site.btaUPDATED First Medical Helicopter Pilots Receive Licenses

The first six Helicopter Emergency Medical Service pilots received their licenses at a ceremony at the Border Police air base at Sofia Airport, where the first emergency helicopter is expected to be temporarily based. Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov personally handed out the documents. Minister of Transport Georgi Gvozdeikov also attended the event.

The pilots were trained in Italy. The first helicopter for the HEMS system, produced by Italian manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A., has already left the production assembly line and has completed test flights. It is yet to be painted in the chosen red and white. The machine will be registered with number LZ-HMA.

A total of 36 pilots and 14 engineers are expected to work in the system, said Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeikov. Down payment funds for the order of two additional medical helicopters  were provided for  in the 2024 State Budget Bill, bringing the total number of helicopters to eight. The first Bulgarian HEMS helicopter is scheduled to fly from Italy to Bulgaria in mid-January. The second helicopter is expected to be delivered in mid-2024 and the third in late 2024. The remaining 3 helicopters should be ready by mid-2026.