Category: Media center

The fourteenth DANUBE FAB Social Consultation Forum (SCF) was held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 6th November 2018. These regular consultations between BULATSA and ROMATSA social partners and management representatives provide a positive framework for establishing closer cooperation and exchange of professional experience and best practices.
DANUBE FAB management facilitated the active participation of the social partners in the meeting, reiterating the importance of the social dialogue in ATM. Discussions on the latest FAB developments and activities, as well as updates on the outcomes of the DANUBE FAB governing bodies meetings, held in 2018, were made. The evolution of the Free Route Airspace project, DANUBE FAB expansion perspectives and the joint participation at the World ATM Congress and Exhibition in Madrid in March 2019 were also discussed.
Participants were further informed of the outcomes of the DANUBE FAB Regulation (EU) 2017/373 Synchronised Implementation workshop, InterFAB meetings and Promotion of Toolbox for successful social dialogue in ATM Workshop.
The next DANUBE FAB social consultation will be held in 2019 in Romania.

BULATSA was one of the host organizations of the 17^-th edition of the Manager for a Day Career Forum, which took place on 30 October in Sofia. Within the framework of the initiative two young people took on the role of “Air Traffic Controller Trainees” under the guidance of the head of BULATSA’s Training Center Dimitar Chunchukov. The two “Managers for a Day” had the opportunity to closely familiarize themselves with the specifics of the Air Traffic Controllers’ work, the different training stages and the work of the whole enterprise. They visited Sofia Airport Control Tower, Sofia Air Traffic Control Centre and the training simulators in BULATSA.
This year, within the initiative organized by Junior Achievement Bulgaria, additionally was also held a Careers of Tomorrow Forum with a focus on the digitization of professions. BULATSA participated in the forum with the presentation “Digital technologies and the future of the Air Traffic Controller profession”. To the audience were presented the future trends in the development of the profession with the increasing use of digital technologies. It was emphasized that despite this fact, the human factor remains the most important one for the safe flight control.

The Airspace Management Board (AMB) held an official meeting at BULATSA. The High-level body which defines the airspace structures discussed the rules of their use, actualization of the regulatory framework and the civil-military coordination.
Representatives of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Air Force, the Agency Hail Suppression, the GD CAA and BULATSA attended the meeting. It was a constructive and beneficial meeting where the strategic importance of the national airspace was highlighted.

Test of English for Aviation (TEA), the approved English Language Proficiency Test for aviation professionals, used by BULATSA training center, now has a new, improved version.
The new version 5.0 of the test will be in use from 01 October 2018.
TEA now has a new, improved version that will be in use from 01 October 2018.
Go to https://www.tea-test.com for samples of the new Part 2 task. Challenge yourself to do well with the new recordings and the Task Card.
An updated version of the Notes for Candidates matching the new test format can be found below.
An updated Guide for Candidates and Teachers is available here.
Since Part 2 has changed, it is strongly recommended that candidates practice the task using the materials here.
BULATSA wishes success to all TEA candidates!

The winner in the campaign “50 years BULATSA” Nikolay Krastev received today the grand prize for his proposal „50 years we are drawing paths in the skies“. BULATSA Director General Mr. Georgi Peev handed over to the winner a drone DJI Mavic Air WH and recommended him to comply with the rules of its use. Mr. Nikolay Krastev visited BULATSA Operational room and the Tower where the traffic in the airspace of our country is served. „I am impressed by the work of the air traffic controllers and I am happy to be a part of BULATSA jubilee. I believe that the slogan „We are drawing paths in the skies“shows the essence of this important profession. For me, the air traffic controllers are the architectures in the skies because they must take each flight on its way from one airport to another in the safest way. Most of us, the common people, cannot imagine what is the responsibility behind this profession“, said Nikolay Krastev.
According to the rules of safe use of drones he will be responsible for each flight of his remote (unmanned) aircraft after receiving of written permission from the Civil Aviation Authority in a reserved for this purpose airspace.
Using drone without permission of CAA is subject of a fine from 1 000 to 10 000 BGN under Art. 144, para 5 of the Civil Aviation Act. The drone shall be kept in sight, within the reserved for the purpose airspace and in a safe distance from people or their property.
It is compulsory to use drones away from airports and airfields both civil and military.

State enterprise Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority serviced a record number of flights for July. The realized number of flights for the month is 100 418, which is a 11.51% increase compared to 2017 when their number was 90 054.
The number of international flights for the month, which have landed in and departed from our country, is 14 249. There is an increase of 945 flights or 7.10% compared to the same month of last year.
BULATSA has serviced more domestic flights in July 2018 also. Over the last month they were 1 711, while for the same period in 2017 their number was 1 699.
The largest increase however is recorded in the number of serviced overflying international aircraft. For the seventh month of this year have been recorded 84 458 flights, compared to 75 051 for 2017. This is a 12.53% increase.
In 2018, BULATSA reported one more record also. Bulgarian air traffic controllers took part in the servicing of one of the longest-lasting flights in the world. This is the flight of Qantas airline between Perth, Australia and London, lasting more than 17 hours and flying over 14 000 kilometers without a stopover.