Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

According to the Regulations of the EC 235/2007 in the period May 28 – June 06, 2007 an examination upon six Bulgarian air companies has been carried out. As a result of the inspection, systematic disturbances in the fields of the civil aviation safety have been ascertained.

The companies were object of special surveillance from side of the European Agency for aviation safety EASA and the GD “Civil Aviation Administration”. The Inspection was accomplished by mixed team – representatives of GD “CAA”, EC and EASA, as well as inspectors from the Rumanian, German and Italian aviation administrations in their capacity of EU member countries.

On this basis, GD “Civil Aviation Administration” took the following decision:

• Revokes the Certificate for aviation operator, according to the Civil Aviation Law, of the companies Air Sofia, Bright Aviation Services, Scorpion Air and Vega, after a conformation of the evidences for serious aberration from the requirements for safe operation of the aviation means.

• Preserves the right of Air Scorpio to accomplish special aviation activities – flight teaching. Discontinues temporarily its right to carry out air cargo transportation until setting its activity in accordance with the requirements of regulation 20-42 and with the operational standards of JAA.

• Preserves the right of air company “Heli Air” in the rage of its activities, according to its certificate as a air operator, with the following specificity: the operating regions, allowed to the company are all outside the European Union.

The above mentioned companies were informed about these measures on several work meetings, including meetings with the Minister of Transport, in the presence of representatives of MC, as well as on a work meeting with the syndicate KNSB and employees of the cargo companies.

The measures are taken in order to set the Bulgarian aviation in accordance with the enhanced safety requirements of the GD “CAA” and operate from today. The air companies will be informed, according to the normative requirements.