1 января, 2022

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021

2021 was an year of transformation for EGT Jet. We were able to purchase, accept the delivery and start commercial operations with two new Embraer Phenom 300E aircrafts. The process wasn’t easy, but with a hard work from our team and partners from Embraer Executive Aircraft, CAE Inc, IAS Ltd. and Bulgarian Directorate General “Civil Aviation Administration” we managed to deliver the aircrafts on time and start operations. The preparation for the aircrafts delivery took us more than 6 months. During this time we trained our pilots, engineers and mechanics with the help of our partners at CAE. The training in pandemic conditions was not easy since we had to adhere to the mandatory quarantine requirements and travel restrictions. Our engineers went trough an remote live general familiarization training provided by CAE. The mechanics were able to finish their training in two parts – remote live theoretical training by CAE and practical training in Embraer service center at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. The pilots were trained by CAE in Amsterdam on state of the art simulators and finished their base training in the UK. We managed to prepare the required documents and apply for all the approvals needed.

Technicians practical training at Embraer service center at Paris–Le Bourget Airport

The delivery process was also a challenge due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and health requirements in different countries. The delivery took place in Embraer USA facilities in Melbourne, Florida. The process is straightforward and started with a presentation flight in accordance with a predefined procedure to test the aircraft systems and cabin equipment in flight. The flight was performed by Embraer factory test pilots and EGT Jet pilots and engineers on board. After the flight a detailed physical inspection of the aircraft was performed and all discrepancies were rectified. An airworthiness review was performed by the USA Federal Aviation Administration and the Bulgarian Directorate General “Civil Aviation Administration” to issue all the required documents.

The ferry flight to Sofia was an interesting endeavor since a light jet is not designed to cross oceans. The flight followed the so called “Blue spruce” routes over the North Atlantic – they provide non stop VHF coverage for the traffic and are used by smaller aircrafts or aircrafts without the required long range navigation capabilities. We took off from Melbourne, Florida (KMLB) early in the morning and landed in Bangor, Maine (KBGR) to clear export formalities with US Customs and Border Protection. The next day was the North Atlantic crossing from Bangor, Maine (KBGR) trough CFB Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador (CYYR) to Keflavik, Iceland (BIKF). We had to take an extra flotation equipment – life rafts, ELTs, and neoprene suits on board from Goose Bay. After a good rest in Keflavik we took the final flight from Keflavik, Iceland (BIKF) trough Wick, Scotland (EGPC) to drop the extra equipment and from there to our home base in Sofia, Bulgaria (LBSF), where a warm welcome with a water salute marked the end of the trip. After the required demonstration flights from the The process wasn’t easy, but with a hard work from our team and partners from Embraer Executive Aircraft, CAE Inc, IAS Ltd. and Bulgarian Directorate General “Civil Aviation Administration” we managed to deliver the aircrafts on time and start operations.