site.btaBulgaria Anticipates Its First Emergency Medical Helicopter

Bulgaria is entering the new 2024 year with anticipation for its first out of six aircraft of the future Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) system, which will provide assistance to severely injured people by air. The helicopter has already rolled off the assembly line of Italian manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A and after a series of tests, it is expected to make its solo flight from Italy to Bulgaria on January 15, the Transport and Communications Ministry said.

The aircraft will have a red and white livery. Its registration number is LZ-HMA.

The rest of the machines envisaged in the Recovery and Resilience Plan are expected to arrive in Bulgaria by 2026, when the system should be fully operational.

In late December, Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov said that the country's budget for 2024 has provided funding for a down payment for the order of two additional medical helicopters, bringing their total number to eight.

The first six Bulgarian pilots, who have completed their training in Italy, received their flying licenses in December during a ceremony at the Border Police air base at Sofia Airport, where the first helicopter is expected to be temporarily based.

A total of 36 pilots and 14 engineers are expected to work in the system. On board the aircraft will also be healthcare professionals who are already undergoing training. Gvozdeikov noted that the helicopters that Bulgaria will receive can fly at night after the newly established aviation operator has gained the necessary experience, in accordance with European regulations.

In November 2023, the first licensed hospital heliport built on the territory of the Uni Hospital in Panagyurishte (South Central Bulgaria) received its certificate of operational suitability. Currently, there are six hospital heliports built in Bulgaria, which are in different stages of the registration procedure.

The heliports are located at Lozenets Hospital, Prof. Alexander Chirkov Hospital and St Anna Hospital in Sofia, Kaneff Hospital in Ruse, St George Hospital in Plovdiv and the southern end of the Zheleznitsa Tunnel on the Struma Motorway. Another four are being designed, to be located in hospitals in Sliven, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo and Stara Zagora.

A total of six operational HEMS bases are expected to be built on the territory of Bulgaria. Their location will make it possible for two helicopters to reach any point of the country simultaneously, meeting the "golden hour" requirement.