To enhance safety and streamline air travel in the state, the Uttarakhand government has formed a 10-member committee under the chairmanship of Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for helicopter operations. The committee is expected to submit its report and recommendations to the state government by August 15.
The committee has been constituted on the orders of Secretary (Tourism) Sachin Kurve. CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), Sonika, will serve as the member secretary. Other members include secretaries from the Civil Aviation and Disaster Management departments, representatives from DGCA, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Meteorological Department, and executive directors from central government aviation authorities. Additionally, a helicopter service operator and a pilot, both nominated by DGCA and UCADA, will also be part of the committee.
The committee’s primary task is to analyze past helicopter accidents and suggest robust preventive measures. It will also recommend updates to the existing SOPs, enhancements in weather communication systems, improvements in air traffic management across the state, and measures to strengthen human resources, equipment, and administrative processes within UCADA.
