ENAIRE successfully coordinates Europe's first long-distance stratospheric flight in the Canary Islands

 

ENAIREThe national air navigation manager has successfully coordinated in Canarias the first long-distance stratospheric flight in Europa during December 2025 and January 2026, validating critical technologies for emergency management and security under the highest operational control standards.

 

Integration of HAPS systems into conventional airspace

 

The operation, carried out in collaboration with Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA), has allowed for the first time the safe coexistence between a high-altitude platform —called High Altitude Platform System (HAPS extension— and commercial aviation. This technical milestone has been developed from the stratoport of Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura, whose operations have been directly supervised by the Centro de Control de ENAIRE in the Archipelago.

 

This deployment is part of the ambitious Proyecto ISSEC, led by the company Telespazio Ibérica (belonging to the Grupo Leonardo) in temporary union with Pegasus Aero GroupThe initiative seeks to develop solutions for R&D&I applied to the protection of biodiversity, citizen security and disaster response through the use of state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft.

 

Key Concept	Operation Details
Location	Stratoport of the Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura, Canarias
Main Aircraft	Apus Neo 18 (MIRA Aerospace)
Project Leadership	Telespazio Ibérica y Pegasus Aero Group (UTE)
Technical Operator	CATEC (Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales)
Objective	Real-time data transmission validation for emergencies

 

Advanced technology for disaster management

 

The core of the mission has been to validate the operational capability of these platforms as critical support tools. The technical execution has been carried out by Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales (CATEC), who acted as the authorized operator for the handling of the aircraft Apus Neo 18, manufactured by MIRA AerospaceAdditionally, the launch of a free balloon by the company was included. TAO.

 

Thanks to the coordination of the air traffic controllers of ENAIRESpecific procedures were established to monitor the platform's ascent into the stratosphere. Among the competitive advantages of this technology are:

 

• Real-time data transmission directly to Centro de Geoinformación.
• Optimizing the response in the fighting forest fires.
• Improved monitoring capabilities for the natural disaster management.
• Concept development Higher Airspace Operations (HAO) at the continental level.

 

With this advance, the Spanish aerospace industry demonstrates its ability to lead the sector in Europa, placing the Islas Canarias at the forefront of innovation and safety in high-altitude operations.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about stratospheric flights in the Canary Islands

What is a HAPS platform and what is it used for?
It is a high-altitude platform (High Altitude Platform System) that operates in the stratosphere to provide data transmission and observation services, being fundamental to coordinating emergencies in real time.

What role have ENAIRE and AESA played in this operation?
Both agencies have authorized and supervised the integration of these unmanned vehicles into controlled airspace, ensuring that their coexistence with commercial traffic is safe and efficient.

Why was Fuerteventura chosen for this European milestone?
Due to the infrastructure of Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura The strategic management of the Canary Islands' airspace, which has the ideal conditions to consolidate itself as the benchmark center for the new air mobility in Europa.