ENAIRE upgrades the DVOR-DME air navigation aid systems at Bilbao Airport

ENAIRE, the national air navigation service provider, has replaced the DVOR-DME navaid at Bilbao Airport, which had reached the end of its service life.

It was also relocated to a new site in order to eliminate a potential future obstacle in the 10-28 runway strip.

The DVOR-DME installation and the newly designed procedures went into service on 10 July 2025, with neither the change nor the implementation of the new procedures having any operational impact on the airlines operating at the airport.

This action is part of the Technological Modernisation Plan, replacing the previous installation once it reached the end of its service life

Navaids

VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range) equipment provides information about the radial on which the aircraft is flying relative to the ground-based aid, while DME (Distance Measurement Equipment) provides information on the distance between the aircraft and the ground station.

As a result, a pilot tuning in to the navaid can determine the position of their aircraft and which direction to fly in to start the approach to the corresponding airport.

Navaids are systems that provide information on the aircraft's position by means of radio signals, as well as guidance signals during different phases of flight. These signals allow aircraft using them to obtain on-board navigation information to streamline operations between airports.

This DVOR-DME at Bilbao Airport primarily supports landing procedures, as well as the approach and departure procedures at the airport.

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.