The Ministry of Defense and the Teruel Airport Consortium have taken a significant step in the creation of the Comprehensive Air Training and Mobility Center (CIEMA) by signing a collaboration protocol.
The Secretary of State for Defense, Amparo Valcarce, and the president of the Consortium, Octavio López, aim with this initiative to expedite the necessary procedures for the Air and Space Force to operate in Teruel “as soon as possible.”
The agreement includes the granting of land for the first phase of the CIEMA for a period of 25 years, as well as the processing of the Declaration of Autonomous Interest with General Interest for the second phase. This phase includes the construction of a natural terrain runway for military transport aircraft, with a planned investment of nearly 42 million euros that will equip the center with modern facilities adapted to new ways of operating.
Valcarce emphasized that the CIEMA will be crucial for the training of air transport units and support for deployment, and it will also be a space open to cooperation with European allies. With this project, it is expected not only to improve the preparation of the Armed Forces but also to generate economic and technological opportunities for Teruel and Aragón, consolidating the airport as a national and international reference in specialized aeronautical activities.
The Ministry of Defense will promote collaboration among the various administrations involved to expedite the development of the project, while the Teruel Airport Consortium will collaborate in the preparation of territorial planning instruments and will expedite the necessary reports, licenses, and authorizations for its execution.
The protocol also provides for the creation of a Monitoring Committee, made up of representatives from both parties, which will coordinate actions and hold its first meeting within a maximum period of one month from the signing.
The project will also represent a significant boost for the economic and industrial development of Teruel and Aragón, by attracting new investments, generating business activity, and creating qualified employment linked to the aeronautical and defense sectors.