Char Dham Helicopter Operators Threaten Service Suspension Over Mandatory Co-Pilot Directive
A collective of 11 commercial helicopter operators in Uttarakhand stated plans to suspend Char Dham charter services from Monday, The Indian Express reported. The planned suspension follows regulatory directives issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority making two pilots mandatory on every charter flight. Aviation regulators instituted the two-pilot mandate following an October 30 helicopter crash near Joshimath in Chamoli district that resulted in six fatalities, The Hindu reported. The fatal accident involved an aircraft operated by Trans Bharat Aviation that crashed near Chhai village while returning from Badrinath towards Dehradun.
Operating Costs and Commercial Viability Concerns
In a formal joint representation addressed to civil aviation authorities on October 31, operators stated that mandatory twin-pilot operations are financially unviable, The Hindu noted. Operators explained that deploying two hill-qualified pilots on every sortie significantly increases flight crew, accommodation, and logistical expenditures. Commercial aviation companies maintained that existing charter rates and narrow operating margins prevent operators from absorbing the additional expenses or passing them entirely to passengers. In their letter to DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav, operators stated they could not accept the mandate in its current form and urged immediate bilateral consultations, NDTV reported.
Char Dham operators collectively have around 70 pilots at present, a figure that would need to be increased to around 110 under Flight Duty Time Limitations of 90 hours per pilot per month, according to The New Indian Express.
A leading helicopter operator stated that taking another pilot on board will reduce passenger capacity by one and ticket prices could touch Rs 4 lakh.
Flight Clearance Protocols and Mountain Route Hazards
In addition to the cockpit crew requirements, the aviation regulator directed operators to obtain positive departure clearances from the Sahastradhara control room, Hindustan Times reported. Flight crews must also submit comprehensive Pilot Reports after landing at destination helipads to document weather conditions and atmospheric hazards encountered en route. Helicopter operators raised concerns regarding unregulated drone flights and paragliding activities near mountain temple corridors, arguing that aerial hazards receive insufficient regulatory enforcement. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority chief executive officer Prateek Jain stated that specific flight paths were designated and district administrations were directed to restrict drone operations near shrines.
Prior fatal accidents include an October 2022 crash following Garudchatti that claimed seven lives, alongside a May 2025 incident near Gangnani resulting in six fatalities.
Pilgrimage Season Timelines and Shrine Closures
The threat of service suspension arrives as the annual Himalayan pilgrimage season approaches its scheduled winter closures, The Indian Express reported. Portals at Gangotri are scheduled to close on November 10, followed by Kedarnath and Yamunotri on November 11, and Badrinath on November 16. Official district records logged a total seasonal footfall of 21,92,054 devotees traveling to the Badrinath shrine, The Indian Express noted. Operators expressed hope that aviation authorities will engage in constructive consultations before the implementation deadline to establish practical and sustainable safety frameworks.