The new device consists of an application that allows paragliders to be geolocated in real-time, thereby facilitating the safe management of aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The main objective is to significantly reduce the downtime for paragliding flights, which currently can last up to two and a half hours, to an interval of fifteen to thirty minutes. This improvement is a long-standing demand from the sector, which has seen its activity decrease by more than half in recent years.
Paragliding activity in Organyà is a key economic driver for the municipality, supporting hotels, restaurants, and flight schools. However, the increase in air operations at the Andorra-La Seu d'Urgell airport, which recorded a record 1,063 operations last July, has complicated departure planning. One-third of these operations correspond to essential public services such as firefighters or emergency services.
To address this situation, Aeroports de Catalunya has implemented an application based on the SafeSky system. This platform allows the airport's control tower to detect the presence of paragliders connected to the network via a mobile app that shares users' geolocation and altitude. Additionally, a receiving antenna has been installed in the Organyà launch area to capture and retransmit air traffic signals like ADS-B.
The new protocol distinguishes between visual and instrumental flights. While visual flights allow coexistence with paragliders (with an altitude limit of 6,000 feet, 500 feet below visual aircraft), instrumental flights, such as those operated by Air Nostrum, will require coordination. The system anticipates that the control tower will notify the paraglider coordinator about imminent instrumental maneuvers, allowing paragliders to move to safe zones or land temporarily.
Once the tests are completed, Aeroports de Catalunya will submit a technical report to the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) for validation. The airport director, Oscar Madrid, expects to obtain authorization by early 2027. The director of Aeroports de Catalunya, Jordi Candela, has highlighted that if the system is approved, Catalonia would be a pioneer in Spain, with export potential to other airports, citing similar examples in Austria or Switzerland.
The paragliding sector welcomes the measure with optimism, albeit with some skepticism regarding the increase in private jets. Fernando Martínez, director of the Parapent Barcelona school, acknowledges the improvement in reducing waiting times but warns that a continued increase in instrumental flights could keep limitation times high.
