The advantage of the fact that in Bulgaria the emergency medical assistance by air is being built now is that we will purchase helicopters of the latest generation and we will have access to top-class avionics. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeikov during a visit to the base of Leonardo S.p.A in the Italian town of Vergate, where the first of six helicopters for emergency medical assistance is currently being built.
The Bulgarian delegation, which included the Deputy Minister of Health prof. Ilko Getov, was welcomed by the Vice President of International Sales of Leonardo S.p.A Andrea Mirtetto. After a presentation on the status of the contract, it became clear that in mid-November 2023 the helicopter will go out for flight tests and by the end of December 2023 it will be delivered to Bulgaria. Minister Gvozdeykov stressed that the documents for the licensing of Bulgaria Heli Med Service Ltd. as an aviation operator have already been submitted and by the arrival of the first helicopter in Bulgaria, the company will have a license.
During the talks, the possibility of supplying two additional helicopters, which is included in the contract between Leonardo S.p.A and the Ministry of Health, was also discussed. Deputy Minister of Health prof. Ilko Getov explained that according to the clauses in the contract until the end of next year our country can order two more helicopters without any change in price.
The Bulgarian delegation visited the Leonardo S.p.A flight simulator and training centre, where two Bulgarian pilots and two engineers are currently being trained for HEMS. The company stressed that the team shows an extremely high level of training and professionalism.
Andrea Mirtetto said that to date Leonardo S.p.A has produced over 4,500 helicopters for 1,500 customers in 150 countries. According to him, the company has special software that monitors all helicopters in any part of the world and can predict future failures. The value of orders placed in the electronics, security, aeronautics and helicopter sectors amounts to EUR 14.7 billion and the company is currently executing contracts worth EUR 17.3 billion
