Transport Ministry: Bulgarian airport operators support introduction of anti-drone systems
All international airports in Bulgaria must be equipped with anti-drone systems, it was agreed at a meeting on February 11 between the country’s Transport Minister, representatives of airports, the Air Traffic Control Agency and the Civil Aviation directorate, the Transport Ministry said in a media statement.
The meeting was the latest in a series held in response to a February 7 incident at Sofia Airport in which an unidentified drone led to emergency changes to flight schedules. Police are continuing trying to identify who was behind the drone incident.
Various technological options will be studied within a reasonable time frame that are effective but do not have a negative impact on the existing airport systems, the Transport Ministry statement after the February 11 meeting said.
“Together with the experts of the Air Traffic Control Agency and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, a suitable technology must be found that is within reasonable economic limits and is tailored to the specifics of each airport,” Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Grozdan Karadzhov said.
“The solutions must be embedded in the investment plans of the companies,” he said.
Such measures are rare at European airports and there is no ready-made model that can be implemented immediately, but airport operating companies have already taken action to study foreign experience, the statement said.
They gave an assurance that urgent measures have been taken to monitor airport areas, paying special attention to aircraft takeoffs and landings.
Kardzhov promised that the necessary legislative changes will be prepared quickly.
“The study we conducted shows that the regulatory framework related to the use of drones, control and sanctions must be improved,” Karadzhov said
“Regulations and protocols for action in the event of unregulated use of such aircraft must be developed,” he said.
At the request of Karadzhov, an expert working meeting will be held on February 12 to draw up an action plan, and the report with its results should be ready by February 14, the ministry said.
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