from Yellowknife they fly De Havilland Canada being Twin Otter, Otter & Beaver Aircraft… Also you have Kenmore Air from Washington State 🇺🇸 only 10 short of the biggest flying DHC Classic Beaver, Turbine Beaver and Piper J3 Supercub with floats and finally the fifth largest operator Rust’s Flying Service, this sightseeing and primary transportation airline is essential to the remote geographical challenges of Alaska and headquartered on Lake Hood in Anchorage AK. I know a lot about seaplanes and I am working towards my seaplane PPL rating so excuse the long comment! Great video my friend! Cheers 🥂 Caleb’s Aviation 😊

    @Calebs_Aviation@Calebs_Aviation4 ай бұрын

    • Thanks for your info. TransMaldivian has 65 Seaplane in their fleet, as the largest seaplane operator.

      @SamChui@SamChui4 ай бұрын

    • @@SamChui That's actually impressive, It's probably really nice to work for such an airline where you can be with comfortable clothing and fly through amazing places.

      @justbenny__@justbenny__4 ай бұрын

    • There was never any claim about largest seaplane base, just largest seaplane operator. How many operators run their seaplanes out of Anchorage, how many seaplanes per operator?

      @fluffymitten@fluffymitten4 ай бұрын

    • There was never any claim about largest seaplane base, just largest seaplane operator. How many operators run their seaplanes out of Anchorage, how many seaplanes per operator?

      @fluffymitten@fluffymitten4 ай бұрын

    • That's really interesting! Thanks for sharing that!

      @justbenny__@justbenny__4 ай бұрын

  • Amazing experience Sam, enjoyed every moment, even at such small distances weather can change and great to know that there are set operational procedures for any eventuality !

    @padiyar@padiyar3 ай бұрын

  • Great video Sam. Have fun in Maldives and a great new year. Cheers.🍺

    @raviv4100@raviv41004 ай бұрын

  • We’ve been there two months ago and also used to fly with a seaplane. We loved it and it was an amazing vacation we’ll definitely do again and again and again. Thanks for this amazing video!

    @FabianHanso@FabianHanso4 ай бұрын

  • thanks for this Sam...very much appreciated. All the way from Trinidad & Tobago

    @shayonsmith@shayonsmithАй бұрын

  • Another travel destination to my bucket list. What a beautiful place, breathtaking!

    @benmun9057@benmun90574 ай бұрын

  • Straight from Brazil to appreciate your work and say how wonderful it is to have so many hydroplanes in one place

    @sitiodaprincesa9912@sitiodaprincesa99123 ай бұрын

  • Great to see the 2 most famous YT channels make a video together Great work!!

    @user-iu3sx1qz6n@user-iu3sx1qz6n4 ай бұрын

  • Paradise on earth; so beautiful even in the rain ! Thanks for sharing Sam; hope you were able to enjoy a few sunny days for a vacation.

    @Steve-xf4uv@Steve-xf4uv4 ай бұрын

  • This is my favourite one you’ve ever done Sam, my dream to go there one day!

    @HeadSpaceproductions@HeadSpaceproductions4 ай бұрын

  • YOU ARE THE KING MAN. I LOVE YOU, YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL. YOU ARE NUMBER 1 IN THE WORLD. TURKEY

    @mustafakarabas6751@mustafakarabas67514 ай бұрын

  • So good. Thank you ! On my way in 2024! 😊. Brilliant operation

    @mnelsonnyc@mnelsonnyc4 ай бұрын

  • As someone from maldives i really enjoyed the video ❤🇲🇻

    @AizYT_@AizYT_6 күн бұрын

  • I always learn so much about aviation from your videos, I like that the pilots really open up about operations

    @-Osiris-@-Osiris-2 ай бұрын

  • Happy new year Sam!!. I hope you and your family, have all had a very Merry Christmas, all the best for 2024. Alex.

    @theolordenthusiast2773@theolordenthusiast27734 ай бұрын

  • Fantastic video as always Sam! 2023 has been an amazing year for aviation, and it's partly all thanks for your amazing content uploaded past these 365 days from country to country ( especially the final 747 delivery! ) Happy New Year and all the best for 2024✈️🥳😎

    @aviationcinematics2024@aviationcinematics20244 ай бұрын

  • Water landing to the floating platform. Wow. 😲 Unfavorable weather conditions added so many details to otherwise very beautiful video. Good job, Sam. 🛩️🌴👍

    @dmitrijsmohoviks1567@dmitrijsmohoviks15674 ай бұрын

  • Hi Sam. Many congratulations on your wonderful video showing the seaplane operation in the Maldives. I first visited 35 years ago and one of your stops (LUX) was my very first island all those years ago. I have visited hundreds of times since then and would like to thank you for a great representation of how things work in the Maldives. Richard

    @purelymaldives8221@purelymaldives82212 ай бұрын

  • Good job, Mr. Chui with this video ! Great details.

    @user-mv7gg7im1k@user-mv7gg7im1k2 ай бұрын

  • ca fait vraiment plaisir de découvrir le monde avec vous

    @gbr237@gbr2374 ай бұрын

  • That was Outstanding!! Thank you!

    @dianeabbysinian9379@dianeabbysinian93794 ай бұрын

  • What a great duo great work Sam

    @user-vk6bu8iz7y@user-vk6bu8iz7y4 ай бұрын

  • Another great video Sam!

    @brianjohnson3444@brianjohnson34444 ай бұрын

  • Easily one of your best Vlogs!! Amazing...

    @NandaKumar-bx8qc@NandaKumar-bx8qc4 ай бұрын

  • Thank you for such an amazing video. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

    @joedavison118@joedavison1183 ай бұрын

  • Sam this one is a amazing video. It's very very beautiful 😍 thank you so much for you 💯💪💪💪💪

    @madavasashi8359@madavasashi83594 ай бұрын

  • Sam , That is one of the best vids you have done ... Bizarre !

    @peterkelly1406@peterkelly14064 ай бұрын

  • Currently in the Maldives watching the seaplanes from my sun lounger - great teamwork and video 🇬🇧

    @trimley@trimley2 ай бұрын

  • Thank you for this well done video; you have inspired me! 🙏

    @fredlima4556@fredlima4556Ай бұрын

  • Handsome captain 😍✌

    @fantasip@fantasip4 ай бұрын

  • A perfect video to start the New Year , Sam..❤

    @franciskt4171@franciskt41714 ай бұрын

  • Being a pilot in this area seems so cool!!

    @awesometree2778@awesometree27784 ай бұрын

  • Thank you sir, a most enjoyable flight

    @davidrumbelow@davidrumbelow4 ай бұрын

  • Wow. Amazing, Beautiful Maldive..

    @Vicomobile@Vicomobile4 ай бұрын

  • You have the best BTS footage Mr Chui. Amazing work.

    @coconutblues311@coconutblues3113 ай бұрын

  • Great job very professional crew

    @Onemattressatatime@Onemattressatatime4 ай бұрын

  • Waw, Greetings from Maldives 🙌🙌

    @gl4dia70r4@gl4dia70r44 ай бұрын

  • Love this, Sam. And what a great thing that you and Dan were on the same Etihad flight!

    @BarneyLeith@BarneyLeith4 ай бұрын

  • Whoa, just saw the coolest seaplane pilot job!

    @Djagradita@Djagradita4 ай бұрын

  • This is must experience if you visit the Maldives. I know some hotels are closer to MLE so they offer boat rides to their place BUT in my opinion a seaplane ride is a must if you travel to this incredible paradise! Great vid!

    @ljcor1899@ljcor18994 ай бұрын

  • Now I wanna go for vacation in the Maldives :D

    @DjMephistoOnAir@DjMephistoOnAir4 ай бұрын

  • Amazing, thank u for sharing

    @jestablitz3804@jestablitz38044 ай бұрын

  • Welcome to the Maldives 🇲🇻🇲🇻🇲🇻🇲🇻🇲🇻

    @Aviatefootball@Aviatefootball4 ай бұрын

  • Awesome

    @gavoussaliasenthilkumar8827@gavoussaliasenthilkumar88274 ай бұрын

  • Not everyday do you get to see the ocean planes. I like this.

    @user-mv7gg7im1k@user-mv7gg7im1k2 ай бұрын

  • Two of my favorite KZhead avgeeks. Great video

    @JC10005@JC100054 ай бұрын

  • Happy new trae 2024 ,congratulations

    @santiagoantonioponguilloan4659@santiagoantonioponguilloan46594 ай бұрын

  • Hi Sam, thanks for showing us incredible adventure of wonderworld probably we would not be able to see in our life for many reasons. I am wonder plane can take-off and land on off shore too, simply fantastic .

    @asgharsoomro1483@asgharsoomro14834 ай бұрын

  • This was an amazing video way better than most. Thank you.

    @jaycooper5677@jaycooper56774 ай бұрын

  • Awsome episode!!!!!!

    @andrewjackson8401@andrewjackson84014 ай бұрын

  • Sam, I love most of your video`s, this one is A+......

    @DIP381@DIP3813 ай бұрын
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