Char Dham helicopter services to resume from September 15

The second phase of helicopter services for Uttarakhand's Char Dham Yatra will begin on September 15, UCADA announced. Authorities expect improving weather conditions as the monsoon weakens and are strengthening flight monitoring, maintenance and safety arrangements for operations

Dehradun: The second phase of helicopter services for the Himalayan Char Dham Yatra will commence on September 15, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) announced on Tuesday.

UCADA CEO Prateek Jain said the decision to launch the second phase of helicopter services from September 15 was taken following instructions from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

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He said that, based on inputs from the Meteorological Department, the monsoon is expected to begin weakening and retreating by September 15. Consequently, weather conditions are expected to be relatively favourable and safe for helicopter operations.

Jain said UCADA is coordinating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on safety issues. Compliance with prescribed maintenance schedules and the availability of essential safety equipment on all helicopters will be ensured, he said.

An Air Traffic Control (ATC) unit has been established at the Sahastradhara heliport to strengthen flight monitoring and safety arrangements. A temporary ATC unit will also operate at Sitapur, near Sirsi, under the supervision of AAI officials.

Jain also mentioned plans to set up an ATC unit at Badrinath within the next month or two, while an ATC unit is scheduled to be established at Kedarnath before the commencement of the 2027 yatra.