Bulgaria Heli Med Services EAD already has an aviation operator certificate to perform emergency medical services by air — HEMS. This is what the Minister for Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said today during the first training flight with the Bulgarian helicopter.
‘The performance of the demonstration flight is part of the certification procedure of the aviation operator. According to the European legislation, each of the pilots has to undergo a training of about 10 hours for the operation of this helicopter, after which the machine can be put into operation and start performing HEMS missions’, said Georgi Gvozdeykov. He explained that today’s demonstration flight is being carried out in the presence of inspectors from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Administration, who will carry out a final assessment of the readiness and preparation of the aviation operator.
Bulgaria Heli Med Services has already taken steps to build its own pilot training organization and I expect that by autumn the company will acquire 2 training helicopters and start recruiting young people who want to engage in this activity’, the Transport Minister announced. Georgi Gvozdeykov added that the main goal is for the operator to start training and preparing the staff independently, which will give security and stability in the development of the project.
Minister Gvozdeykov said that the pilots for the second helicopter are currently being trained in Italy. Work is also underway on the preparation of the second operational base, which will be located on the territory of Burshen Airport, Sliven. The second helicopter will be positioned there and is expected to arrive in June to serve the eastern part of Bulgaria. The third helicopter will arrive in mid-December at the base in Dolna Mitropolia and is scheduled to serve Northern Bulgaria.
Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov also commented to the media on our country's readiness to enter Schengen by air. ‘Bulgaria is ready to implement the air Schengen procedures. I was personally convinced of this earlier today, during an inspection at Sofia Airport, where I got acquainted on the spot with the preparation process’, said the Minister of Transport and Communications. He explained that last week a team from the European Commission also inspected the capital's airport before March 31, when Bulgaria will enter Schengen by air.
