ENAIRE and COPAC push for improved air operations after analysing 600 flight observations from pilots and controllers

The Governing Committee of the Air Operations Safety and Efficiency Observatory, made up of representatives of ENAIRE and the Official Association of Commercial Aviation Pilots (COPAC), met today to analyse the results from 2020 and plan the actions for 2021. The attendees reviewed the more than 600 observations that will be used to improve air operations in Spanish airspace.

The Observatory was created in 2019 with the aim of identifying inefficiencies and best operating practices by having the professionals involved in air operations (pilots and controllers) gather information directly, and systematising their joint analysis in an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of aviation in Spanish airspace.

The Governance Committee of the Observatory for Air Operations Safety and Efficiency analyses the results from 2020 and plans the actions for 2021 at its first annual meeting.

The scope of the Observatory's activities, which was recognised in 2020 by the European network manager, EUROCONTROL, are flights that land at and/or take off from the five busiest Spanish airports: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga Costa del Sol and Gran Canaria.

The Observatory works by having pilots collect data associated with their flights, and having the controllers conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the operations. The results of these actions are then shared in the so-called Event Review Committees (one per airport) in order to identify and disseminate best practices. To this end, 55 pilots from 11 airlines have been trained as observers.

Another goal of the Observatory is to improve the mutual knowledge of operations between pilots and controllers, as well as to promote collaboration and transparency in the field of aviation. To this end, for 2021 the Governance Committee approved expanding the observations, as allowed by the recovery in air traffic, as well as strengthening the outreach activities through a development portal and meetings with stakeholders.

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, Gran Canaria and Palma, as well as approach services to every airport in the country.

In addition, 45 control towers receive ENAIRE's communication, navigation and surveillance services, and 21 airports, including the country's busiest, rely on its aerodrome control services.

ENAIRE is the fourth most important European air navigation service provider, and, in a clear commitment to the Single Sky initiative, belongs to international partnerships such as SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, A6 Alliance, iTEC, CANSO and ICAO.

ENAIRE is the official provider of aeronautical information in Spain.

About COPAC

The Official Association of Commercial Aviation Pilots (COPAC) is a public-law, nationwide corporation created in 1998 that represents the professional interests of Spanish commercial pilots. The main objectives of COPAC are to ensure the safety and legality of flight operations in order to guarantee the fundamental rights of citizens as air transport users. It is also responsible for monitoring and studying professional activity and incidents and for ensuring quality training for pilots, and it provides a communication channel between pilots, society and the government. www.copac.es