Beja Airbase

Beja Air Base
Air Base 11
Base Aérea de Beja
Base Aérea Nº 11
Near Beja, Alentejo in Portugal
An aerial view of Beja Airport.
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

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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

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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

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Portuguese Air Force

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c AIP Part 3 - AD 2 Aerodromes Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c d Air Forces Monthly, p. 36.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Air Forces Monthly, p. 39.
  6. ^ a b 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

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