FGL Granada-Jaén Airport. Alejandro Muñiz Delgado.
• The airport will have new arrival, departure and approach procedures based on satellite navigation, improving the precision, flexibility and efficiency of operations
• Designed by ENAIRE, they combine satellite-based navigation manoeuvres with conventional alternatives to ensure the airport remains accessible to all aircraft
The first phase of the new satellite-based instrument procedures designed by ENAIRE for Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport entered service yesterday as planned. This work forms part of the project to modernise the airport’s arrival, departure and approach procedures by adapting them to performance-based navigation specifications, in line with developments in European air navigation regulations.
The introduction of these new procedures will provide the airport with more precise, flexible and robust operating procedures, taking advantage of the capabilities of current satellite navigation systems. It will also help improve operational efficiency and strengthen service continuity, while maintaining alternative conventional procedures for aircraft without performance-based area navigation capability.
The main benefits include improved safety thanks to more precise and predictable flight paths, which facilitate the work of flight crews and air traffic management. The new procedures also make it possible to optimise operations and make better use of the navigation capabilities available on new-generation aircraft.
New procedures adapted to operating conditions at Granada
The project includes the introduction of new arrival, departure and approach procedures, as well as adaptations to some existing conventional procedures and the associated airspace.
In designing the procedures, ENAIRE paid particular attention to the airport’s surroundings, its complex terrain and the obstacles in the area. The GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) performance required to ensure that the planned procedures can be flown as intended has also been verified.
Two-phase implementation
Entry into service will be phased. The first phase, scheduled for 1 October 2026, includes new satellite-based arrival and departure procedures for runways 09/27 and satellite-based approaches to runway 09.
A second phase will then add satellite-based approaches to runway 27, work on which has already begun; this will improve operations on a runway that currently has no instrument procedures.
With this project, ENAIRE continues to make progress in meeting the requirements of the Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Implementation Plan, as part of ENAIRE’s Strategic Plan, Flight Plan 2030. It also helps comply with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1048, which aims to improve the efficiency of air traffic management at European level by implementing performance-based navigation (PBN) in all phases of flight.
Inside the control tower at FGL Granada-Jaén Airport, managed by ENAIRE. Alejandro Muñiz Delgado
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 obtained the highest rating in the key performance indicator for air safety at European scale for six consecutive years, the last five with the maximum possible score of 100%. It has also been awarded the EFQM 600 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.