Uttarakhand helicopter operators suspend Char Dham flights over DGCA's new two-pilot rule

Helicopter operators in Uttarakhand on Saturday informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a letter of their decision to suspend their Char Dham charter operations from November 2, demanding the withdrawal of the regulatory body’s latest mandate.

The letter of protest came after the DGCA instituted a new regulation which mandates every helicopter to be manned by two crew members following the Joshimath crash, which killed 6 people.

The helicopter operators said the introduction of the new regulation mandating twin-pilots for for all flights, without adequate consultation with the stakeholders, would make their operations financially unviable.


The operators highlighted that the cost of inducting new pilots on top of pre-existing commercial structure, prevailing charter rates and limited operational margins, would be financially prohibitive.

The companies have requested both DGCA and Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) to formulate alternate regulatory structures that would not hinder the financial viability of their operations.

(With inputs from ANI)