Three Cougar AS532 ALs entered service for the Bulgarian Air Force in 2006, and a fourth joined the ranks in May 2007. A total of 12 helicopters are scheduled for delivery.

Interview with General Stefan Petrov, captain of the Bulgarian Air Force base in Krumovo.

What are the current and future missions for the 12 Cougar AS532 ALs?
Stefan Petrov: We will be receiving eight Cougar AS532 ALs in TTH version and four in C-SAR version. The TTH(1) helicopters are to be used for troop or VIP transport and EMS missions. The remaining helicopters will perform peace-time SAR missions in special operating environments. The four helicopters that were delivered in August, October and December of last year are in the TTH configuration. They have been flying night and day since they entered service and have already logged over 500 flight hours. Our pilots are thrilled with the new helicopters.

What are the main differences between the Cougars and the helicopters you operated previously?
S. P.: Up until now we were using Russian and American helicopters. The Cougars feature modern equipment with cutting-edge technology, especially in terms of avionics systems. The navigation and communication systems in the Cougars are completely new to us.

What type of training are your pilots receiving on the Cougar?
S. P.: All our pilots undergo a month of training at Marignane, and upon completion they receive their type qualification. They also get to spend time on the flight simulator, which really helps them get familiar with the Cougar. Eighteen of our pilots have already completed training and six will be receiving their type qualification soon. Eurocopter has sent over an instructor for an entire year so that the flight training can be carried out in Bulgaria. This is the ideal solution to train our pilots on our own machines in their specific configuration.

How would you describe your relationship with Eurocopter?
S. P.: We have enjoyed excellent relations with Eurocopter. We haven't had any problems since signing the contract. Eurocopter personnel are always there to provide assistance when we need it. That's very important to us because this is our first time operating European helicopters.