Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Delivery of two medical helicopters delayed until next year

On February 1, 2024 the first helicopter of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service arrived in Bulgaria.
Photo: HEMS

There is a further delay in the delivery of the next two air ambulances to Bulgaria, the Italian manufacturer has said in a letter to the Ministry of Health. In the letter, the contractor, Leonardo S.p.A., set new deadlines for the arrival of the aircraft to January and February next year. 

Delays in procuring key components for the two helicopters have pushed back final assembly, according to the manufacturer, which is already facing penalties for late delivery.

In February, the country received one of six medical helicopters purchased with EU cohesion policy funds for Bulgaria's newly established Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. 

The second air ambulance was due to be delivered in June, but in May the manufacturer announced that delivery would be delayed until November, while the third helicopter would be delivered as planned by the end of December 2024.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria to sign a security agreement with Ukraine

The Council of Ministers approved the signing of a Security Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine and Bulgaria's accession to the Ukraine Compact, presented during the NATO Summit in Washington in July. The Ukraine Compact was..

published on 10/2/24 5:31 PM

Bulgarian Defense Minister: Escalation in the Middle East will increase refugee flows

A all-out war in the Middle East would be the worst case scenario, stated by the Caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov to journalists in the Council of Ministers. He stressed that with the escalation of tension the refugee flows will increase...

published on 10/2/24 5:28 PM

Bulgarians abroad will be able to vote in 720 polling stations

The deadline for submitting advance applications to vote abroad for the upcoming early parliamentary elections on October 27 has expired. It is expected that about 720 polling stations will be opened outside Bulgaria , and the exact number will be..

published on 10/2/24 3:25 PM