ENAIRE upgrades the Begas radar with 3D technology, a key element in air traffic control in Catalonia

ENAIRE, Spain’s national air navigation service provider, is installing the new Begas radar (Barcelona), an essential system for managing air traffic in Catalonia. This ENAIRE investment is funded by European resources from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).

Key tasks already completed include replacing the large spherical structure that protects the antennas, a component technically known as the ‘radome’. In addition, the introduction of 3D technology (three dimensions) marks a significant improvement in the radar’s detection capability.

ENAIRE’s radars play a vital role in guaranteeing flight safety. Thanks to them, air traffic controllers can monitor the position of every aircraft at all times. The Begas radar is an indispensable sensor for air traffic surveillance coverage in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Work to replace the Begas radar began at the start of the year with the removal of the old antennas. Once the new antennas were lifted into place, work continued with the installation of the new radome, a process that required a full day of work and favourable weather conditions.

What is a radar’s radome for?

Among the components of a radar structure, the most visible part of the tower consists of an antenna and a radome (the protective sphere). The main functions of this radome are:

• Physical protection. It shields the radar’s components from weatherrelated damage such as rain, hail, snow and wind, and protects the antenna from knocks and external impacts.
• Signal integrity. It is designed so that radar signals pass through it with minimal distortion or attenuation, ensuring that the radar operates correctly.
• It protects maintenance staff by allowing them to carry out their tasks safely and sheltered from adverse weather conditions. This lets them perform technical work at height regardless of outside conditions, which is critical when the system must be restored to operation after a fault or when measurements are needed to guarantee the system’s correct performance.

What was the reason for installing the new radar?

The work was necessary to ensure the performance of the Begas radar, as well as to implement a technological upgrade of the primary radar systems.

The work required to install, adapt and set up the radar will take around 6 months. The new equipment is expected to be fully commissioned, with all upgrades incorporated, by the end of June of this year.

What does work of this nature involve?

To carry out this technological upgrade while reducing the impact during the renewal of the systems, ENAIRE has temporarily installed a provisional radar that, given its short-term nature, does not require a radome.

This guarantees the coverage provided by the Begas radar, since the data are integrated into the network of air surveillance systems connected to the Automated Air Traffic Control System (SACTA) installed at the Gavà Control Centre in Barcelona, from where air traffic control services are provided, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality.