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Tweet diplomacy sets off Solar Impulse 2 on historic journey

"If there is no adventure in the future, it is not because of the lack of ideas, but because of excessive administration," tweeted Bertrand Piccard, chairman and pilot of the Solar Impulse 2 plane, on Tuesday night, expressing his frustration at the red-tapism involved in getting clearances from the Customs and Immigration departments for his flight to Varanasi from Ahmedabad. As a result of administrative issues, the aircraft's take-off was delayed by around an hour and a half on Wednesday.

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Swiss pilots Andre Borschberg (L) and Bertrand Piccard for Solar Impulse 2, the world’s only solar powered aircraft
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"If there is no adventure in the future, it is not because of the lack of ideas, but because of excessive administration," tweeted Bertrand Piccard, chairman and pilot of the Solar Impulse 2 plane, on Tuesday night, expressing his frustration at the red-tapism involved in getting clearances from the Customs and Immigration departments for his flight to Varanasi from Ahmedabad. As a result of administrative issues, the aircraft's take-off was delayed by around an hour and a half on Wednesday.

In another tweet, Piccard went a step further stating, "The delay is...administration, its papers, its stamps. I am not here to accuse anybody. I just say since five days we are trying to get over stamps (clearance) and everyday, it (concerned authority) says it's tomorrow, and every tomorrow it's again tomorrow and since five days we are desperate to get over stamps and now we still have stamps missing,"

The tweets are among numerous such series of information by the Solar Impulse 2 team, as part of its

'tweet diplomacy' to counter difficulties in getting immigration clearances. The continuous up-to-date mention of reasons for delays on social media by the team helped in grabbing the attention of the media and political leadership, putting pressure on government agencies to hasten the clearing process.

Solar Impulse 2 had first landed at Sardar Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on March 10, as part of its global trip to promote the use of environmental friendly 'zero-fuel' solar powered planes.

A senior airport official said that the Customs and Immigration departments failed to give clearances to the Solar-Impulse-2 (SI-2) team despite knowing about the plane's venture and its planned trip to Varanasi.

According to a senior customs official the SI-2 is a foreign aircraft, which needs required clearances from the department. "As they are a foreign aircraft team, they need to have clearance from Customs, but they were unable to obtain it," he said.

The globe-trotting SI-2 began its journey on March 9 from Abu Dhabi. It landed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on March 10, after a nearly 15-hour flight from Muscat. From Varanasi, the SI-2 is scheduled to fly to Mandalay in Myanmar, Chongqing and Nanjing in China and after that to the US.

1. In-flight rigamarole
On Wednesday, Bertrand Piccard, initiator of Solar Impulse and Pilot who flew in with Solar Impulse was asked to remain seated at immigration office till 2.30 in the afternoon, whereas Andre Borschberg, CEO, pilot and co founder of SI-2 was allowed to fly out with the aircraft after customs clearance. It was not enough that the flight was delayed for its round-the-world trip, which is being followed closely by over 40,000 people on social media and other popular media. Bertrand Piccard, who flew the aircraft into Ahmedabad, said he got a real taste of Indian bureaucracy when he had to deal with immigration to get stamps for his passport. While Piccard was negotiating and fulfilling procedural requirements, the support crew of Solar Impulse kept waiting at Ahmedabad airport and announced their helplessness on Twitter. The craft was stranded in Ahmedabad for seven days disrupting its schedule.

2. Tweeting their way through

3.28 am Andre Borschberg is being equipped for today's flight! Stay tuned for live updates.

3.57 am Amazing spirit on the Ahmedabad apron as SI2 is about to take off for flight 3.

4.10 am: Breaking SI2 could not take off due to customs issues in India. Round the world is a real human adventure!

4.35 am: (Soar Impulse retweeted Bertrand Piccard's tweet) If there is no adventure in the future, it is not because of a lack of ideas, but because of excessive administration.

5.09 am Andre Borschberg is ready in SI2's cockpit, but waiting due to customs issues!

5.49 am Flight 3 has been delayed. We currently don't know when. SI2 will take off! Stay tuned.

6.22 am round the world flight3 is delayed due to customs issues in India. Negotiations are still going on, let's keep smiling!

6.36 am customs cleared!

6.47 am Wonderful sunrise for SI2 flight3 from Ahmedabad to Varansi.

7.24 am Main wheel lift-off! SI is airborne and flying towards varanasi.

12.56 Pm Breaking: Bertrand Piccard blocked in Ahmedabad to get a stamp in his passport. Can anyone help?

1.17 Pm Soarteam Varanasi just got the stressful news: Bertrand Piccard is stuck in Ahmedabad because of his passport.

1.31 pm If Bertrand Piccard can't come to Varanasi – no pit stop possibility – SI2 grounded – Mission Critical

1.35 pm Worried! The solarteam in Ahmedabad might not arrive in time in Varanasi to help for the landing!

1.50 pm @bertrandpiccard waiting for clearance from immigration to go to Varanasi. Could be missin critical.

2.51 pm Happy ending for @bertrandpiccard, who is no on his way to Varanasi with part of the solarteam! What a day!

3.14 pm Incredible being in Ahmedabad, an impatient to arrive in Varanasi! Adventure comes with complications

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