Beja Air Base
Air Base 11
Base Aérea de Beja
Base Aérea Nº 11
Near Beja, Alentejo in Portugal
An aerial view of Beja Airbase
Com military engenho e sutil arte
(Portuguese for 'With military ingenuity and subtle art')
Beja is located in Portugal
Beja
Beja
Location in Portugal
Coordinates38°04′44″N 007°55′57″W / 38.07889°N 7.93250°W / 38.07889; -7.93250
TypeMilitary airfield
Area800 hectares (2,000 acres)
Site information
OwnerMinistry of National Defence
OperatorPortuguese Air Force
Controlled byAir Command
ConditionOperational
WebsiteOfficial website
Site history
Built1962 (1962)–1964
In use1964 – present
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: BYJ, ICAO: LPBJ, WMO: 085620
Elevation193.8 metres (636 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01L/19R 3,450 metres (11,319 ft) Asphalt
01R/19L 2,951 metres (9,682 ft) Asphalt
Airfield shared with Beja Airport
Source: Portuguese AIP[1]

Beja Air Base (Portuguese: Base Aérea de Beja; IATA: BYJ, ICAO: LPBJ), officially designated as Air Base No. 11 (Portuguese: Base Aérea Nº 11, BA11) is one of the most important military airbases in Portugal, 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of Beja,[1] 100 km (62 mi) north of Algarve. It is used by the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) and has two parallel runways in the 01/19 direction, the biggest being 3,450 m × 60 m (11,320 ft × 200 ft).[1] The base is home to two training squadrons, one helicopter squadron and one maritime patrol squadron.

History

The flight-line at Beja Air Base during Exercise Trident Juncture 2015

The base was established on 21 October 1964, originally built to serve as a training facility for the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), due to airspace limitations within West Germany.[2] The Luftwaffe operated from the airbase until 1993, during which period it was used particularly for weapons training.[3] In 1987 the Portuguese Air Force's 103 Squadron using Lockheed T-33 and Northrop T-38 aircraft was relocated from Montijo. After their arrival, the base started to host a mixed array of fixed and rotary-wing trainers, as well as maritime patrol aircraft.[2]

Between 1993 and 2018, the PoAF has operated Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet aircraft from the airbase, which were donated by Germany as compensation for leaving the air base in 1993.[3]

Current state

A Portuguese Air Force P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft taking-off from Beja Air Base

The base is now modern and well-equipped, employing around 1,000 personnel.[2] It comprises two parallel runways running north–south (01L/19R, 01R/19L, the largest being 3,450 m (11,320 ft) in length and the other 2,951 m (9,682 ft) long. A third parallel runway/taxiway supports its helicopter facilities.[2] Beja Air Base is one of the most important training facilities of the PoAF and during 2008 operated over 70,000 flying hours.[4] The first training phase comprises flying on Socata TB 30 Epsilon aircraft, which currently has 15 operational aircraft.[5] The 552 Squadron operates 5 AgustaWestland AW119 Koala helicopters tasked with tactical transport for the army, helicopter pilot training and search and rescue. The 601 Squadron currently uses 5 P-3C Orion Cup + aircraft which provide 24/7 search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare cover.[6]

Construction of a civilian terminal was undertaken in 2009, with this facility being aimed at low-cost carriers.[7]

Beja's runway is the only mainland Portugal runway capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. The Portuguese wet lease airline Hi Fly previously operated its A380, purchased second-hand in 2018, from Beja.[8]

Tenant units

Portuguese Air Force

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 AIP Part 3 - AD 2 Aerodromes Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 4 Air Forces Monthly, p. 36.
  3. 1 2 Barreira, Victor (20 November 2017). "Portugal to phase out Alpha Jet A". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. Air Forces Monthly, p. 38.
  5. 1 2 Air Forces Monthly, p. 39.
  6. 1 2 Air Forces Monthly, p. 41.
  7. Air Forces Monthly, p. 37.
  8. "HiFly's A380 lands at Beja". The Portugal News Online. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
  9. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2020. p. 10.
  10. Air Forces Monthly, p. 40.

References

  • Base Tour: Beja, Portugal - Portuguese Super Base, Air Forces Monthly magazine, March 2009 issue.
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