Char Dham helicopter operators have said they will suspend charter services from Monday, November 2, unless authorities withdraw or review a new co-pilot requirement for flights on the pilgrimage routes. A Press Trust of India (PTI) report published on Monday said operators had written to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) on Sunday, warning that they would stop services unless the order was withdrawn.

The dispute follows a fatal helicopter crash near Joshimath in Chamoli district on October 30, in which all six people on board died. UCADA announced the co-pilot requirement after a meeting with officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The rule took effect on November 2, according to reports by The New Indian Express and Hindustan Times.

Under the directions described by the New Indian Express, every Char Dham charter flight must operate with two pilots, and the co-pilot must also be qualified to fly in hilly terrain. The report, citing a DGCA official, said crews must obtain positive destination and en-route clearance from the control room at Sahastradhara in Dehradun before each flight leg.

The instructions also require crew members to submit a Pilot Report (PIREP) after landing at each destination helipad. The report is intended to record conditions encountered on the route, including weather, so that pilots operating subsequent flights have information about the journey.

Hindustan Times reported that the DGCA issued written instructions after an urgent meeting with helicopter operators. It said the directions also required UCADA’s head of operations to establish procedures for issuing clearances and receiving, reviewing and maintaining pilot reports.

Also read: Six Killed in Uttarakhand Helicopter Crash Near Joshimath

Operators have argued that adding a second pilot to every charter flight would increase staffing, accommodation and logistical costs. They have also raised concerns about the availability of enough hill-qualified co-pilots at short notice and the effect of reduced passenger capacity on the economics of each flight.

The New Indian Express reported that 11 of the 13 charter operators had jointly written to the DGCA on October 31, saying they proposed to suspend services from November 2 until the rule was reviewed and a workable arrangement was reached. The PTI report carried by The Week said operators sent a further letter to UCADA on Sunday.

The cost concerns are the operators’ stated position and have not been independently assessed in the reports consulted. The safety requirement, meanwhile, is a regulatory measure adopted after the crash; it does not by itself establish the cause of the accident or determine responsibility for it.

Also read: AAIB Calls for Pilot Training Checks After Mumbai Learjet Crash

The dispute comes near the end of the annual pilgrimage season. The PTI report said Gangotri is scheduled to close for winter on November 10, Kedarnath and Yamunotri on November 11, and Badrinath on November 16. Any prolonged interruption to charter flights could affect pilgrims who rely on helicopter services during the remaining days of the season.

Reports available by late Monday morning described a planned suspension by operators, but did not independently confirm that every service had actually stopped. Pilgrims with bookings should check directly with their operator and local authorities before travelling to a helipad, and should follow any official safety or weather instructions.

The immediate issue is whether UCADA, the DGCA and the operators can agree on how to implement the safety requirements without leaving the routes without charter services during the final days of the season. Any change to the rule or resumption of flights should be confirmed by the relevant authorities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the new rule for Char Dham helicopter flights?

The directions require two pilots on every Char Dham charter flight, with the co-pilot also qualified to fly in hilly terrain.

What other procedures must helicopter crews follow?

Reports say crews must obtain destination and en-route clearance before each flight leg and submit a Pilot Report after landing at each destination helipad.

Why are helicopter operators opposing the rule?

Operators say the second-pilot requirement will raise staffing, accommodation and logistical costs and create difficulties in arranging enough hill-qualified co-pilots at short notice.

Have all Char Dham helicopter services been confirmed as suspended?

The reports consulted described operators’ plan to suspend services from November 2, but did not independently confirm that every operator had actually halted flights.

Sources: Press Trust of India (PTI)