General Spas Spasov is with a 33-year-old internship in our air force. Human error, a technical malfunction or an incorrectly set command are the three versions that investigators are working on for the reasons that led to the crash of an L-39 Albatros combat training aircraft. Spasov tells NOVA.
"Now the situation is much more emergency – with far fewer flights we have more accidents. For a successful flight, one pilot needs 20-25 technical personnel, he said. “The two dead are very experienced pilots. This is perhaps the fate of aviation – even the most experienced sometimes make mistakes, said Gen. Spasov. He said that they called him about the incident in which lieutenant colonel Petko Dimitrov and captain Vencislav Dunkin died. Next to him was his wife, who was also worried. “Her father is a former military man, who died in an accident with an agricultural aviation helicopter”, he explained.
According to gen. Spasov now we need rhythmic flying for everyone and not to forget our traditions in combat aviation. According to him, the two pilots may not have ejected because they believed they would save themselves.
„The majority of pilots in Bulgaria fly little. NATO standards are 180 hours a year in the air. Official information is how many our pilots fly, but it is less. The general training of the pilots is weak, said Gen. Spasov.
„The scariest thing in an airport is the sudden silence. The sound made by the planes gives peace of mind that everything is going normally, said Gen. Spas Spasov.
Lieutenant Colonel Petko Dimitrov and Captain Vencislav Dunkin died in the September 13 crash with the L-39 Albatros combat training aircraft.