ENAIRE manages more than 1,000 drone operations in the airspace

ENAIRE, air navigation manager in Spain, has managed more than 1,000 drone operations, since the entry into force of Royal Decree 1036/2017, of December 15, which regulates the civil use of aircraft piloted by remote control (also known as RPAS or drones).

Significantly increase flights in controlled spaces

This 2019, the drone flights managed by ENAIRE have been 255, of which 192 were in uncontrolled airspaces and the rest (63) were in controlled airspaces.

Flights in controlled spaces are increasing significantly compared to 2018, the year from which they can operate in these airspaces, in which ENAIRE managed 23 operations in controlled airspace.

So far this year, the communities with the highest number of drone operations managed are, in this order, Catalonia and Madrid, with more than thirty flights in each; Extremadura and Andalusia, with more than 20 respectively, and the Canary Islands, Navarra, Galicia, the Basque Country, Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha, with more than ten each.

Collaboration with institutions

In the management of these flights by ENAIRE, collaboration with institutions, companies and pilots of private drones is continuing. In this regard, the collaborative works with the Security Forces and Bodies stand out: Municipal Police of Madrid, Ertzaintza and Mossos d'Esquadra; as well as autonomous emergency entities, such as the Valencian Agency for Security and Emergency Response.

ENAIRE works so that all aircraft can live together in the airspace safely. For this, the coordination of drone operations is essential, varying the procedures according to the type of airspace.

To fly a drone in airspace controlled by ENAIRE, an aeronautical safety study is previously required to analyze and mitigate the possible risks for all types of operation (the recommended methodology is called SORA ). To coordinate these safety studies, drone operators should contact the ENAIRE Security Division so that, when analyzed, the operator can request authorization from the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA). Once the authorization is obtained, you must contact the ENAIRE Airspace Operational Coordination Department to coordinate your operation ( cop@enaire.es ).

On the day of the drone flight, the current aeronautical warnings (NOTAM) must be checked and a flight plan made through ICARO XXI . All steps are available on the ENAIRE website ( How to fly drones in airspace controlled by ENAIRE? ).

ENAIRE also makes available to pilots and drone operators a specific website and the application drones.enaire.es , with data and aeronautical information for the identification of possible restrictions to fly drones in a specific airspace according to current legislation. With the help of this web application, the operators of these aircraft have the possibility to plan the flight, read warnings and alerts in advance to fly a drone.