Celebrating 30 years of the Department of Air Transport at TU - Sofia

On 24.11.2023, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Department of Air Transport at TU – Sofia took place in the "Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov" Hall in Building 8. In his welcome address, the Rector of TU – Sofia, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ivan Králov highlighted the role of the Department of Air Transport in training generations of personnel for Bulgaria's civil aviation and expressed gratitude to its founders, heads, and faculty members for their efforts and achievements, both in the educational process and in scientific research and development. The founders of the department – Prof. Dr. Eng. Boris Madzharov and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Stefan Petrov – shared memories of the department's early steps, the enthusiasm, and the support they received from the state and the aviation industry. Greetings to the department's faculty and the leadership of the Faculty of Transport were also delivered by the guests of the ceremony – representatives of the state aviation administration, aviation companies, manufacturing and repair firms in the industry, and airport complexes. 

The Department of Air Transport at the Technical University – Sofia was established by a decision of the Academic Council in 1993, based on a proposal from the Ministry of Transport and an agreement with TU – Sofia, and upon the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with a request to organize and conduct civil aviation education in accordance with international requirements. The first and long-serving head of the department for over 10 years was Prof. Dr. Eng. Boris Madzharov.

With the establishment of the department, training began in the specialty "Aviation Technology and Engineering", and later in "Aviation Engineering" in English, covering the directions and specializations necessary for aviation personnel in all operational activities in Civil Aviation.

Parallel to higher education, 10 students from 12 graduating classes, who met certain requirements, received theoretical training to obtain the operator qualification "Flight Supervisor" and "Pilot" in civil aviation, under agreements for practical training with the training centers of the General Directorate "Civil Aviation Administration".

For the 30-year existence of the department, the curricula and disciplines providing the model of higher aviation education in accordance with international norms and standards in the field of civil aviation have been structured, developed, and improved. During its existence, the department has built its own academic staff of habilitated lecturers and assistants with high theoretical and methodological training. A specialized educational-material laboratory base has been created and a continuously enriching specialized educational-scientific library. The department's lecturers have published a number of monographs, textbooks, and study aids, the majority of which form the series "Library of the Aviation Specialist". Some of the most prominent Bulgarian scientists in the field of aviation sciences work at the department as honorary lecturers. All this has created a unique style and traditions for the department, ensuring high quality of education.

Over the 30-year period, more than 600 masters and 1000 bachelors of full-time and part-time study have graduated from the specialty. Currently, more than 300 students are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs and more than 80 in master's degree programs across all courses. The employment rate of graduates in civil aviation is over 90%.

For the practical training of students, the department conducts specialized internships and practicums in collaboration with aviation companies and their technical bases, DP "Air Traffic Management", airport complexes, and repair plants.

Despite the good results achieved, modern higher aviation education requires further efforts to continue realizing the department's ambition as a key educational and scientific unit in Bulgarian aviation.