AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
ENAIRE’s new terminal area control
centre in Valencia, Spain uses the
latest technology to control the air
traffic in an area of 59,000 km2, which
includes the airports of Alicante, Valencia,
Castellón and Murcia, as well as between
Madrid and the Balearic Islands. In 2019,
traffic is expected to grow by 4% and the
number of flights will exceed 200,000.
The building, which was opened in
February 2019 will provide air traffic
approach-control services for the airports of
Valencia, Alicante-Elche and VFR (visual
flight rules) aerodromes. The centre is also
responsible for coordinating the technical
operation services that are carried out in
relation to ENAIRE’s facilities – air
navigation systems such as VOR (Very High
Frequency (VHF) Omni-Directional
Range(VOR) and radar –that are required
so aircraft can follow their routes and be
detected at all times. These systems are
located in the Valencian Community, the
Region of Murcia and Albacete Air Base.
The investment made by the Ministry of
Public Works, through ENAIRE, in the
Valencia control centre totals €26.5 million
(US$30 million).
The technology and redundant systems
the centre has to control air traffic ensure the
safety and continuity of air navigation
services and also that it will be able to
respond to the demands of the major growth
of air traffic in the Valencian Community,
one of the most popular destinations for
international tourism.
In 2018, ENAIRE managed 188,000 flights
from this centre, 70% of which were
international. In 2019, traffic is expected to
96 AIR TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 2020
grow by 4% and the number of flights will
exceed 200,000.
These ENAIRE facilities also provide
assistance to important regional services,
such as flights for organ transplants, medical
evacuations, the Maritime Rescue Air Base,
firefighting, agriculture, the police, the
Directorate-General for Traffic, air sports,
flying clubs and aviation schools.
What is a TACC?
A terminal area control centre (TACC) is
where the air traffic in a certain area or
sector of airspace is planned, organised and
managed. Spain’s airspace is divided into
three large flight information regions:
Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
Each flight information region is, in turn,
divided into smaller airspace sectors known
as terminal control areas, aerodrome control
areas and airways.
Valencia’s TACC has facilities that are
sized to meet the major air traffic growth
demands of the Valencian Community. This
is therefore, as Jose Luis Abalos, Minister of
Public Works, pointed out, “a strategic
project because it is a replica, in the field of
aeronautical infrastructures, of the
FIT FOR THE FUTURE
The new terminal area control centre in Valencia, Spain, is
managing more than 200,000 flights
Barbara Diaz, telecommunications engineer, Ineco
Above: Valencia’s new terminal area control centre can handle
the expected air traffic demand in the region, which grows during
the summer months because of increased international tourism
Opposite page: José Luis Ábalos, Minister of Public Works,
opening ENAIRE’s terminal area control centre (TACC) in Valencia
The building and antennae
towers in which the radio
equipment radiating system
has been installed for
ENAIRE’s new terminal area
control centre in Valencia