site.bta Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association Aims to Support Next Generation of Pilots

Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association (BAIA) President Todor Ivandjikov said BAIA is working on creating a fund, supported by airlines and banks, to finance training for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He talked to BTA after the Seventh Air Tour of Bulgaria, which started on September 20. An Air Tour stopover at Alfa-Metal Airfield near the village of Mezhdene turned the nearby town of Gabrovo into an aviation centre for a day.

"The fund is intended to give disadvantaged children a pathway into aviation, with the understanding that they can gradually repay the support once they start earning as pilots. The initial stage is the most challenging, and the fund would provide the necessary help at this critical point. Similar programmes exist in the UK and other countries, and the aim is to introduce this practice in Bulgaria," said Ivandjikov.

Gabrovo was chosen for its existing infrastructure and potential, including the Nikola Vassiliadi Vocational Technical School and the Technical University. BAIA aims to create aviation-focused programmes in collaboration with the university, combining the expertise of the Association's members - the National Defence College, the Air Force Academy and leading drone technology companies - with the university's academic capacity to train future engineers, mechanics and drone pilots.

BAIA is also partnering with the Vocational Technical School to develop a curriculum in unmanned aerial vehicles, giving students early access to modern skills for careers in the rapidly growing drone industry, which spans surveillance, logistics, agriculture, medicine, environmental protection and security.

The expert believes that Gabrovo's industrial heritage and tradition of innovation make it ideal for building a complete aviation ecosystem, from secondary and vocational education to university programmes and new tech businesses, allowing young people to gain skills and pursue careers in a high-tech, strategically important industry at home.

For three years now, BAIA has been running a large-scale mentorship programme that includes school visits, open days and aviation events featuring world records, aiming to inspire young people and give them a close-up experience of the aviation spirit.

Todor Ivandjikov said small airports are key to the sector's development, serving not just hobby flights but future logistics hubs, business centres and platforms for drones and air taxis. "If we do not develop them, we lose our strategic future," he warned.

He added that BAIA's next major initiative is Inter Drone Expo 2025 at Sofia's Inter Expo Center between September 30 and October 3. In addition to co-organizing the exhibition, the association will host an expert forum on "Unmanned Aviation Dialogues: Civil, Defense and Future Perspectives" on October 1, bringing together leading specialists from industry, academia and the public sector.

"Aviation is a collective profession - from pilots and engineers to mechanics and air traffic controllers. Only through collaboration can we build a sustainable future," Ivandjikov said.

BAIA promotes a culture of teamwork in all its activities, from youth programmes in Bulgaria to European projects and international partnerships. The association participates in numerous Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe initiatives.

In October, BAIA will join a new international project, FutureWings, coordinated by Turkiye's Private Data College Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, in partnership with leading European organizations. The project aims to develop and implement training programmes for electric and hybrid aircraft engines, focusing on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable aviation. FutureWings will include training modules, AR/VR platforms, and simulation environments to prepare aviation technicians and engineers according to the latest technological trends.

For three years now, through several government changes, BAIA has called for the removal of VAT and fuel excise tax on flight training centres, which is a crucial first step to make aviation education more accessible to young people.

According to Ivandjikov, while Bulgaria is still awaiting such reforms, neighbouring Romania already funds flight training for a private pilot licence for people up to 23 years old. Even for those not covered by state funding, course fees are much lower than in Bulgaria. As a result, Romania now has ten times more pilots, with airports equipped with modern infrastructure and training fleets.

BAIA has proposed a national programme, Young in Aviation, to unite efforts from the government, universities and industry. The programme would support young people through training ranging from introductory flights and initial drone technology experience to professional education for pilots, mechanics and engineers.