We dedicate the cover of this issue to the arrival of high speed to Granada with a full report in which we wanted to give a voice to the Ineco technicians who worked with Adif Alta Velocidad on the execution of the final 114-kilometre section. In so doing, we not only celebrate the fact that the historic city of Granada now enjoys connections similar to those of other large cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, but also highlight the technical knowledge and expertise of our professionals in the execution of this kind of infrastructure; ingenuity and talent serving society. This new line is undoubtedly another step in the firm commitment to structuring and uniting the country socially, culturally and geographically, representing another breakthrough in Spanish engineering, and all framed by  the comprehensive vision of our transport model, part of the Ministry of Public Works’ Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility strategy.

On the subject of railways, this issue features a report on the work that Ineco has been carrying out for more than 15 years to guarantee the quality and supply of railway materials used for track assembly.

In the field of airports, the conducting of studies and projects under the premise of efficient, sustainable and safe work, in the case of the projects recently carried out for Aeronáutica Civil de Colombia, has a special attraction: the satisfaction of participating in the development of airports located in remote regions with enormous agricultural, commercial and tourist potential. On this same subject, we are particularly pleased to hear the comments of the CEO of Aerocivil, engineer Juan Carlos Salazar.

We celebrate the arrival of high-speed rail to Granada, a new milestone in Spanish engineering’s commitment to structuring and uniting the country socially, culturally and geographically

This issue also highlights Ineco’s participation in the design and development of four projects aimed at effectively and sustainably improving mobility, two in the international arena –the construction of Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro and the new Paseo del Bajo road corridor, which crosses Buenos Aires from north to south– and two in Spain –ENAIRE’s new terminal area control centre (TACC) in Valencia and the San José de Valderas commuter rail station in Madrid–.

In the space dedicated to corporate social responsibility, we highight Ineco’s initiatives to promote equality. Moving towards real gender equality involves commitment and concrete actions. In this regard, we want to showcase and share with you the ‘IN’ Women’s’ Programme that we recently launched

The building, which was opened in February 2019, will provide air traffic approach-control services for the airports of Valencia, Alicante-Elche and VFR aerodromes. The centre is also responsible for coordinating the technical operation services that are carried out in relation to ENAIRE’s facilities (air navigation systems, such as VOR and radar, required for aircraft to follow their routes and  to allow detection of their location at all times), which are located in the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia and Albacete Air Base.

The investment made by the Ministry of Public Works, through ENAIRE, in the Valencia control centre totals 26.5 million euros. The new centre boasts cutting-edge technology and redundant systems to control air traffic and ensure the safety and continuity of air navigation services in order to respond to the demands of the major growth of air traffic in the Valencian Community, one of the most popular destinations for international tourism. In 2018, ENAIRE managed 188,000 flights from this centre, 70% of which were international. In 2019, traffic is expected to grow by 4% and the number of flights will exceed 200,000.

These ENAIRE facilities provide assistance to important services in the Region, such as flights for organ transplants and medical evacuation from La Fe Hospital and the National Transplant Organisation, the Maritime Rescue Air Base, firefighting, agriculture, the police, the Directorate-General for Traffic, air sports, flying clubs and aviation schools.

Valencia’s new TACC will be able to handle the expected air traffic demand, which grows dramatically on Spain’s eastern coast during the summer months as a result of increased international tourism.

What is a TACC?

A TACC is a centre where the air traffic in a certain area or sector of airspace is planned, organised and managed. Spain’s airspace is divided into three large flight information regions (Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands). Each flight information region is, in turn, divided into smaller airspace sectors known as terminal control areas, aerodrome control areas and airways.

Valencia’s TACC has facilities that are sized to meet the major air traffic growth demands of the Valencian Community. This is therefore, as Jose Luis Abalos, Minister of Public Works, pointed out, “a strategic project because it is a replica, in the field of aeronautical infrastructures, of the Mediterranean Corridor, which is a social, economic and political priority”.

Different professionals from Enaire and Ineco have been working on completing this centre for several years. The work of experts in automation, communications, surveillance, deployment of Automated Air Traffic Control Systems, (AATCS),  technical supervision and general matters has made the change to this new TACC possible.

The TACC boasts cutting-edge technology and redundant systems to control air traffic and ensure the safety and continuity of air navigation services

Ineco’s participation

Ineco participated in the construction and commissioning of this centre, and since 2008 has provided works management, technical assistance and supervision and surveillance of the works. In recent years, the company has participated in the implementation of TACC, collaborating with ENAIRE’s systems department, providing support to the automation division, navigation and surveillance division and technical operations, as well as with ENAIRE’s regional management, with a physical presence in Barcelona and Valencia.

Experts from the company have collaborated on the commissioning of radio navigation integration systems (RNS), which allow remote supervision and management of the radio navigation of the Eastern Sector and air traffic management (ATM) systems, which are the technical basis of air navigation and are used directly by air traffic controllers: AATCS which is responsible for the management of air traffic control, voice communication systems (VCS) for air traffic control which provide voice links with pilots and between controllers and last-resort radio and last-resort telephony equipment that guarantee oral communications as an alternative to VCS with limited functionality.

Other work consisted of validation of the software versions of the AATCS and VCS systems, the commissioning of the Orion supervision system and various jobs involving project coordination, plan updating and technical transition coordination, with participation in the commissioning of the systems and forming part of ENAIRE’s transition committee.