ENAIRE presents at the CDTI how airspace will be managed with unmanned aerial systems

ENAIRE, the national air navigation manager and a key player in the safe integration of unmanned aircraft, took part today in the First Conference on Airspace Scalability and Automation:UAS, organised by the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI), in collaboration with the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), the Advanced Centre for Aerospace Technologies (CATEC), and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV).

ENAIRE was appointed by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility as the sole provider of common information services to act as the central hub for all flight data relating to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in U-space

The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI), a body under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities that promotes innovation and technological development among Spanish companies, brought together at its headquarters in Madrid institutional representatives, experts in aeronautical innovation, technology centres and leading companies in the sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by the integration of autonomous aircraft into shared airspace.

During the event, Daniel García-Monteavaro, Head of ENAIRE’s Drone Business Development Department, took part in the round table on the integration of airspace in BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations, alongside representatives from AESA, GRADIANT, and UPV. His contribution focused on ENAIRE’s role in the rollout of U-space in Spain, and how the digital platforms being developed by the organisation will enable the automation of unmanned traffic management. ENAIRE is actively working on the safe integration of advanced operations such as BVLOS flights and high-altitude platforms (HAPS), addressing key challenges in automation, airspace coordination, and coexistence with manned air traffic.

Alberto Vall Arrufat, Head of the UAS Area at the Civil Aviation General Directorate (DGAC), moderated the round table alongside Laura López, Head of UAS Operations at AESA; Alfonso Lorenzo, Business Development Director at GRADIANT; and Israel Quintanilla, lecturer and researcher in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility with the ARA-UPV group.

The event placed particular emphasis on disruptive technologies that will pave the way for a shared-use airspace model, opening the door to new services such as medical drone transport, urban air mobility, and emergency missions.

Common information service provider

ENAIRE will facilitate the exchange of information between flight operators and air traffic management stakeholders, having been designated as the sole Common Information Services Provider (CISP) in Spain under Royal Decree 517/2024, approved on 4 June 2024. This decree explicitly states that ENAIRE will be responsible for providing, in a unified digital format, information on the geographical zones designated as U-space, and will carry out this role exclusively for an initial period of ten years, extendable by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

In doing so, ENAIRE reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation and institutional collaboration—both essential to leading the transition towards a more automated and sustainable approach to airspace management.

[Daniel García-Monteavaro, head of the Drone Business Development Department at ENAIRE; Israel Quintanilla, professor and researcher in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility at the ARA-UPV group; Alberto Arrufat, from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation; Laura López, head of the UAS Operations Service at AESA; and Alfonso Lorenzo, Director of Business Development at GRADIANT].

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Sustainable Transport and Mobility, it provides air traffic control services during the en route and approach phases of all flights to and from Spain and overflights. In addition, it manages communications, navigation and surveillance services from ENAIRE in the airspace and the entire AENA airport network in Spain and provides aerodrome air traffic control services in 21 airports, including the busiest.

ENAIRE is the fourth largest European air navigation service provider, and it is a member of international partnerships A6 Alliance, SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and collaborates closely with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator for four years in a row. It has also been awarded the EFQM 600 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.