Char Dham helicopter services face shutdown treat over DGCA rules

Aviation safety remains a major concern in Uttarakhand’s challenging Himalayan terrain, especially during the Char Dham pilgrimage season.

However, new safety requirements have triggered a dispute between aviation regulators and helicopter operators.

A day after a helicopter crash in Chamoli district, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced stricter operating rules.

The regulator directed all Char Dham helicopter charter operators to deploy two pilots on every flight from November 2, 2026.

Additionally, operators must obtain prior clearance for every destination and enroute sector. Pilots must secure approval from the control room at Sahastradhara before taking off.

They must also submit a Pilot Report (PIREP) after landing at each destination helipad.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) must establish a system for issuing clearances and maintaining pilot reports. Its head of operations will oversee these arrangements.

The new requirements have sparked opposition from helicopter operators.

In a letter dated October 31, operators collectively informed the DGCA about their proposed suspension of Char Dham charter services from November 2.

Their primary concern involves the financial burden of deploying two pilots for every sortie.

According to the operators, the rule would increase crew expenses, accommodation costs and logistical requirements.

They argue that existing charter rates and limited operating margins cannot absorb these additional expenses. Moreover, transferring the entire cost increase to passengers would also prove commercially difficult.

The operators have also questioned the implementation process. They claim authorities introduced the requirements without adequate consultation or an assessment of their commercial impact.

Nevertheless, they have acknowledged the DGCA’s responsibility to maintain aviation safety. They maintain that additional measures should remain practical, proportionate and financially sustainable.

Therefore, the operators have requested the DGCA and UCADA to reconsider the twin-pilot mandate. They have also sought urgent discussions to develop an alternative arrangement.

The letter was also marked to Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and UCADA Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey.

The proposed suspension now puts Char Dham helicopter services at a crossroads.

While authorities seek tighter safety oversight, operators want a workable framework that protects passengers without making services financially unviable.

Image Credit: Prof Ranga Sai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chardham_Temple_Namchi_Sikkim.jpg