Uttarakhand helicopter crash highlights safety concerns raised by parliamentary panel
A parliamentary panel previously warned of a fractured regulatory structure and a lack of mandatory mountain flying training for pilots.
A recent helicopter crash involving pilgrims on the Char Dham route has brought attention back to safety warnings issued by a parliamentary panel. According to The Times of India, the committee overseeing the aviation sector has previously highlighted issues such as a responsibility vacuum and a pressure culture.
The parliamentary panel on transport, tourism and culture, led by JDU MP Sanjay Jha, stated that the situation reflects a dangerous structural flaw in India's aviation governance. The panel described the regulatory command structure as fractured and ambiguous.
The committee noted that the DGCA has ceded direct oversight of the hazardous Char Dham aviation zone to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA). The panel said this two-tiered safety system is inherently unsafe and unsustainable.
The panel also identified a regulatory gap regarding the absence of mandatory, terrain-specific mountain flying training and certification for pilots in the Himalayan region. It noted that while the DGCA expressed concern that UCADA lacked competent manpower, no specific training mandate was in place.
The aviation ministry has acknowledged the high-risk environment caused by challenging topography, severe climatic conditions, and high-density traffic. The ministry stated that these inherent risks warrant immediate and serious intervention.