Aeropuerto de Madrid-Cuatro Vientos

Spanish aviation’s oldest aerodrome.

Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, founded in 1911, is one of Spain’s oldest airports. Located eight kilometres from the city centre, it’s an aerodrome used for both civilian and military purposes, although the flights in the former category fall under the umbrella of generation aviation, which means the airport doesn’t have any passenger traffic per se. Only VFR (Visual Flight Rules) traffic is authorised at Cuatro Vientos. The bulk of Madrid’s sport aviation is undertaken by small aircraft or aircraft with turboprop or reciprocating engines.

Flight schools that train pilots and passenger-flight cabin crew, central government services (Directorate-General of the Police and Directorate-General for Traffic) and a range of companies are located on the premises. In hangars, sheds and adjacent buildings, you’ll find aerial work companies, companies that train maintenance technicians, drone management companies, aircraft manufacturer representatives and installers, simulators and associated services.

The airfield has a paved runway that’s 1,500 metres long and 30 metres wide. There is also an unpaved, natural-surface runway that’s 1,100 metres long and 45 metres wide, which is used and managed exclusively by the military airbase.

The Terminal building has a small concourse that serves as a passenger waiting area, toilets, an ARO that provides flight plan information, police and civil guard areas and a restaurant and café zone. Interestingly, although there are three control towers, the first one is a museum and the second, which was built onto the Terminal building, is now out of service. The third, which is separate from the other buildings, is operational. The outside grounds include roughly 4,700 square metres reserved for vehicle parking (220 vehicles).

The Infante de Orléans Foundation, which is dedicated to maintaining, preserving and displaying old aircraft, is located in the vicinity. The Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics, run by the Spanish air force, and the Real Aeroclub de España, a flying club, are also located nearby.

Updated: 11/05/2023