Category: Media center

BULATSA organized the regional seminar “GNSS Interference Workshop” in Sofia, in partnership with Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration and Eurocontrol. The event brought together leading aviation specialists from Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Cyprus, Moldova, Romania and Türkiye.

Among the participants were representatives of ICAO and EASA, aviation safety experts, military structures, regulatory authorities, airlines and air navigation service providers. The main topic of the workshop was the interference in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in the Black Sea and Mediterranean region and their impact on aviation.

The aim of the event was to create a platform for exchange of experience, good practices and proposals for addressing the challenges posed by the increasing cases of GNSS interference and their impact on operations. Participants discussed real-world cases, including radio frequency interference, flight calibration issues, and pilots’ perspectives, proposing short- and long-term solutions to improve the sustainability and safety of air transport.

On October 20th is celebrated the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller – a professional holiday of the colleagues who ensure the safe and efficient air traffic flow.

We thank everyone for the professionalism, responsibility and dedication with which they work for the security of the airspace over Bulgaria.

Happy holiday!

The Director General of BULATSA Georgi Peev held a working meeting with the Executive Directors of SESAR Deployment Manager (SDM) and SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (S3JU).

BULATSA presented its activities and achievements, with an emphasis on the efficient and safe service provided in the conditions of growing and complex air traffic and a complicated geopolitical environment. Key projects under SESAR Programme were also discussed at the meeting, as well as operational and technological innovations, such as T-CAT, SEE FRA and XMAN at Istanbul Airport.

SDM and S3JU presented the status of ongoing activities in the context of challenges related to environmental protection, limited airspace capacity and security threats. A review of the achievements under CP1 was made, focusing on the projects with BULATSA participation.

The participants united on the understanding that strengthening cooperation and consolidating efforts within SESAR after 2027 are key to achieving real and measurable results in the modernisation of air navigation services in Europe. Over the past two decades, SESAR Programme has brought significant added value to the aviation industry, and the future scenario after 2027 must build on the already achieved goals and organisational solutions. This was confirmed by a declaration signed by the SDIP members, including BULATSA, and disseminated to the aviation community.

The participants expressed their intention to continue working together, exchanging good practices and coordinating on topics of mutual interest, such as the future of SESAR, the ATM network management and the decision-making processes within the Single European Sky.

Over 100 aviation enthusiasts participated in the specialized workshop “Flight of Trust: How to Build a Team Between Sky and Ground”, organized by the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA).

The event, part of the communication campaign to promote the air traffic controller profession, showed in real time what lies behind the short and precise lines on the air – a high level of preparation, mutual respect and complete trust between the various key roles in aviation.

Participants in the discussion were Kamen Yordanov, Deyan Razkazov, and the guest lecturer Mario Bakalov – a pilot with international experience and an Airbus A320 instructor. The event was moderated by Troyan Petrov, an air traffic controller and expert at BULATSA, who led the discussions and presented a simulated scenario with deteriorated weather conditions, in which the participants demonstrated how to make coordinated decisions under pressure. BULATSA Director General Georgi Peev opened the event and emphasized that “aviation is an invisible team sport, in which the trust between the pilot, the air traffic controller and the engineer is a prerequisite for a safe flight”. Kamen Yordanov spoke about the training of future air traffic controllers and emphasized the high workload of the system – over 1 million flights pass through the Bulgarian airspace annually, and Dean Razkazov presented the role of engineers and technicians in ensuring the reliable and seamless operation of air traffic control systems. The event was concluded with a Q&A session with the audience and an opportunity for personal conversations and photos with the participants.

On 4 June, BULATSA organizes “Car-Free Day – Together for a Cleaner World”, part of the initiatives within the European Commission’s European Green Week – a leading platform dedicated to sustainable development and environmental protection.

For a third consecutive year the employees of BULATSA will voluntarily participate by coming to work without cars.

By personal example, they will be involved in preserving the environment and reducing the carbon footprint.

With this initiative BULATSA reinforces its commitment to environmental education and conscious behavior, encourages the creation of an environmental culture among employees and supports the principles of the circular economy and sustainable urban policies.

BULATSA actively participated in the prestigious international exhibition Airspace World 2025, which was held this year in Lisbon. The enterprise presented innovative solutions and emphasized its commitment to sustainable air traffic management through cross-border cooperation and digital transformation. The event attracted leading experts from the aviation sector, and the Bulgarian participation stood out at the stand of DANUBE FAB – a joint initiative of BULATSA and the Romanian air navigation service provider ROMATSA.

BULATSA presented leading SESAR projects, including Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO), Flight and Flow Information for a Collaborative Environment (FF-ICE) and initiatives for dynamic capacity management. They illustrate the progress of Bulgaria towards implementing the vision of the Digital European Sky.

During the SESAR Walking Tour 2, Todor Atanasov (BULATSA) and Claudiu Cruceanu (ROMATSA) gave a joint presentation, “Connecting the Dots: Harmonized TBO across Borders”, demonstrating how real-time data exchange improves the predictability and efficiency of cross-border flights.

Within the DANUBE FAB stand panel discussion “ATM Innovations for Sustainable Aviation”, moderated by William McMaster (Egis), BULATSA participated in a strategic debate on the future of airspace, together with representatives of SESAR Deployment Manager, PRB, Skyguide and ROMATSA.

A dedicated high-level meeting between representatives of BULATSA, ROMATSA and HungaroControl discussed joint actions to meet the upcoming summer traffic, including airspace optimization and synchronizing operations.

All these initiatives aim to increase the predictability, efficiency and resilience of the European ATM system and demonstrate BULATSA’s commitment to realizing the vision of a digital, coordinated and modernized airspace in Europe.

Airspace World 2025 reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and innovation in the aviation sector. BULATSA thanks all visitors and partners who shared this platform for exchanging ideas and visions for the future of air traffic management.

On April 10 and 11, 2025, DANUBE Functional Airspace Block conducted two consecutive high-level meetings in Sofia, Bulgaria, emphasizing the commitment of both the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to enhance bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Single European Sky (SES).

The 24th ANSP Board meeting, held on April 10, brought together the air navigation service providers BULATSA and ROMATSA to discuss the technical and operational aspects of their cooperation within the FAB. The discussions focused on several key topics, including the implementation of Free Route Airspace, data exchange systems (such as OLDI, radar, and GNSS), and collaborative SESAR 3 projects related to both Air Traffic Control-Traffic Based Operations (ATC-TBO) and Network TBO streams.

Additionally, the Board approved the Strategic Programme for 2025–2029, the Annual Plan for 2025, and the Annual Report for 2024. They also reviewed the Joint Position regarding the implementation of the new SES2+ Regulation (EU) 2024/2803.

The following day, the 24th Governing Council convened, featuring representatives from the ministries of transport and defense, civil aviation authorities (CAAs), and the two Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). This meeting focused on the strategic governance of the DANUBE Functional Airspace Block (FAB). High-level discussions included adopting FAB strategic documents, aligning with SESAR and SES priorities, overseeing high-priority projects, and preparing for Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon. The ANSPs and CAAs presented reports on their progress and made decisions regarding the future direction under the evolving voluntary FAB framework introduced by SES2+.

Both meetings offered a thorough platform to ensure technical continuity and strategic direction for DANUBE FAB operations, reinforcing the strong cross-border partnership between Bulgaria and Romania. DANUBE FAB continues to play a vital role in advancing airspace integration, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting sustainable performance in line with European aviation objectives.

For more information, visit www.danubefab.eu or contact us at contact@danubefab.eu.