A new delay in the delivery of the next two medical helicopters was announced by the Italian supplier “Leonardo” AD (Leonardo S.p.A.), informed by the Ministry of Health.
As the reason, the contractor points to the global crisis in the supply chain, respectively delays in the provision of key components of both helicopters, which also affect the rest of the activities on the final assembly line.
The second helicopter is expected to be delivered to our country in January 2025, and the third in February 2025. The manufacturer specifies that these dates are also not final.
According to the signed contract for the supply of sanitary vehicles for air transport, the second helicopter had to be in Bulgaria by June 30. However, in May, the company informed that due to a delay in the production process, the delivery of the second helicopter will be delayed, as it is expected to be in Bulgaria in November. The same correspondence states that this should not affect the delivery deadline for the third helicopter, which is until the end of December 2024.
The contract between the contractor and the ministry provides for a grace period for late delivery of 60 days, with respect to the second helicopter, with appropriate penalties for each subsequent one.
Until the time of “Leonardo” AD were imposed penalties in the total amount of BGN 69,749.17. The expected penalty that will be imposed on the contractor, in the event that the delivery of the second helicopter is carried out by January 31, 2025, is in the amount of BGN 284,503.22.
Meanwhile, the black box software of the first helicopter has passed all the necessary tests and the final issuance of the TSO (Technical Standard Orders) certificate is expected. While this happened from the General Directorate “Civil Aviation Administration” have extended until 12 November 2024 the period in which the helicopter can be operated without a CVR/FDR.
BTA recalls that on February 1, 2024, the first helicopter from the Air Emergency Assistance System arrived in Bulgaria. The helicopter is the first of a total of six machines that Bulgaria should receive, and our country is expected to request two more. It is planned to build six operational bases of the future emergency air assistance system on the territory of Bulgaria, and their location will enable two helicopters to reach any point in the country at the same time, observing the “golden hour” rule.