Bulgaria receives its first HEMS helicopter

The HEMS aircraft successfully completed its inaugural flight from Italy to Bulgaria, landing on Thursday at the border police base in the Vrazhdebna district of the capital. The helicopter’s arrival was attended by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeikov alongside other officials.

The European Union-funded HEMS aircraft was piloted by an Italian crew with Bulgarian representatives onboard, and manufactured by Leonardo.

The rescue helicopter is the first of a total six. The second is scheduled to arrive at the Dolna Mitropoliya Air Base at the end of June, and the third in December. The remaining helicopters will be received gradually up until 2026.

Six operational bases are expected to be built in Bulgaria over the coming years to develop the country’s air emergency system. The location of each base will ensure that two helicopters are able reach any area of the country simultaneously. This is to align with the ‘golden hour’ rule which stipulates that an injured or sick person must receive definitive treatment within the first 60 minutes from the time of injury or appearance of symptoms.

The helicopter will be presented on 2 February in the presence of Gvozdeikov, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Health Minister Hristo Hinkov, and Deputy Health Minister Ilko Getov.