Helicopter operators have suspended Char Dham charter services in Uttarakhand over the DGCA’s mandatory two-pilot rule, citing rising costs and a shortage of trained hill-flying pilots. The move follows an October 30 crash that killed six people. The pilots’ body has urged stronger safety regulations, while tourism operators warn of cancellations and financial losses.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists are expected to face hardship as helicopter operators in Uttarakhand have suspended all Char Dham charter operations.
The abrupt grounding follows a joint representation by a collective of ten helicopter operating companies to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), objecting to the regulator’s directive mandating twin-pilot operations for charter services in the region after the October 30 crash that killed six people, including a pilot.
Operators Oppose Mandatory Two-Pilot Rule
In their joint letter addressed to the DGCA, operators engaged in the high-altitude Char Dham circuit had expressed grave concerns regarding the sudden enforcement of the twin-pilot requirement.
While acknowledging the regulator’s objective of enhancing aviation safety, the operators argued that introducing mandatory two-pilot operations without prior stakeholder consultations or economic impact assessments renders their operations commercially unviable.
According to sources, the operators have formally intimated their suspension of operations earlier this week, along with a request to the DGCA and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) to reconsider the directive and formulate an alternative, commercially sustainable safety framework through urgent dialogue.
The collective had noted that deploying two pilots on every charter sortie drives up operating expenses, crew provisioning, lodging and logistical commitments. Under existing charter rate structures and narrow profit margins, operators contend these expenses cannot be absorbed internally nor fully passed on to consumers without destroying demand.
Ashish Kumar Singh, aviation expert and CEO of Flying Birds Aviation, said, “Though this looks a wise suggestion, it is practically not possible and commercially viable. Having two-pilot operations will increase the operating cost, weight taking capacity, salary and incentives, boarding and lodging cost along with many other factors – especially when India lacks trained pilots for hill flying. Therefore, after due discussions and multiple rounds of meeting internally, operators have jointly objected to this DGCA circular, and have written a letter requesting its reconsideration.”