'2 Pilots Mandatory': DGCA Tightens Char Dham Helicopter Norms After Uttarakhand Crash; Operators Threaten Shutdown
Operators said the new rule would raise crew and lodging costs and make Char Dham flights financially unviable.
- On Monday, helicopter operators threatened to suspend Char Dham services starting November 2 after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority mandated two pilots for every charter sortie.
- Authorities introduced the two-pilot requirement on Saturday, one day after a Trans Bharat Aviation helicopter crashed near Joshimath on Friday, killing all six people on board.
- Eleven operators signed a letter to the DGCA arguing the mandate is financially unviable, citing increased crew and accommodation costs while asserting that safety measures must be developed in consultation with stakeholders.
- UCADA CEO Prateek Jain stated authorities are investigating whether a drone strike caused the crash near Joshimath, addressing long-standing operator complaints about drones and paragliding activity along flight routes.
- Operators proposed suspending Char Dham charter operations until authorities review the directive, seeking a mutually workable solution while noting that passing financial burdens to customers is not commercially feasible.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Helicopters to Char Dham suspended over co-pilot rule
Helicopter operators have suspended Char Dham charter services in Uttarakhand, protesting a new mandatory co-pilot rule imposed by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA). This decision, made after a fatal chopper crash on October 30, is deemed financially unviable by operators and is set to disrupt the final phase of the pilgrimage before the shrines close for winter.
Char Dham Helicopter Operators To Suspend Services Over Mandatory Two-Pilot Rule
Helicopter operators have threatened to suspend Char Dham charter services from Monday in protest against the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority's (UCADA) co-pilot rule, a move likely to disrupt the final leg of the pilgrimage before the shrines close for winter.
Uttarakhand Helicopter Operators Threaten To Suspend Char Dham Services Over Co-Pilot Rule
Dehradun, Nov 2 (PTI) Helicopter operators have threatened to suspend Char Dham charter services from Monday in protest against the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority’s (UCADA) co-pilot rule, a move likely to disrupt the final leg of the pilgrimage before the shrines close for winter. In a letter written to the UCADA on Sunday, the operators said they would stop the services on Monday unless the order is withdrawn. On Saturday, the…
After crash, DGCA's 2-pilot rule for Char Dham flights sparks operator backlash
Char Dham helicopter operators have threatened to suspend services from November 2 over the DGCA's mandatory two-pilot rule. They say the post-crash safety measure would make charter operations financially unviable.
Following the helicopter crash near Badrinath, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented a new rule requiring two pilots on helicopters operating the Char Dham Yatra. However, helicopter operators have opposed this decision, stating that it will increase their costs and impact their operations. The operators have written to the DGCA and UGADA, demanding a reconsideration of this rule.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
