Since the closure of the Griswold Airport, Madison has been limited to trains and automobiles, but now the town is looking at ways to return planes into that mix as well. At the Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting on Sept. 25, board members and town officials discussed a new economic development initiative that has a seaplane landing just off the Madison coast on Thursday, Sept. 28 at approximately 1 p.m.

The Madison Economic Development Commission announced on Sept. 25 via a press release a new partnership promoting seaplane service from Madison’s beaches to New York City and other destinations. The partnership brings together Shoreline Aviation, a Tweed New Haven Airport-based operation that was originally based at Griswold Airport, and Madison-based travel agency Biehn Travel.

The seaplane, which can carry nine passengers, will be used as a charter service between Madison and Manhattan as well as scheduled sightseeing trips to locations like Block Island, Cape Cod, and more. According to the EDC press release, the New York City charter service would allow visitors and residents to travel from the Seaplane Base at East 23rd Street in Manhattan to Madison in about 40 minutes.

“This partnership raises Madison’s visibility among regional travelers, second-home buyers, and millennials that are seeking a unique experience to a beautiful community,” said EDC Chairman Ryan Duques. “This is truly a win-win, with no cost to the town, highlighting local businesses and encouraging tourism to the region.”

At the BOS meeting, Planning & Economic Development Director Dave Anderson said members of EDC heard about opportunities like this and wanted to see if this could work for Madison.

“As long as the conditions allow for it, [the plane] can land in Madison,” he said. “So we then indicated an interest and said is this something we could coordinate in trying to do something positive for the town between Biehn Travel and Shoreline Aviation in terms of promoting that this service is available along the shoreline.”

Anderson said this might be an interesting opportunity to capitalize on Madison’s shoreline to help with economic development.

“There is no expense for the town. We are just trying to connect the dots and position Madison,” he said. “One of our goals as the Economic Development Commission is to show Madison in a unique fashion, so we want to try and take advantage of some of our characteristics…It may turn out to be nothing, but I think it is an interesting opportunity for the residents of Madison and the people who want to visit here.”

First Selectman Tom Banisch said he thinks it is a creative idea.

“It is something different and something to make people take a look at Madison,” he said.

A formal announcement will be made at a press conference at West Wharf Beach in Madison at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28. A seaplane is scheduled to land and take off at the event, demonstrating how the service will be operated.

For additional information, visit www.madisonedc.org or contact Ryan Duques at 203-779-0331 or ryan.duques@gmail.com with questions.