Category: News

Air traffic controllers from BULATSA together with engineers from AIRBUS Aircraft and AIRBUS Defence and Space take part in a three days’ joint demonstration of the integration of two SESAR 2020 prototypes during the World ATM Congress 2018 which takes place in Madrid, 06 – 08^th March.
These prototypes are developed under SESAR PJ.10 Solution 10.02a – Tactical Encounter Solver Assistant (TESLA) by AIRBUS Defence and Space and BULATSA and under SESAR PJ.18 Solution 18.04 – PAS@ATM by AIRBUS Aircraft.
The TESLA prototype is being developed with the objective is to assist the ATCOs in resolving potential conflicts in medium and high-density terminal areas. The prototype assesses and presents to the ATCOs various options for preventing potential conflicts by analyzing aircraft trajectories and suggesting resolution actions for each specific situation.
The PAS@ATM prototype is an emulator of aircraft derived data, a 4D FMS trajectory data downlinked from the aircraft via DataLink. This enhanced 4D trajectory is being used for a first time in a ground-based ATM application with a specific purpose – tactical separation management.

BULATSA DG took part in the the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) CEO Strategy Summit which kick started the activities related to the Annual World ATM Congress,
the world’s largest international air traffic management eventthat is operated by CANSO in partnership with the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA).
The CANSO CEO Strategy Summit was held on March 5th, 2018 and covered important and timely strategic discussionson the future of the ATM industry and hence on the future of CANSO, and how it can best create maximum value on behalfof its Members.
This highly interactive event featured strategic topics for the ATM industry and an open dialogue at CEO level. The Summit granted a brief, high-level update on the ATM developments and, most importantly, what remains to be done. It provided a platform to meet and engage with more than 200 key decision-makers from across the globe, and to contribute to discussions that will be used to shape the evolution of CANSO and the ATM industry.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and BULATSA, the Bulgarian Air Navigation Service Provider, have agreed to develop and implement a Bulgarian National Airspace Strategy.
BULATSA and IATA will strengthen their existing cooperation for this initiative, which is aimed at delivering benefits to the travelling public, while supporting national economic growth and the competitiveness of the Bulgarian aviation sector.
Passenger demand for air transport in Bulgaria is set to double over the next two decades. Servicing this demand, while ensuring safety, and managing costs, CO2 emissions and delays, requires Bulgaria to further modernize its airspace and Air Traffic Management (ATM) network. Successful airspace modernization is expected to create significant benefits, generating an extra €628 million in annual GDP and 11,300 jobs annually by 2035.
BULATSA and IATA have committed to work together and with all aviation stakeholders to deliver and implement the National Airspace Strategy in support of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. The main aspects of the strategy cover leadership and a collaborative stakeholder approach, airspace management, and technical modernization of the ATM system.
Georgi Peev, Director General of BULATSA, explained: “I welcome this initiative, which will support the ongoing evolution of our technology and operations. The development of a national airspace strategy would further enhance the good cooperation with our customers and partners and would contribute to achieving the SES high level goals. The implementation of BULATSA’s key projects related to airspace reorganization and to capabilities to meet high traffic levels combined with increased complexity of operations are expanding the foundation for the delivery of BULATSA’s ambitious targets.”
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, said earlier: “Bulgaria will occupy an ever-more important position in European airspace as East-West traffic increases in the coming years. And Bulgaria itself is a fast-growing economy which will see a significant passenger surge. Ensuring that the airspace is optimized to cope with increased traffic will benefit not only Bulgaria but the wider European traveling public. As Bulgaria takes up its Presidency of the European Union, this commitment to building a National Airspace Strategy is a concrete sign of the nation fulfilling a strategic leadership role. We congratulate BULATSA for its vision, and look forward to working with them to make airspace modernization a success.”
The Bulgarian National Airspace Strategy will include:

• Enhancement of coordination for more efficient flightpaths;
• Airspace optimization at regional level as well as between regions;
• Increased capacity while ensuring safety levels;
• Improved punctuality of flights;
• Better sharing of information across the European air transport network.

BULATSA Director General Georgi Peev and the Director of European Programmes, Projects and Strategies Veselin Stoyanov participated in the 63-th meeting of the European Committee of the CEOs of the Air Traffic Service Providers (ANSPs) members of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO). The meeting was held on 21 February 2018 in Brussels and Mr Eamonn Brennan, the newly appointed EUROCONTROL DG, and Dr Regula Dettling-Ott, Chair of the Performance Review Body (PRB) joined the discussions as external guests.
The main areas of discussion were related to the position of the European ANSPs on key topics – the changes in the Performance Scheme within the third Reference Period (RP3), the improved stakeholder relations with EUROCONTROL and the future of the Network Manager.
Other topics of current interest included also the communications activities of CANSO to influence the aviation community as well as updates on relevant EASA activities and European Commission’s initiatives.

The director general of KAZAERONAVIGATSIA (ANSP of Kazakhstan) Mr. Azat Bekturov visited BULATSA. He discussed with Mr. Georgi Peev the important topics and challenges for the Bulgarian and the Kazakh air navigation services providers, the modernization of the technical infrastructure, the projects for optimization of the meteorological services, the current situation of the air traffic in the region of the Black and Caspian seas and the training of air traffic controllers.
The guest visited the operational room for air traffic control and the aviation training centre. BULATSA demonstrated its capabilities for training of air traffic controllers.