“I am instructing the management of the State Aviation Operator to sell the Falcon government aircraft at auction with open bidding. That way we can reach the maximum possible price.” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov said on his Facebook profile. The decision comes after an analysis of the cost of maintenance and operation of the machine for the last 10 years.
“The government's Falcon costs the state budget an average of about BGN 4.4 million per year with only 290 hours of average annual operation. The mandatory overhaul of the aircraft this year alone amounts to BGN 6.76 million. Even without taking into account this colossal sum, the current repairs of the Falcon cost us an average of half a million BGN a year, while for the repair of the other government aircraft – the Airbus A319, we paid 5 times less. But it is not only the repair, but also the annual specialized ground and simulator training of pilots and technical staff for the small aircraft was five times more expensive,” Karadzhov said. He emphasizes that there is no pressing need to maintain the aircraft, as the other government aircraft, the Airbus A319, is larger, more economical and fully sufficient for the needs of state institutions.
Karadzhov states that the funds from the sale and those saved from the maintenance of the Falcon state aircraft can be directed towards areas of much higher public importance, such as the purchase of aerial equipment for forest firefighting, building air search and rescue (SAR) capacity, as well as additional training of flight and rescue crews.
“The life and health of citizens should come first, and the protection of nature immediately after them. The more rapid response options we have, the more effective we can be at critical moments,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasizes.