Bulgaria Air Safety Rating Elevated

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says Bulgaria now complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), following a reassessment of the country’s civil aviation authority in January. Bulgaria is now raised from the Category 2 safety rating given in September 2003 to Category 1, meaning the country’s civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping, or inspection procedures. As part of the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or might be authorized to fly to the United States. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations. With the IASA Category 1 rating, Bulgarian air carriers could apply to operate their own aircraft to the United States, which they currently do not.