DGCA to monitor Char Dham helicopter operations, orders audit of chopper services in Uttarakhand

People gather near a Kedarnath Dham-bound helicopter after it made an emergency landing at Badasu area, in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. (PTI Photo)

Char Dham helicopter yatra: After reports of multiple incidents involving choppers during the Char Dham Yatra, aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday ordered heightened surveillance and stringent audit into helicopter operations involved in shuttle services in Uttarakhand

As per an official statement, as a precautionary measure, DGCA is also reviewing the necessity of "curtailing" helicopter operations to Char Dham if required.

DGCA said that it has also intensified its monitoring of Char Dham helicopter operations by enhancing vigilance of live camera feeds provided by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) at Kedarnath.

Earlier, on June 7, six people, including the pilot, had a narrow escape when a Kestrel Aviation helicopter en-route to Kedarnath made an emergency landing on the highway in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand after developing a technical snag during take-off.

 
The aviation safety regulator said that recently there have been multiple occurrences involving helicopter operations during the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand have underscored the "necessity for further strengthening the safety oversight of these operations."
As per the DGCA statement, safety investigation has been initiated for each of these occurrences to identify contributing factors, including mechanical failures, operational errors, and weather-related challenges. "Reaffirming its steadfast commitment to aviation safety, DGCA is responding proactively on these occurrences and has ordered special audits/enhanced surveillance for helicopter operators involved in shuttle services and charter operations in Uttarakhand," it said.

Furthermore, DGCA said that it has issued directives to all helicopter operators, restricting operations to OGE conditions till further order.

"As a precautionary measure, DGCA is also reviewing the necessity of curtailing helicopter operations to Char Dham, if required," it added.
DGCA said that on Monday, two helicopter operators conducting shuttle and charter services to Kedarnath from their respective helipads failed to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs), particularly regarding proper helicopter parking. "As a result, swift action was taken, and their operations were suspended for two hours," it informed.

According to the aviation safety regulator, any deviation from the SOPs by helicopter operators is detected in real time, which allows immediate corrective measures.

Emphasising that it has a "zero tolerance" policy for safety violations, the regulator said in its latest enforcement action the operations of Kestrel Aviation Pvt Ltd in Uttarakhand has been suspended with immediate effect, pending investigation.
Without naming the operator, DGCA said that this is further to suspension of operations of another operator for safety violations in May.