DGCA Makes Two Pilots Mandatory for Char Dham Helicopter Flights From Today

Featured photo: Yellow helicopter in snowy Himalayan terrain in Langtang, Nepal (Photo: Bijay Chaurasia / Pexels)

Char Dham helicopter travel in Uttarakhand enters a stricter safety regime from today. India's aviation regulator has made it mandatory for every charter flight on the Char Dham routes to carry two pilots, ending single-pilot operations from Monday, 2 November 2026. The move has triggered an immediate pushback, with most operators warning they will suspend services until the order is reviewed.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), working with the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), has introduced three linked requirements for Char Dham charter operations.

What Changes From Today

First, every Char Dham charter flight must now operate with two pilots on board. The co-pilot must also be qualified to fly in hilly terrain, a condition that directly addresses the demanding mountain flying conditions on routes to shrines such as Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Second, operators must obtain positive destination and en-route clearance from the control room at Sahastradhara in Dehradun before taking off for each leg of a journey. Earlier, a single clearance could cover an entire itinerary with multiple destinations and the return journey. Under the new system, a helicopter flying from Sahastradhara to Badrinath will need a fresh clearance before proceeding to Kedarnath, even if both stops were part of the original plan.

Third, crew members must file a Pilot Report, known as a PIREP, after landing at each destination helipad, recording weather and other operational information encountered during the flight. UCADA's Head of Operations has been tasked with framing the modalities for issuing clearances and receiving and maintaining these reports.

Why the Regulator Acted Now

The new rules follow a helicopter crash in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on 30 October, in which all six people on board lost their lives. The directions were issued after a meeting between DGCA officials and UCADA on Saturday, 31 October, and UCADA Chief Executive Officer Prateek Jain confirmed to the press that charter helicopters on Char Dham routes would now have to carry a co-pilot.

Why Operators Are Pushing Back

The operators see the same order very differently. In a joint communication dated 31 October, 11 of the 13 charter operators on the route told the DGCA that they proposed to suspend all Char Dham charter operations from 2 November until the matter is reviewed and a mutually workable solution is reached in consultation with them.

Their argument is financial and logistical. A second pilot on every sortie increases crew, accommodation and operating costs, and operators say the burden would make services commercially unviable in their present form. The monthly flight duty limit of 90 hours per pilot would further tighten staffing. Some operators have also raised concerns about other hazards along flying routes, including drones and paragliding activity.

What It Means for Pilgrims

For pilgrims, the immediate question is whether flights will operate normally from today. With the rule in force and most operators threatening suspension, travellers should check the latest status with their operator before travelling, rather than assuming a confirmed booking will fly as scheduled.

In the longer term, the standoff will test how quickly the regulator and operators can reach a compromise that keeps safety standards high without grounding the service altogether.

Do you think stricter safety rules should come into force immediately even if they disrupt services, or should operators get more time to prepare? Share your view in the comments.