Beja Airbase

{{Short description|Military airport in Portugal}} {{Redirect|LPBJ|the civilian use of this facility|Beja Airport}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Beja Air Base<br />Air Base 11 | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = {{Lang|pt|Base Aérea de Beja}}<br />{{Lang|pt|Base Aérea Nº 11}} | partof =  | location = | nearest_town = Beja, Alentejo | country = Portugal | image = File:BejaAB.jpg | alt = | caption = An aerial view of Beja Airport. | image2 = 100px | alt2 = | caption2 = {{Language with name/for|pt|Com military engenho e sutil arte|With military ingenuity and subtle art|break=yes}} | type = Military airfield | coordinates = {{coord|38|04|44|N|007|55|57|W|region:PT|display=inline,title}} | gridref = | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = Portugal | pushpin_mapsize = 150 | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Portugal | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = Beja | pushpin_label_position = top | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership = Ministry of National Defence | operator = Portuguese Air Force | controlledby = Air Command | open_to_public =  | site_other_label =  | site_other =  | site_area = {{Convert|800|hectare|acre}} | code =  | built = {{Start date|1962}}–1964 | used = 1964 – present | builder = | materials = | height =  | length =  | fate =  | condition = Operational | battles = | events = | current_commander =  | past_commanders =  | garrison =  | occupants =  | designations = | website = {{Official website|https://www.emfa.pt/unit-20-air-base-11}}  | IATA = BYJ | ICAO = LPBJ | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = 085620 | elevation = {{Convert|193.8|m|0}} | r1-number = 01L/19R | r1-length = {{Convert|3,450 |m|0}} | r1-surface = Asphalt | r2-number = 01R/19L | r2-length = {{Convert|2,951 |m|0}} | r2-surface = Asphalt | h1-number = | h1-length =  | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label =  | airfield_other =   | footnotes = Airfield shared with Beja Airport<br />'''Source:''' Portuguese AIP<ref name="AIP">AIP [http://www.nav.pt/ais/cd/2012_03_08_AIRAC/html/index.html Part 3 - AD 2 Aerodromes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415051720/http://www.nav.pt/ais/cd/2012_03_08_AIRAC/html/index.html |date=2012-04-15 }}</ref> }} '''Beja Air Base''' ({{langx|pt|Base Aérea de Beja}}; {{airport codes|BYJ|LPBJ|p=n}}), officially designated as '''Air Base No. 11''' ({{langx|pt|Base Aérea Nº 11}}, BA11) is one of the most important military airbases in Portugal, {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} northwest of Beja,<ref name="AIP"/> {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} 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 {{Convert|3450|x|60|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="AIP"/> The base is home to two training squadrons, one helicopter squadron and one maritime patrol squadron.

==History== [[File:20151029 PRT.AF Air Pics Jets 01 (22644880481).jpg|left|thumb|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.<ref name="AFM36">Air Forces Monthly, p. 36.</ref> The Luftwaffe operated from the airbase until 1993, during which period it was used particularly for weapons training.<ref name="AlphaPhaseOut">{{cite web|last1=Barreira|first1=Victor|title=Portugal to phase out Alpha Jet A|url=http://www.janes.com/article/75823/|website=IHS Jane's 360|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171120202408/http://www.janes.com/article/75823/portugal-to-phase-out-alpha-jet-a|archive-date=20 November 2017|date=20 November 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name="AFM36" />

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.<ref name="AlphaPhaseOut" />

==Current state== [[File:20151026 christian.timmig Portuguese Aircraft 06 (22521871655).jpg|left|thumb|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.<ref name="AFM36" /> It comprises two parallel runways running north–south (01L/19R, 01R/19L, the largest being {{convert|3450|m|abbr=on}} in length and the other {{convert|2951|m|abbr=on}} long. A third parallel runway/taxiway supports its helicopter facilities.<ref name="AFM36" /> Beja Air Base is one of the most important training facilities of the PoAF and during 2008 operated over 70,000 flying hours.<ref name="AFM38">Air Forces Monthly, p. 38.</ref> The first training phase comprises flying on Socata TB 30 Epsilon aircraft, which currently has 15 operational aircraft.<ref name="AFM39">Air Forces Monthly, p. 39.</ref> 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.<ref name="AFM41">Air Forces Monthly, p. 41.</ref> The 506 Squadron equipped with KC390 aircraft is tasked with tactical air transport operations, air refueling and firefighting.

Construction of a civilian terminal was undertaken in 2009, with this facility being aimed at low-cost carriers.<ref name=AFM37>Air Forces Monthly, p. 37.</ref>

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.<ref name=PTNews>{{cite web|url=http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/hiflys-a380-lands-at-beja/46318 |title=HiFly's A380 lands at Beja |publisher=The Portugal News Online |date=2018-07-24 |access-date=2018-07-28 }}</ref>

==Tenant units== ;Portuguese Air Force * 101 Sqn. - TB30 Epsilon<ref name="AFMAUG20-10">{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=August 2020|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|pages=10}}</ref> * 103 Sqn. "''Caracóis''" (Snails) — complementary flying training and operational transition training<ref name=AFM39 /> * 552 Sqn. "''Zangões''" (Drones) — tactical air transport operations and complementary flying training in helicopters<ref name="AFM40">Air Forces Monthly, p. 40.</ref> * 601 Sqn. "''Lobos''" (Wolves) — maritime patrol squadron<ref name=AFM41 /> * 506 Sqn. "Rinocerontes"<ref>{{Cite web |publisher = FAP - DCSI |title=Força Aérea Portuguesa |url=https://www.emfa.pt/esquadra-154-esquadra-506-8211-rinocerontes |access-date=2025-05-13 |website= Emfa.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref> (Rhinoceros) — tactical air transport operations, air refueling and firefighting

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== *''Base Tour: Beja, Portugal - Portuguese Super Base'', Air Forces Monthly magazine, March 2009 issue.

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090927120615/http://www.emfa.pt/www/unidadedetalhe.php?lang=ing&cod=11119 Portuguese Air Force - Air Base 11, Beja] {{in lang|en}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216013937/http://www.edab.pt/ Empresa de Desenvolvimento do Aeroporto de Beja] {{in lang|pt}}

Category:Airports in Portugal Category:Buildings and structures in Beja, Portugal Category:Portuguese Air Force bases Category:Germany–Portugal relations Category:Military of Portugal Category:Military installations in Portugal Category:Military airbases established in 1964