ENAIRE starts to implement new navigation procedures at the Málaga Airport to improve operations

Today, ENAIRE, the national air navigation service provider, is starting the implementation of a new approach process at the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport to improve its operability.

The project, called MIDAS, will be in the implementation phase over the next few days. MIDAS involves modernising and improving procedures by using the latest technologies. The precision of RNAV1 navigation used in the design is already in compliance with European Regulation 2018/1048, which applies to arrival and departure routes, and to approaches, and whose application deadline is 2030.

MIDAS, which uses the AMAN arrivals manager, provides assistance for sequencing and ordering aircraft, which makes it easier for air traffic controllers to manage and coordinate air traffic.

The new project places the approach to Málaga amongst the most modern in the world

The arrival trajectories enhance traffic sequencing and consist of reference points that the controller can use to shorten the standard route, thus optimising the use of the airspace. The separation between successive aircraft is more regular and the number of pilot-controller communications is lower, and they are shorter and simpler. 

With its MIDAS procedure, ENAIRE is making the approach to the Málaga-Costa del Sol airport one of the most modern in the world. It provides environmental benefits through lower emissions while maintaining the acoustic footprint, and it makes the work of pilots and controllers easier through more standardised manoeuvres.

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, it provides en route control services for all flights and overflights from five control centres in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Canary Islands and Balearics, as well as approach services to every airport in the country.

In addition, 46 airports receive ENAIRE's communication, navigation and surveillance services, and 21 airports, including the country's busiest, rely on its aerodrome control services.

ENAIRE is Europe's fourth largest air traffic manager and participates in the A6 Alliance, a coalition of air navigation providers responsible for over 80% of European air traffic, and which is seeking to modernise the air traffic management system. It is also a member of other international alliances promoting the Single European sky, such as SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC and CANSO.

ENAIRE, as the entity appointed by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda to implement the U-space system in Spain, will be the provider of the Common Information Services (CIS), which are essential for administering U-space services to drones and Urban Air Mobility, in interaction with local air traffic control services, so that all types of aircraft can fly safely in the same airspace.

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator. It has also been awarded the EFQM 500 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.