Helicopter operators in Uttarakhand have threatened to suspend Char Dham charter services from Monday, Nov 2, opposing a new rule that requires a co-pilot on every helicopter flying the pilgrroute.
The operators conveyed their position in a letter to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) on Sunday. They said services would stop on Monday unless the authority withdrew the order.
The proposed halt could disrupt the final phase of the Char Dham pilgrseason, which is nearing its winter closure. Pilgrims who depend on charter helicopters may therefore face uncertainty over planned air journeys if the operators proceed with the suspension.
Why operators are objecting
UCADA announced on Saturday that all helicopters operating on the Char Dham yatra route must carry a co-pilot. The decision followed a helicopter crash near Joshimath in Chamoli district on Oct 30, in which 6 people died.
The operators said they could not accept the mandatory twin-pilot requirement “in its present form”. They also raised concerns about the decision-making process and the effect of the rule on their operations.
According to the operators, the requirement was introduced “without adequate consultation with the operators and assessment of their commercial and operational implications”. They said this would make continuing services “financially unviable for all operators”.
Their objection is focused on the mandatory requirement for charter services. They have asked UCADA to withdraw the order, linking the continuation of flights to the authority’s response.
What happens next
The immediate issue is whether UCADA changes or maintains the co-pilot directive before the threatened suspension begins. The operators’ letter sets Monday as the proposed start of the service stoppage unless the order is withdrawn.
The dispute places safety requirements and the viability of helicopter operations at the centre of the final Char Dham travel window. No further decision by UCADA is stated in the available information.
Conclusion
Helicopter operators have threatened to stop Char Dham charter services from Nov 2 unless UCADA withdraws its mandatory co-pilot rule, introduced after the Oct 30 crash near Joshimath that killed 6 people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When could Char Dham helicopter services be suspended?
Operators said they would suspend the services from Monday, Nov 2, unless UCADA withdraws the order.
Q. What rule has led to the dispute?
UCADA has made a co-pilot mandatory for all helicopters flying on the Char Dham yatra route.
Q. Why did UCADA announce the requirement?
The decision followed a helicopter crash near Joshimath in Chamoli district on Oct 30.
Q. How many people died in the crash?
6 people died in the crash.
Q. What concerns have the operators raised?
They objected to the rule in its present form and said it was introduced without adequate consultation or an assessment of its commercial and operational implications.
Q. What do operators say would happen if the rule remains?
They say mandatory twin-pilot operations would make continued services financially unviable for all operators.
