SOFIA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- A shortage of serviceable planes and helicopters in the Bulgarian Air Force is affecting flight safety, the country's caretaker Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said here on Tuesday.

Zapryanov made the statement after a working meeting where a report on the flight preparedness of the Air Force was presented.

In three years, there have been three crashes at three different air bases, which Zapryanov said was extremely worrying.

Noting that much of the report was classified, Zapryanov said that the most important issue affecting flight safety over the years has been a chronic shortage of serviceable aircraft.

This applies to all aviation platforms in the country's Air Force.

The number of airplanes and helicopters available for operational use is not sufficient to maintain the number of pilot flight hours necessary for the execution of all the tasks and exercises in combat training, Zapryanov said.

The number of flight hours by category is also insufficient, especially those of young pilots, he said. Enditem

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