DGCA mandates dual pilots for Char Dham helicopter operations after crash

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued stringent new operational guidelines for helicopter services operating in the Char Dham pilgrimage region of Uttarakhand in response to a recent crash. The regulator has made it mandatory for all helicopter operators to deploy two pilots on every flight, a significant shift from existing practices that permitted single-pilot operations under certain conditions.

Under the fresh directives, helicopter crew members must obtain positive clearance from the Sahastradhara control room before each takeoff. The requirement extends to securing both destination and enroute clearances for every sector of their journey, tightening oversight of air traffic in the mountainous terrain where weather conditions and topography present significant operational challenges.

The safety measures have drawn resistance from helicopter operators, who have indicated they may shut down services in protest over what they describe as economically unviable operating costs. Industry representatives argue that the dual-pilot mandate and enhanced clearance procedures will substantially increase operational expenses, potentially making the services unaffordable for pilgrims and tourists relying on helicopter transport to reach remote shrine locations.

The DGCA's decision reflects growing pressure to prevent aviation accidents in the region. Helicopter operations in Char Dham have expanded significantly in recent years to cater to religious tourism, but the terrain's inherent risks and weather volatility have raised persistent safety concerns among regulators and aviation safety experts.