Bulgarian National Carrier Awarded IATA's Safety Gong

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has awarded Bulgaria Air its operational safety certificate which will hopefully enable it to fly its 4-engine turboprop AN-12 CUB aircraft to and within the 27 European Union countries. On March 28 the EU will renew its list of aircraft that will be allowed to fly to EU countries. The An-12 type aircraft could be among the types of machines to be approved for listing in Annex 2 of the European aircraft registry. Annex 2 lists former military aircraft now used in civil aviation according to the head of the Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration Zahari Alexiev. Flights using such aircraft will be allowed whenever individual EU countries give their approval, Alexiev said. Hemus Air has applied for an audit and looks like being the second Bulgarian airline to gain access to the EU with its newer westernized (largely Boeing) fleet, having eliminated all old Soviet Bloc equipment.
Over 200 aviation companies world-wide have IATA safety certificates. Beginning this year the IATA plaudit has become a prerequisite for IATA membership.