The island of Fuerteventura has witnessed a pioneering achievement in Spanish aviation. The APUS NEO 18, an unmanned solar-powered vehicle classified as a HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) system, has completed the first continuous flight of over 24 hours on national territory. This aircraft, designed for stratospheric operations, offers services analogous to those of a satellite via a reusable and cost-effective aerial platform.
The operation, managed by the UTE Telespazio Ibérica – PEGASUS AERO GROUP and operated by the Advanced Center for Aerospace Technologies (CATEC), saw the APUS NEO 18 reach an altitude of 15,000 feet. Subsequently, the aircraft successfully landed at the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS&UAS, a specialized facility in Fuerteventura for these advanced aerial platforms.
This success was made possible by extensive institutional coordination involving the State Air Safety Agency (AESA), ENAIRE, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), Aena, SAERCO, and the Spanish Air and Space Force. The Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura also provided crucial support for the development of these infrastructures.
The management of airspace for over a full day highlights the maturity of the drone and unmanned platform ecosystem in the Canary Islands. The archipelago's geographical location, weather conditions, and available airspace make it an ideal environment for such tests.
The flight is part of the ISSEC project, funded by regional resources from the Government of the Canary Islands and European NextGenerationEU funds. This mixed financing underscores the strategic importance of aerospace development in the islands.
The Canarias Stratoport is establishing itself as a leading European infrastructure for HAPS operations, a technology poised as a sustainable alternative to conventional satellites for telecommunications, earth observation, and environmental surveillance. This milestone places Fuerteventura on the map of major aerospace innovation centers in the continent.
Solar pseudo-satellites like the APUS NEO 18 represent a highly promising technological advancement in the global aerospace sector. Their ability to remain airborne for extended periods using only solar energy makes them valuable tools for civilian and security applications, demonstrating Spain's and the Canary Islands' capacity to lead the development of these technologies in Europe.
