The Gando Air Base (in Spanish, Base Aérea de Gando) is a base of the Spanish Air Force located in the Gran Canaria island, Spain, and next to the Gran Canaria Airport, eastward from its runways. Beyond several hangars opposite to the passenger terminal, the Gando Air Base contains ten shelters situated on the southern end of the eastern runway. They harbor the 46 Wing (Ala 46) which operates F/A-18 Hornet and CASA 212 airplanes, and the SAR Eurocopter AS 532. The 46 Wing is composed by the 462 and 802 fighter squadrons and it defends the Spanish airspace around the Canary Islands. The Gando Air Base is one of the biggest and most important air bases of the Spanish Air Force and it is unique because of the wide variety of aircraft which it operates.