¿What is Free-Route airspace?

Free route airspace (FRA) is a designated airspace volume where airspace users may plan flight routes freely between designated points, with few restrictions and without the need to stick to airways or predefined direct segments.

It is only applicable during flight planning phase. After a flight plan has been filed and approved, the operation is subject to its approved flight plan and, when applicable, to ATC clearances.

Traditional flight track sample

### Imagen embebida: Trayectoria_tradicional ###

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free route track sample

### Imagen embebida: Trayectoria_free_route ###

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISPAFRA is the official designator of Spanish FRA. It is composed of two cells:

  • Continental cell. Its boundary is that of the union(*) of Madrid and Barcelona UIRs, between flight levels FL245 and FL660. Entry into service: December 2, 2021.
  • Canarias cell. Its boundary is that of Canarias UIR, between flight levels FL305 and FL660. Entry into service: October 7, 2021.

(*) Excluding the airspace volumes delegated by Spain to Portugal, and including the airspace volumes delegated by Portugal to Spain.