Murzilli Consulting has successfully supported the regulatory and airspace enablement of Spain’s first authorised launch of a civilian Higher-Altitude Platform System (HAPS), also called Higher-Altitude Pseudo-satellite, marking one of the earliest civilian HAPS operations in Europe.
The milestone operation took place in the early hours of the morning at 01:07 UTC, on Friday, December 12, launching from the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS and UAS, located at the Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, a leading aeronautical infrastructure of its kind, funded by the Government of the Canary Islands, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and the European Commission. The flight represents a significant step forward in the integration of civilian HAPS into European airspace, bridging the gap between aviation and near-space operations, and marking a remarkable milestone in the history of unmanned aviation.
A Landmark Civilian HAPS Operation in Spain
The mission involved an uncrewed HAPS platform developed by Mira Aerospace (Space42), the ApusNeo18, featuring an 18-metre wingspan and equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors. The project is led by Telespazio Ibérica, with Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales (CATEC) acting as the operator of the platform.
In accordance with the approved flight plan, the aircraft initially orbited above the Stratoport to verify and validate flight systems. Following this phase, the platform departed Fuerteventura via the north-east coast, operating offshore over the sea. The flight reached a maximum altitude of 2,000 feet, covered distances of up to 30 kilometres, and concluded with a safe, incident-free landing at 03:40 UTC, after a total flight time of two hours and thirty-three minutes.
This maiden authorised flight operation marks the start of a broader flight programme, with a series of progressively more advanced operations planned over the coming months. These missions will incrementally increase altitude and operational complexity, with the objective of reaching stratospheric operations during the first half of 2026.
Enabling Civilian HAPS Through a Dedicated Regulatory and Airspace Framework
Unlike previous higher-altitude activities conducted under experimental, balloon-based or non-civil frameworks, this operation was enabled through a tailored regulatory, airspace and safety framework designed specifically for civilian HAPS platforms. The project demonstrates that complex, long-endurance, higher-altitude systems can be integrated into European civil aviation when supported by rigorous methodology, close regulatory engagement and robust operational design.
The flight programme forms part of Canarias Geo Innovation 2030, promoted by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura and the Government of the Canary Islands, within the Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy and the Biodiversity Complementary Programme of Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, co-funded by the European Commission.
Murzilli Consulting’s Role: Regulatory Strategy, Airspace Design and Safety Enablement for HAPS Operations
Murzilli Consulting is proud to have supported the programme through the development of the regulatory strategy, airspace design support, coordination with the corresponding Authorities and safety framework that made this operation possible.
The project was led by Juan José (Juanjo) Sola, Murzilli Consulting’s Director of Regulatory Affairs and Commercial Space, with key support from Rafael Pecos Macías, Senior Manager for Airspace, and Luis Antolín Sainz, Senior Consultant for Flight Authorisations.
Murzilli Consulting’s contribution included the preparation of the HAPS flight methodology, the characterisation and design of the surrounding airspace, coordination with the national and local air navigation service providers, and the development of the technical and safety documentation supporting the authorisation. The work was informed by the firm’s active involvement in national and international regulatory initiatives, including collaboration with AESA, the Spanish Supervisory Civil Aviation Authority.
“This operation shows that civilian HAPS are transitioning from concept to operational reality,” said Juanjo Sola. “Designing a regulatory and airspace framework capable of supporting stratospheric operations, with minimum impact on ATM, requires a deep understanding of both aviation and near-space domains. This milestone demonstrates how structured regulatory strategy and close collaboration with authorities can enable first-of-their-kind operations safely and credibly.”
Collaboration Setting an Early European Reference for HAPS and Stratospheric Operations
This milestone was achieved through close collaboration between Parque Tecnológico de Fuerteventura, Telespazio Ibérica, and Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales (CATEC) as platform operator, and Murzilli Consulting as regulatory and airspace advisor. The success of the operation also reflects the essential contributions of AESA, ENAIRE, in particular the Canary Islands Control Centre, PEGASUS AERO GROUP and SAERCO, alongside sustained institutional backing from the Government of the Canary Islands.
Together, these coordinated efforts have enabled Spain’s first authorised civilian pseudo-satellite flight, establishing Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands as a leading European location for civilian HAPS testing and operations. The milestone sets an early European reference point for HAPS, UAS and future stratospheric operations, demonstrating the growing maturity of regulatory, airspace and safety frameworks capable of supporting platforms operating at the boundary between aviation and space.
For Murzilli Consulting, the project further strengthens its position as a global leader in regulatory and operational enablement for advanced and first-of-a-kind aviation platforms, including higher-altitude systems. It reflects the firm’s ability to translate ambitious concepts into safe, authorised and repeatable operations, supporting the scalable integration of innovative aerospace technologies across Europe and beyond.
