Char Dham helicopter operators threaten to stop services due to DGCA’s two-pilot rule

SDRF and other rescuers carry mortal remains as teams are deployed at the site to recover the bodies of six people who died in a helicopter crash in Joshimath on October 30, 2026 | Photo credit: PTI

Char Dham helicopter operators on Sunday (November 1, 2026) threatened to suspend services from November 2 after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) made it mandatory to have two pilots on board for every charter flight, warning that the requirement would make the operation financially unviable.

The two-pilot mandate for Char Dham helicopter operations was introduced after a helicopter crash on October 30 in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath that claimed six lives, including the pilot.

But helicopter operators question the regulatory response, saying authorities routinely shift responsibility to operators and pilots while ignoring concerns about safety risks, particularly drones and paragliding on flight paths.

Financial burden

In collective representation before aviation regulators, helicopter operators sought an urgent review of the directive, arguing that its introduction without consultation or an assessment of the commercial implications would make the operation unsustainable.

“Given the existing business structure, prevailing charter rates and limited operating margins, operators cannot adequately absorb these additional costs,” the letter said, adding that shifting the financial burden to customers is also not commercially feasible.

Operators said the two-pilot requirement would significantly increase crew, accommodation and logistics costs. They proposed suspending Char Dham’s charter operations from November 2 until the authorities review the directive and reach a mutually acceptable solution.

Safety concerns

The helicopter operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, disputed the weather-related angle in the Oct. 30 crash, saying video footage of the incident showed clear visibility.

“The CEO of UCADA himself told the media that flights were only allowed to take off in clear weather. Videos taken from the ground also show a clear view of the mountains and the helicopter flying at an altitude of over 10,000 feet,” the operator said.

The operator added that the sudden crash of the helicopter could indicate two possibilities: a medical emergency involving the pilot or a foreign object hitting the plane.

Another operator, associated with Char Dham helicopter operations for more than a decade, claimed that complaints about drones and paragliding near the temple roads were repeatedly raised with UCADA but went unheeded.

“In almost all meetings, we have registered complaints about drones and paragliding causing problems to flights, but no action has been taken. Even on the day of the Joshimath crash, a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued by the Indian Army, which has a significant presence in Joshimath,” the operator said.

“Resolved Concerns”

Responding to the claims, UCADA CEO Prateek Jain said the possibility of the helicopter hitting the drone had already been included in the investigation. He added that efforts were being made to identify the source of one of the videos of the crash, taken from the ground, which showed another object flying near the helicopter.

“We have addressed the concerns about drones and paragliding that have been raised by operators and have set out very specific routes for helicopters,” he said.

Mr Jain added that following the crash, police and district administrations across Uttarakhand were asked not to grant permission for drone operations near temples or along helicopter routes.

Asked if similar requests have been addressed to the Indian Army, he said the authority is looking into the matter and looking for ways to address it.

Published – 01 Nov 2026 20:18 IST