# Beja Airbase > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Beja_Airbase > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Beja_Airbase.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beja_Airbase > Source revision: 1320514949 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Military airport in Portugal}} {{Redirect|LPBJ|the civilian use of this facility|Beja Airport}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Beja Air Base
Air Base 11 | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = {{Lang|pt|Base Aérea de Beja}}
{{Lang|pt|Base Aérea Nº 11}} | partof = | location = | nearest_town = [Beja](/source/Beja_(Portugal)), [Alentejo](/source/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](/source/Ministry_of_National_Defence_(Portugal)) | operator = [Portuguese Air Force](/source/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](/source/Asphalt_concrete) | 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](/source/Beja_Airport)
'''Source:''' Portuguese [AIP](/source/Aeronautical_Information_Publication)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 }} }} '''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 airbase](/source/military_airbase)s in [Portugal](/source/Portugal), {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [Beja](/source/Beja_(Portugal)), {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} north of [Algarve](/source/Algarve). It is used by the [Portuguese Air Force](/source/Portuguese_Air_Force) (PoAF) and has two parallel runways in the 01/19 direction, the biggest being {{Convert|3450|x|60|m|abbr=on}}. The base is home to two training squadrons, one helicopter squadron and one [maritime patrol](/source/maritime_patrol) squadron. ==History== [[File:20151029 PRT.AF Air Pics Jets 01 (22644880481).jpg|left|thumb|The [flight-line](/source/Airport_apron) 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](/source/German_Air_Force) (Luftwaffe), due to airspace limitations within [West Germany](/source/West_Germany).[Air Forces Monthly](/source/Air_Forces_Monthly), p. 36. The Luftwaffe operated from the airbase until 1993, during which period it was used particularly for weapons training.{{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}} In 1987 the Portuguese Air Force's [103 Squadron](/source/103_Squadron_(Portugal)) using [Lockheed T-33](/source/Lockheed_T-33_Shooting_Star) and [Northrop T-38](/source/Northrop_T-38_Talon) aircraft was relocated from [Montijo](/source/Montijo_Air_Base). After their arrival, the base started to host a mixed array of fixed and rotary-wing trainers, as well as maritime patrol aircraft. Between 1993 and 2018, the PoAF has operated [Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet](/source/Dassault%2FDornier_Alpha_Jet) aircraft from the airbase, which were donated by Germany as compensation for leaving the air base in 1993. ==Current state== [[File:20151026 christian.timmig Portuguese Aircraft 06 (22521871655).jpg|left|thumb|A [Portuguese Air Force](/source/Portuguese_Air_Force) [P-3C Orion](/source/Lockheed_P-3_Orion) maritime patrol aircraft taking-off from Beja Air Base]] The base is now modern and well-equipped, employing around 1,000 personnel. 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. Beja Air Base is one of the most important training facilities of the PoAF and during 2008 operated over 70,000 flying hours.Air Forces Monthly, p. 38. The first training phase comprises flying on [Socata TB 30 Epsilon](/source/Socata_TB_30_Epsilon) aircraft, which currently has 15 operational aircraft.Air Forces Monthly, p. 39. The [552 Squadron](/source/552_Squadron_(Portugal)) operates 5 [AgustaWestland AW119 Koala](/source/AgustaWestland_AW119_Koala) helicopters tasked with tactical transport for the army, helicopter pilot training and [search and rescue](/source/search_and_rescue). The [601 Squadron](/source/601_Squadron_(Portugal)) currently uses 5 [P-3C Orion Cup +](/source/Lockheed_P-3_Orion) aircraft which provide 24/7 search and rescue and [anti-submarine warfare](/source/anti-submarine_warfare) cover.Air Forces Monthly, p. 41. The 506 Squadron equipped with [KC390](/source/Embraer_C-390_Millennium) 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 carrier](/source/low-cost_carrier)s.Air Forces Monthly, p. 37. Beja's runway is the only mainland Portugal runway capable of accommodating an [Airbus A380](/source/Airbus_A380). The Portuguese [wet lease](/source/wet_lease) airline [Hi Fly](/source/Hi_Fly_(airline)) previously operated its A380, purchased second-hand in 2018, from Beja.{{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 }} ==Tenant units== ;[Portuguese Air Force](/source/Portuguese_Air_Force) * [101 Sqn.](/source/101_Squadron_(Portugal)) - TB30 Epsilon{{cite book|title=[AirForces Monthly](/source/AirForces_Monthly)|date=August 2020|publisher=[Key Publishing Ltd](/source/Key_Publishing)|location=[Stamford](/source/Stamford%2C_Lincolnshire), [Lincolnshire](/source/Lincolnshire), [England](/source/England)|pages=10}} * [103 Sqn. "''Caracóis''"](/source/103_Squadron_(Portugal)) (Snails) — complementary flying training and operational transition training * [552 Sqn. "''Zangões''"](/source/552_Squadron_(Portugal)) (Drones) — tactical air transport operations and complementary flying training in helicoptersAir Forces Monthly, p. 40. * [601 Sqn. "''Lobos''"](/source/601_Squadron_(Portugal)) (Wolves) — maritime patrol squadron * 506 Sqn. "Rinocerontes"{{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}} (Rhinoceros) — tactical air transport operations, air refueling and firefighting ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==References== *''Base Tour: Beja, Portugal - Portuguese Super Base'', [Air Forces Monthly](/source/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}} {{authority control}} 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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beja Airbase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beja_Airbase) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beja_Airbase?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.