site.btaDelivery of Bulgaria's Second and Third Medical Helicopters Delayed Further

A new delay in the delivery of the second and third medical helicopters to Bulgaria has been announced by the Italian supplier Leonardo S.p.A., the Health Ministry said here Thursday. 

The contractor points to the global supply chain crisis as the reason, hence delays in the procurement of key components of both helicopters, which are affecting other activities on the final assembly line.

The second helicopter is expected to be delivered to Bulgaria in January 2025 and the third in February 2025. According to the concluded delivery contract, the second helicopter was to be in Bulgaria by 30 June. 

In May, however, the company said that due to a delay in the production process, the delivery of the second helicopter would be delayed, and it is expected to be in Bulgaria in November. The same correspondence stated that this should not affect the delivery date of the third helicopter, which was set by the end of December 2024.

In the meantime, the first helicopter's black box software has passed all the necessary tests and the final TSO (Technical Standard Orders) certificate is pending. Until this happens, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Administration has extended the period until 12 November 2024 when the helicopter can be operated without CVR/FDR.

On February 1, 2024 the first helicopter of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service arrived in Bulgaria. The helicopter is the first of six machines Bulgaria is to receive, and the country is expected to make a request for two more. Six operational bases of the future air ambulance system are to be built on the territory of Bulgaria.