Uttarakhand: Helicopter operators to suspend Char Dham services from Nov 2 over co-pilot rule

Helicopter operators in Uttarakhand have threatened to suspend Char Dham charter services starting November 2 in protest against UCADA’s newly mandated co-pilot rule for Char Dham flights.

The operators say the mandatory twin-pilot requirement will raise operating costs and logistical needs, making Char Dham charters financially unviable under current commercial conditions.

The protest comes after UCADA announced that a co-pilot would be mandatory on all helicopters on the Char Dham yatra route, a decision following a fatal crash near Joshimath on October 30.

In a letter to the DGCA, operators argued that the rule was not developed with sufficient consultation and would impose substantial costs without adequate means to pass them on to customers, seeking a review and a mutually workable solution.

The planned suspension affects flights ahead of the winter closure of key shrines, with Gangotri closing November 10, Kedarnath and Yamunotri on November 11, and Badrinath on November 16.