New Radar Station on Puig de Randa: The White Dome Is Gone — and What's Missing

The white dome is gone: Puig de Randa in a transitional state

If you drove the narrow road up to Puig de Randa in recent weeks, you noticed it immediately: the familiar white sphere at the summit is missing. Instead there are cranes, cable trays and workers in orange vests. The smell of diesel mixes with freshly cut gorse, and you can hear the click of a crane lock and snippets of conversation in Spanish and Mallorquí — around 10 a.m., when the workers grab their first coffee.

A simple question that sounds complicated

What does replacing the iconic dome mean for the landscape, safety and the people here? That is the guiding question between the construction fence and the viewpoint. At first glance it's about technology: Enaire wants to modernize radar coverage, provide better resolution and monitor the airspace over the Balearics more quickly. For airport transparency and passenger safety this is clearly a gain.

Technology versus tradition — what is often overlooked

But technology always has a second side. The dome was a reference point for locals and tourists. Its removal changes the familiar panorama. Less noticed is how the construction burdens the narrow access roads. In the lower districts trucks are noticeable in the gravel bed, and on Saturdays construction workers now sit more often in a café — small everyday shifts that mean annoyance for some and a little extra business for others.

Another often underestimated issue is the long-term compatibility with the landscape. New masts and antennas have different silhouettes than the round dome. They catch the evening light differently; at dusk, when the island becomes particularly quiet, new shadows trace against the red sky. This is not the end of the world, but it is a visible intervention.

What remains technically positive?

The benefits are real: more modern radar systems detect aircraft movements more precisely, recognize potential disturbances earlier and support safer decisions at Palma airport. Fewer delays through better coordination and robust monitoring are a gain for travelers and the tourism infrastructure.

Concrete problems on site

On site the smaller inconveniences accumulate: changing closures at the summit, noise peaks during assembly work, and the temporarily altered parking situation. Tourists who come for sunset sometimes have to walk a short distance. For older visitors this can become a problem. The issue of light and electromagnetic pollution is also discussed quietly, although authorities emphasize compliance with safety standards.

Lesser-known aspects and realistic solutions

The public debate often lacks questions about clear compensation and opportunities for local participation. Here are three concrete proposals that could be implemented immediately:

1. Plan logistics smarter: Schedule deliveries for early morning hours and run heavy transports outside weekend peak times. A temporary bypass could spare the sensitive lower slopes.

2. Transparency and local communication: Regular information meetings, a local construction liaison and visible site plans at the parking area help reduce misunderstandings. Visitor panels explain the technical reasons and the timeline until April 2026 — so locals and guests know what to expect.

3. Landscape protection and design: Color adaptations for the masts, green screening berms at critical points and an assessment of whether the old dome can be reused as a viewing feature or interpretation center.

A call for balance

Puig de Randa remains a great place for sunset — even with new masts on the horizon. But renewing infrastructure should not mean leaving the place solely to technology. A small piece of island identity could be preserved if authorities, companies and the community plan together and implement a few concrete steps.

The station should be operational by the end of April 2026. Until then there will be drilling, screwing and testing. For many of us this is an interim state: disconcerting, sometimes noisy, but also a reminder that the island remains in motion — not only from the wind that sweeps over the summit, but from the sound of the work now taking place up there.