Helicopter operators serving the Char Dham pilgrimage route in Uttarakhand have proposed a suspension of services beginning November 2. The move comes in direct opposition to a new mandate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which now requires two pilots on every charter helicopter sortie within the sector. This regulatory change was introduced following a tragic helicopter crash on October 30 that resulted in the deaths of all six people on board, including the pilot.
The accident involved an aircraft operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, which was flying from Badrinath to Dehradun when it went down near Joshimath in the Chamoli district. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the DGCA moved to tighten safety protocols for charter operations. Beyond the requirement for a second pilot, the aviation regulator specified that the co-pilot must be qualified for flight operations in hilly terrain. Furthermore, operators are now required to secure destination and en-route clearance from the Sahastradhara control room prior to every flight and must submit a formal Pilot Report upon landing at each destination helipad.
In a collective letter dated October 31 and addressed to DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav, helicopter operators expressed what they termed “serious concerns and reservations” regarding the twin-pilot mandate. The industry representatives highlighted that enforcing the deployment of two pilots on every charter sortie would lead to a substantial rise in operating costs, increased crew requirements, and higher logistical and accommodation expenses. They argued that these additional expenditures cannot be absorbed by current charter margins and warned that shifting the financial burden to passengers would not be commercially feasible.
While the operators maintained that they support aviation safety, they emphasized that any new regulatory measures should be “practical, proportionate, commercially sustainable and developed in consultation with the operating stakeholders.” They argued that the current framework, if implemented as instructed, would create “unsustainable financial and operational commitments.” Consequently, the operators have called for a suspension of services until the matter is reviewed and a mutually acceptable solution is negotiated between authorities and the industry.
The operators have formally requested that the DGCA and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) hold urgent consultations to discuss the mandate before it is enforced. They warned that in the absence of a modified policy, the current requirements leave them without a commercially viable way to continue operations. The standoff poses a significant challenge for travel in the region, particularly as helicopter services are a primary mode of transport for pilgrims visiting the Char Dham sites.
The events leading up to this impasse highlight the difficult balance between ensuring passenger safety in challenging mountainous geography and maintaining the financial viability of private aviation operators. As of the latest update, the industry remains firm on its proposal to halt services unless the authorities agree to revisit the new safety directives. The situation is being closely watched as both the regulators and the aviation industry look for a path forward that addresses the safety concerns highlighted by the October 30 accident while preserving the logistical accessibility of the pilgrimage circuit.
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