Air traffic services (ATS)

Air traffic services form the core of ENAIRE’s operations. We provide three services within our assigned areas: Air Traffic Control (ATC), Flight Information Services (FIS), and Alerting Services.

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

The ENAIRE ATC service is delivered by air traffic controllers who maintain safe separation between aircraft and issue control clearances, either at the pilot’s request or on their own initiative, based on traffic conditions and the operational environment.

ENAIRE is Spain’s largest provider of air traffic control services and the only organisation offering all three ATC services: area, approach, and aerodrome control:

Area control service: our controllers manage controlled flights within a terminal control area, control zones, or along airways. This service is provided from five control centres (ACCs): Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, and Gran Canaria.
Approach control service (APP): controllers manage the arrival and departure of controlled flights within a control zone and designated terminal areas. They coordinate traffic efficiently during holding, approach, take-off, and landing phases.
Aerodrome control service (TWR): controllers manage aircraft on the airport surface and its immediate vicinity. This service is provided at 21 towers, including Spain’s five busiest.

Flight Information Services (FIS)

ENAIRE is the primary provider of real-time aeronautical information in Spain, ensuring safe and efficient operations throughout all phases of flight.

FIS personnel report changes that may affect flight safety, such as meteorological conditions or the status of navigation aids.

ENAIRE provides four types of information:

Aerodrome: includes visibility, wind, cloud conditions, runway obstacles, and any other events affecting the airport environment
Approach: details which runways are in use and which runways aircraft should use at any given time.
En-route: covers operational status of radio aids, radars, airports, and meteorological conditions throughout the flight.
Advisory service: provides information to prevent collision hazards and enhance flight safety.

ENAIRE sends these four types of information through:

Operational Flight Information Broadcast Service (VHF-HF OFIS).
Automatic terminal area voice information service (voice-ATIS).

Alerting Service

One of ENAIRE's main missions as an air navigation service provider is to respond when an aircraft has an incident.

The Alerting Service is responsible for notifying the Air and Space Force's Air Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) when an aircraft needs search and rescue assistance.

The ARCC is responsible for coordinating the search and rescue (SAR) operations that are carried out in its area of responsibility.

ENAIRE provides the Alerting Service from area and approach control centres as well as from aerodrome control towers.