Civil Aviation Act

 CIVIL AVIATION ACT

Publication - State Gazette No. 94/01.12.1972;
Last Amendment - SG No. 32/16.04.2026, in force as of 16.04.2026

Chapter One
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1
(Last Amendment, SG No. 85/1998)

This Act shall govern all public relations pertaining to civilian air navigation in the Republic of Bulgaria as well as to ensuring its safety and security.
 

Article 2
 

(1) (Last Amendment, SG No. 85/1998) The Republic of Bulgaria shall have complete, exclusive and irrevocable sovereignty over the airspace above its territory, inclusive of its inland and territorial waters.
(2) (Last Amendment - SG No. 87/2025) The Council of Ministers shall designate the airspace zones wherein aerial navigation may be prohibitedor restricted.
(3) (New - SG No. 87/2025) Paragraph 2 shall not apply to the controlled airspace structures for temporarily separated areas, reserved areas, restricted areas, danger areas and ad-hoc danger areas at the tactical level.
(4) (New - SG No. 87/2025) The conditions and procedure for determining the controlled airspace structures for the areas under paragraph 3 shall be determined by the regulation under Article 2a, paragraph 2.
 

Article 2a
(Last Amendment - SG No. 87/2025)

(1) (Last Amendment - SG No. 87/2025) The organisation and supervision of the usage of civil airspace, as well as the air traffic management and control over the airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria served, shall be governed by procedures as laid down by the Minister of Transport and Communications.
(2) (Last Amendment - SG No. 87/2025) The Minister of Transport and Communications, in coordination with the Minister of Defence, shall determine by ordinance the conditions and procedure for the introduction and the rules for the operation of the unified system for civil and military airspace management.
(3) (Last Amendment - SG No. 87/2025) The Minister of Transport and Communications and the Minister of Defence shall stipulate the rules and procedures for using the airspace in a state of emergency, martial law and / or war.
 

Article 3
(Last Amendment, SG No. 85/1998)

(1) Civil aerial navigation shall be any flying performed by civilian aircraft and intended for:
1. carriage of passengers, baggage, cargo and mail by air;
2. providing services to agriculture, forestry and other sectors of economy;
3. geological and geographic exploration and other scientific research;
4. giving emergency medical attention and/or medical evacuation;
5. cultural and educational purposes, aerial photography and advertising;
6. fire-fighting, flood-control, response to other disasters, rescue and relief operations;
7. flight training, sports, etc.
(2) Civilian aircraft shall be all non-governmental planes.