Vitoria-Gasteiz, new municipality under aeronautical servitudes with exemption from AESA

• Aeronautical easements delimit the protection zone around airports, helipads and radio installations to ensure the safety of air operations.
• The exemptions allow applicants from these municipalities not to have to apply to EASA for authorisation for constructions or installations, as long as there is no risk to aviation safety.
• This work means a reduction of administrative burden and agility in procedures, with a direct benefit for the citizen.

Madrid, 3 June 2026 (AESA)

The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) has issued a new exemption for aeronautical easements (SSAA) for the municipality of Vitoria‑Gasteiz, located under the easements of Vitoria Airport.

The SSAA of Spain delimit the protection zone around airports, helipads and radio installations in order to ensure the safety of air operations.

Thanks to this exemption, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), applicants for actions in that municipality are exempted from applying to AESA for prior agreement favourable to the carrying out of urban activities, such as constructions, installations or plantations, provided that they do not pose a risk to aviation safety.

This measure is part of the process promoted by AESA to speed up administrative procedures in municipalities located under SSAA, contributing to improve coordination between administrations and reduce administrative burdens for both local authorities and the Agency.

General exemption requirements

Following the corresponding technical analysis carried out by the Agency, it has been found that actions that comply with the established conditions and that do not exceed 45 meters in height do not affect the safety of air operations or the proper functioning of radio installations.

This exemption does not include installations that may pose a risk to aviation safety, such as foci of attraction of fauna (water rafts, landfills, etc.), installations that generate smoke or dust (chimneys, industrial plants, etc.) or those that produce glare (solar plants, except those for domestic use), among others. For these cases, a prior authorization agreement must be requested for the established procedure.

You can consult all the information in the ‘Aeronautical Services’ section of the AESA website.

Aviation safety assurance

The current regulations establish that any element installed in an area affected by aeronautical servitude, or exceeding 100 meters high outside it, requires, in general, the prior favorable report of AESA, with the aim of preserving the safety of air operations.

With this resolution, AESA guarantees that the exempted actions fully comply with the established safety requirements, maintaining the required levels in the protection of air navigation.