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Due to the abrupt change in the air traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, BULATSA suspends the recruitment of air traffic controllers until 2022.

The aviation sector is one of the most significantly affected by the crisis and after the anti-epidemic measures introduced by the states, the traffic reached unprecedented low levels, with decrease of almost 88% compared to 2019.

According to initial forecasts, the expectations were for a smooth recovery in the summer of 2020 to minus 50%, and at the end of the year to reach minus 20%. However, the actual reported values were minus 58% compared to 2019.

The latest forecast for recovery of the aviation sector in Europe is for a gradual increase in the air traffic over the next 4 years. The expectations for a possible reaching the levels of 2019 are not until the year 2025.

Taking into account the difficult economic situation in the aviation sector, BULATSA reconsidered its plans for selection and training of air traffic controllers, and decided to temporarily suspend the admission of candidates for the profession.

Those, who have submitted documents for participation in the selection for this year, will have to apply again and meet the requirements as set at the time of announcing a new session.

According to initial plans, the resumption of the campaign for recruitment of new candidates for air traffic controllers is expected to happen after the first quarter of 2022, but the decisions in this regard will be taken after taking into account the current situation. For more information, follow our website and Facebook page.

The Gate One annual CEO Meeting took place on the 22 February 2021. At their virtual event, Gate One CEOs exchanged views with Mr Iacopo Prissinotti, Director NM of EUROCONTROL, on the most important recent developments in the ATM sector, including the impact of CoViD-19, the environmental challenges the aviation sector is facing, SES 2+, network performance and the Deloitte review of EUROCONTROL activities

BULATSA has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under the “BULATSA contribution to Iris validation” project. It is part of ESA’s Fifth Tender Procedure for Bulgaria under the Cooperating States Plan and describes the participation of BULATSA in Phase 2 of the large-scale Iris project.

Iris is a project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and launched in 2007 through a public-private partnership with Inmarsat, a leader in satellite technology. The project aims to develop an air-to-ground satellite communication system for the needs of ATM. The development and implementation of a satellite-based DLS service (data-link services) is necessary due to the limited capacity of the current service – VDL Mode 2.

Currently, Iris has completed Phase 1 of the examination, with the participation of representatives of the European industry (the German Aerospace Research Center (DLR), Thales Alenia Space, Airbus, etc.), as well as European air navigation service providers (ANSPs).

In support of the modernization of ATM systems and given the limitations of the current VDL Mode 2 service, BULATSA monitors the developments in the industry. After series of meetings with Inmarsat and exploring the opportunities provided by ESA’s Cooperating States Plan, BULATSA decided to participate in Phase 2 of Iris.

Phase 2 of the project was officially initiated in March 2020 and includes testing of the service in European airspace. European ANSPs and specially equipped aircrafts will validate the developed functionalities in a real operational environment. In this phase, Inmarsat and ESA should prepare the service for pan-European certification. The goal is for Iris to enter by 2028 as the main means of communication between air traffic controllers and pilots via satellite-based data link.

BULATSA’s participation in the project covers the preparation and conduct of validations, demonstrations and concomitant documentation with operational and technical focus in cooperation with Inmarsat, Eurocontrol, European ANSPs – DFS, DSNA, ENAIRE, LFV, LVNL, Nav Portugal, Romatsa, skyguide, representatives of the industry, etc.

The “BULATSA contribution to Iris validation” project was approved by ESA within the Fifth tender procedure for Bulgaria under the Cooperating States Plan, which was opened at the end of 2019. The project with ESA is planned to be implemented in the period from February 2021 to November 2023, with financing from the fund for cooperating states of ESA E/0908-10 – PECS Bulgaria, according to the Contract between BULATSA and ESA No. 4000133824/21/NL/SC.

Additional information about Iris can be found at https://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Iris_for_aviation

Disclaimer: The view expressed in this publication can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.

BULATSA and ROMATSA, long-standing partners in DANUBE FAB, continue to work on the effective management of the ongoing DANUBE FAB activities in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has a negative global impact on the aviation sector.

The regular sessions of the DANUBE FAB governing bodies (ANSP Board and Governing Council) were held by videoconference on 28^th and 29^th October, 2020. During the meetings the parties committed themselves to using the current crisis for revision of the strategic activities of DANUBE FAB in order to better synchronize them with the current situation and the latest EU legislative proposals in the field of ANS. The participants were informed about the free route airspace developments in DANUBE FAB and the plans in 2021 for Slovakia to join the Republic of Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary in SEE FRA. As a result of the activities of the Inter-FAB Coordination platform in Europe, Baltic FAB, DANUBE FAB, FAB CE and FABEC have signed a joint declaration on cooperation in the field of air navigation information management (AIM) to achieve the objectives of the SES.

On November 19, 2020, a regular online meeting of the DANUBE FAB Social Consultation Forum (SCF) was also held. The meeting was attended by representatives of the management of BULATSA and ROMATSA, as well as the social partners in both enterprises. The achievements of DANUBE FAB in 2020 were discussed, as well as the challenges in the context of the long-term and short-term impact of the pandemic on aviation.

BULATSA and ROMATSA continue to closely monitor the developments internationally and present coordinated positions on behalf of DANUBE FAB through the various international channels and cooperation mechanisms.

For more information: www.danubefab.eu.

In connection with the complicated epidemiological situation in the country, as of November 16, 2020, BULATSA suspends the holding of English language proficiency examinations (TEA) for non-BULATSA employees.

BULATSA Academy renews the exams for new air traffic controllers. Those wishing to submit documents for the autumn selection can do so until 17.00 o’clock on October 30.

Due to the situation with COVID 19, the management of BULATSA cancelled the spring session, but the reception and processing of documents has not stopped. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic had a serious impact on the transport sector, forcing BULATSA to reconsider its plans for the future, but still BULATSA decided to continue the selection of air traffic controllers, albeit with a slight reduction in the numbers required. The aim is to continue the practice of conducting two selections per year, in the spring and autumn.

BULATSA Academy is part of the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority and is the only certified in Bulgaria organization for training of air traffic controllers, according to the requirements of the European Union and the applicable national legislation. The training of the approved candidates lasts about a year and a half, during which time a scholarship is provided for them. Upon successful completion of the course, the future air traffic controllers receive certificates of competency that meet the established international standards and can begin to practice the profession.

Those wishing to work as air traffic controllers must be under the age of 31, with a university degree, a minimum bachelor’s degree (regardless of major) and a good command of English – level B2. Anyone who does not have a valid level certificate will be able to take a free test at the BULATSA centres in Sofia, Varna and Burgas. In the selection of candidates for air traffic controllers, BULATSA uses FEAST and WOMBAT tests. If failing the FEAST and WOMBAT psychomotor tests, the candidate will be re-admitted to a next selection of air traffic controllers, after not less than 24 months from the date of the previous appearance, whereby not more than two appearances on each of the tests is allowed.

More information about the individual stages of the exams can be found HERE.

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BULATSA ASSIST principle: How to effectively sustain safe operations

Georgi Peev, BULATSA Director General, gives an insight as to how his ANSP has been coping with the challenges of COVID-19

As someone who worked as an air traffic controller, I had been extensively trained to act quickly and decisively in abnormal situations. At such times the well-known ASSIST principles kicked in – Acknowledge, Separate, Silence, Inform, Support, Time – a mnemonic to help air traffic controllers and the pilots handle the unknown. Of course, this is not a silver bullet and the hours spent training for it cannot guarantee a perfect outcome every time. The other crucial factor in times of distress is that you had a strong team beside you and everyone acts as one.

If I draw a parallel between the ASSIST logic and the way BULATSA handled the current challenging situation, I can describe our actions as follows.

Acknowledge: We recognised the potentially hazardous situation in its very early stages. BULATSA started preparing for a serious scenario in mid-February, much earlier than the national emergency was announced on 13 March. Our first goal was to ensure that this new situation was well-understood and acknowledged by all of us. A special management team was assigned to deal with the coming challenges. We were monitoring and analysing the available data and news on a daily basis to elaborate our immediate responses based on different escalating scenarios, including a variety of traffic predictions.

Separate: We needed to act fast to protect the most important company asset – our people. We established and maintained separation between the different types of employees – operational, technical and administrative, in order to contain the risk if an outbreak happened. Additional distancing was established between ATCOs in their working positions, and four separate fixed teams of ATCOs and ATSEPs were created. Most administrative staff started working from home.

All of these measures ensured the continued good health and confidence of our people. Having healthy operational and technical staff with good time and space distancing, who are well informed, trained and kept competent, allows BULATSA to apply flexible sector configuration in response to the traffic demand. Key safety measures like professional awareness of issues and limitations are also of great value.   

As the pandemic quickly transitioned to economic, financial and liquidity crisis, we had to clearly distinguish the highest priority activities and projects to be kept alive and going, such as safety management system maintenance, performance planning and forecasting, upgrade of the Automated ATC system with new FRA and DLS functionalities, civil-military coordination activities, common requirements regulation compliance. Some of the other projects and activities were put on hold waiting for better times and proper funding.

Silence: As management we kept the highest possible level of care and understanding in the lock-down period.  People needed some time to understand, accept and manage the crisis personally and professionally.

Adapting was not an easy task for any of us, but having a clear focus and the support of your colleagues always helps.

Inform: The information flow is essential for keeping up good spirits in the company. In today’s digital society, in which there are so many sources, the quality of information is absolutely critical. We started a few open channel platforms for ATCOs and other staff through which every single employee can get the necessary information, ask questions and hear what the management is doing. Topics cover all aspects of our employees’ remote working, teamwork, lessons learnt, the financial and economic impact on our activities and remuneration, and the geopolitical situation.

Support: At a personal level all our activities aim to provide a safe and managed transition to the new normal, whatever that could be. At the organisational level we use all possible supporting mechanisms – we are thankful to our CAA and government, the Network Manager, CANSO and fellow ANSPs for the open information sharing mechanisms. We keep in touch and will hopefully find ways to support European aviation.  

Time: We are very aware that the COVID-19 crisis will be here for a while. We will need time for us and the rest of the aviation industry to recover from this and to adapt to the new normal. BULATSA’s team and I are determined to overcome the current situation, and by doing so I am confident we will emerge stronger.

In conclusion I would recall my ACC instructor saying – “If you want the best, be ready for the worst”. And from a management perspective I would add – rely on your people and act. Whatever uncertainties there might be we should never stop looking for opportunities and keep an eye on the possible risks. The future is what we can create in our own thoughts right now.

The article is initially published in CANSO blog.