Chartered helicopter services on the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit in Uttarakhand have been suspended for the remainder of the season after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and operators failed to reach an agreement over the regulator’s new requirement for two pilots on every flight.
The shutdown comes ahead of the winter closure of the shrines, with the Badrinath temple scheduled to close its portals on November 16, marking the end of the pilgrimage season.
A meeting involving DGCA officials, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and helicopter operators on Monday failed to break the deadlock over the mandatory co-pilot rule. The meeting, held at 11am, followed strong objections from operators, who maintained that implementing the directive at such short notice would be financially and operationally unviable.
Safety directive triggers dispute
The DGCA introduced the two-pilot requirement a day after a helicopter returning from Badrinath crashed near Jyotirmath, killing all six people on board. The regulator's decision was aimed at improving flight safety and enabling better monitoring of airspace across the pilgrimage circuit.
Under the revised instructions, every charter helicopter operating on the Char Dham route must carry two pilots, with the co-pilot also required to be qualified to fly in hilly terrain. The DGCA has additionally directed operators to obtain destination and en-route clearance from the control room at Sahastradhara in Dehradun before each flight leg.
Crew members are also required to submit a Pilot Report after landing at every destination helipad. The reports are intended to record conditions encountered during flights and help crews assess the route before subsequent journeys.
Operators cite cost and logistical hurdles
Helicopter operators have argued that the new requirement cannot be implemented without making physical changes to their aircraft. These include installing additional dual controls and reducing passenger capacity to remain within permissible payload limits.
UCADA chief executive officer Prateek Jain said the regulator's objective was to improve airspace monitoring by ensuring that two pilots were present on each flight. However, operators opposed the directive because of the modifications required to their helicopters.
“With only seven to eight days remaining in the season, carrying out these modifications requires time and is not commercially viable, according to them,” Jain said.
Operators have also raised concerns about the additional expenditure involved in deploying two pilots on every charter flight, including higher crew, accommodation and logistical costs. They have maintained that the existing charter rates and limited operating margins would not allow them to absorb the additional expenses or pass the entire burden on to passengers.
The DGCA, however, has refused to withdraw its order despite the operators' objections.
Pilgrims affected as services halt
The suspension has disrupted helicopter travel plans during the final stretch of the pilgrimage season. Around 40 charter trips scheduled for Monday were cancelled, affecting nearly 250 pilgrims, according to reports. Operators have said passengers whose bookings were cancelled would receive full refunds.
The Char Dham aerial pilgrimage circuit connects Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, with charter services operating from the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun. The season is approaching its winter closure, with Gangotri scheduled to shut on November 10, Kedarnath and Yamunotri on November 11, and Badrinath on November 16.
The suspension concerns charter services on the circuit. Short helicopter journeys ferrying pilgrims from foothill locations such as Guptkashi, Phata and Sirsi to Kedarnath are separate operations and are expected to continue.
The operators have called for further discussions with the authorities to arrive at a workable arrangement, with the hope of resolving the dispute before the next pilgrimage season begins.