{{Short description|Basis of the Portuguese Air Force}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Montijo Air Base<br />Air Base 6 | ensign = | ensign_size = | native_name = {{Lang|pt|Base Aérea do Montijo}}<br />{{Lang|pt|Base Aérea Nº 6}} | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = Montijo, Setúbal | nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox --> | country = Portugal | image = File:Portuguese_Merlin_Break.jpg | alt = | caption = A Portuguese Air Force AW101 Merlin breaks formation over Montijo AB | image2 = 100px | alt2 = | caption2 = {{Language with name/for|pt|Força e Grandeza de Ânimo|Strength and greatness of mind|break=yes}} | type = Military airfield | coordinates = {{coord|38|42|14|N|9|2|9|W|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 = Montijo AB | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership = Ministry of National Defence | operator = Portuguese Air Force | controlledby = Air Command | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US --> | built = {{Start date|1952}} | used = 1952 – present<!--{{End date|1946}} --> | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = Operational | battles = | events = | current_commander = Colonel Antonio Carlos da Costa Nascimento | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = {{Official website|https://www.emfa.pt/unit-19-air-base-6}} <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = LPMT | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = 085340 | elevation = {{Convert|14|m|0}} --> | r1-number = 01/19 | r1-length = {{Convert|2,147|m|0}} | r1-surface = Asphalt | r2-number = 08/26 | r2-length = {{Convert|2,440|m|0}} | r2-surface = Concrete | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> | footnotes = '''Source:''' World Aero Data<ref>{{cite web|url-status=usurped|url=http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=LPMT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305143444/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=LPMT|archive-date=2019-03-05|title=Airport information for Montijo Airbase|website=World Aero Data}} Data current as of October 2006.</ref> }} '''Montijo Air Base''' ({{langx|pt|Base Aérea do Montijo}}) {{airport codes||LPMT}} - officially known as '''Air Base No. 6''' (''Base Aérea n.º 6'') or '''BA6''' - is a military air base located in Montijo, Portugal. The base is home to three transport squadrons and one helicopter search and rescue squadron and provides logistic support to the Portuguese Navy's helicopters based there.

==History== left|thumb|An aerial view of Montijo Air Base during 2019 The Montijo Air Base started to be built by the Portuguese Navy, before World War II, to replace its Naval Aviation base of Bom Sucesso in Lisbon. The War prevented the good progress of the works and the base ended only to be inaugurated in 1952, as the '''"Sacadura Cabral" Naval Aviation Centre'''.

The inauguration of the base happened during the process of the creation of the independent Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) and the transference of the Naval Aviation from the control of the Navy to the new branch.<ref name="briefhist" />

On March 3, 1953,<ref>Portaria N.º 14.281</ref> the Naval Aviation Centre was officially re-designated as Air Base No. 6.<ref name="ba6ant" /> However, within the PoAF an independent group originating from the Naval Aviation units, known as "''Forças Aeronavais''", continued to operate from BA6 in the anti-submarine role. Only by late 1956, early 1957, was the integration of these units in the PoAF complete, with some personnel returning to the Navy and others staying in the air force.<ref name="briefhist" />

In 1993, with the arrival of the Portuguese Navy's first Westland Super Lynx Mk.95 for the ''Vasco da Gama''-class frigates, the air base became home to a naval helicopter squadron.<ref name="briefhist" />

The Air Force Survival Training Center ({{langx|pt|Centro de Treino de Sobrevivência da Força Aérea}}, CTSFA) is based at BA6 with the mission of training PoAF personnel in survival and individual rescue, including in nuclear, radiologic, biological or chemical warfare environments, as well Explosive Ordnance Disposal.<ref name="ba6ant" />

In 2018 it was announced that the base would also become a civil airport (serving Lisbon) for low cost carriers by 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Lisbon Airport (2018) |url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/newairports/new-lisbon-montijo-airport}}</ref>

==Tenant units== * Portuguese Air Force ** 501 Sqn. "''Bisontes''" (Bisons) — tactical transport squadron ** 502 Sqn. "''Elefantes''" (Elephants) — tactical and general transport squadron ** 504 Sqn. "''Linces''" (Lynxes) — VIP and MEDEVAC transport squadron ** 751 Sqn. "''Pumas''" (Pumas) — search and rescue squadron * Portuguese Navy ** ''Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha'' (Navy Helicopter Squadron)

==See also== * List of airports in Portugal * Portuguese Air Force * Portuguese Naval Aviation * Field Firing Range of Alcochete * {{portal-inline|Portugal}} * {{portal-inline|Aviation}}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="briefhist">{{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/9376/brief_naval.htm |title=Aviação Naval (Portuguese Naval Aviation) in brief |date=20 October 2009 |access-date=1 March 2013 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020053133/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/9376/brief_naval.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2009 }}</ref> <ref name="ba6ant">{{cite web|url=http://www.emfa.pt/www/unidadedetalhe.php?lang=pt&cod=1C36B |title=''Base Aérea nº 6 – Montijo'' |date=24 January 2012 |publisher=Portuguese Air Force |access-date=1 March 2013 |language=pt |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124220157/http://www.emfa.pt/www/unidadedetalhe.php?lang=pt&cod=1C36B |archive-date=January 24, 2012 }}</ref> }}

===Sources=== * {{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/9376/airbases.htm |title=Aeronautical infrastructures |date=20 October 2009 |access-date=1 March 2013 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020032756/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/9376/airbases.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2009 }} * {{cite web|url=http://www.emfa.pt/www/unidade-19-base-aerea-n-6|title=''Base Aérea Nº 6 – Força Aérea Portuguesa''|publisher=Portuguese Air Force|access-date=1 March 2013|language=pt}} * {{cite book|last=Lopes|first=Mário Canongia|title=Os Aviões da Cruz de Cristo|year=1989|publisher=Dinalivro|location=Lisbon}} * {{cite book|last=Tadeu|first=Viriato|title=Quando a Marinha tinha Asas|year=1984|location=Lisbon}}

==External links== * [http://www.emfa.pt/www/unidade-19-base-aerea-n-6 ''Base Aérea Nº 6 – Força Aérea Portuguesa''] * {{GCM|LPMT|Montijo Airbase|source=DAFIF}}

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Category:Airports in Portugal Category:Military installations in Portugal Category:Portuguese Air Force bases Category:Buildings and structures in Setúbal District Category:Montijo, Portugal Category:Military of Portugal Category:Military airbases established in 1952