Char Dham Safety Shake-up: DGCA Mandates Dual Pilots for Dehradun Charter Flights
Following a Badrinath crash, DGCA makes dual-pilot mode mandatory for Char Dham charter flights from Dehradun to enhance Himalayan aviation safety.
In a decisive move to bolster aviation safety in the treacherous Himalayan terrain, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that all Char Dham charter flights operating from Dehradun must now be flown in dual-pilot mode. This tightening of safety guidelines comes as a direct response to a recent helicopter crash near Badrinath Dham, highlighting the extreme risks associated with high-altitude pilgrimage flights.
Stricter Rules for Charter Services
Rahul Chaubey, the District Tourism Officer and Heli Service In-charge for Rudraprayag, confirmed that the new protocol specifically targets charter services originating from the state capital. These flights, which cater to pilgrims visiting the Char Dham (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath) and Do Dham (Kedarnath and Badrinath) circuits, must now strictly adhere to the dual-pilot requirement.
However, Chaubey clarified that local shuttle operations—which ferry passengers from hubs like Guptkashi, Phata, and Sirsi to the shrines—will continue to operate as usual without disruption. The primary goal of the revised directive is to ensure better operational control and supervision, especially given the unpredictable and hostile weather conditions of the mountains.
"This has been done so that, in view of safety and weather conditions, better control and supervision of these charter services can be maintained," Chaubey stated.
Federation of Indian Pilots Sounds Alarm
The DGCA's mandate coincides with an urgent plea from the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP). In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, FIP President Capt CS Randhawa has called for a comprehensive overhaul of helicopter operations across the country. The FIP is pushing for the creation of a National Helicopter Safety Framework and a dedicated National Helicopter Safety Review Committee.
The FIP's representation suggests that a "responsibility vacuum" exists because pilgrimage flights are often managed by state-level bodies, such as the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), rather than being under the direct, proactive supervision of national regulators.
Key Demands from the FIP:
- Equipment Upgrades: Transitioning from single-engine, VFR-capable helicopters to Performance Class 1 aircraft equipped with auto-pilots, weather radars, and Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS).
- Crew Qualifications: Ensuring dual-pilot crews possess current instrument ratings (IR).
- Training and Certification: Implementing mandatory mountain-flying certifications and standardised ground handling rules.
- Prioritising Safety over Profit: Strict enforcement of Safety Management Systems (SMS) to ensure that commercial pressures or seasonal targets do not override a pilot's decision to cancel a flight for safety reasons.
The FIP has urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to establish a committee comprising the DGCA, AAIB, helicopter operators, and technical experts to submit a time-bound action plan within 90 days. Highlighting a history of being denied hearings with the Civil Aviation Minister, the federation has requested a direct meeting to provide professional expertise to improve national aviation safety.