Overview
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered all Char Dham charter flights to operate with two pilots starting November 2 to strengthen safety following a recent crash.
- Helicopter companies sent a joint letter saying they will suspend all Char Dham sorties from November 2 unless the DGCA and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority review the twin‑pilot mandate and consult operators.
- The DGCA also requires positive destination and en‑route clearances from the Sahastradhara control room and mandatory pilot reports (PIREPs) after every landing, with UCADA’s head of operations to set the clearance and record‑keeping rules.
- Operators say the twin‑pilot rule will sharply raise crew needs, accommodation and logistical costs and that current charter rates and thin margins make the requirement commercially unviable.
- Friday’s crash near Badrinath that killed six people prompted the directive and leaves the immediate next steps dependent on urgent talks between regulators and operators to avoid service disruption.