| Beja Air Base Air Base 11 | |
| Native Name: | |
| Nearest Town: | Beja, Alentejo |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Type: | Military airfield |
| Coordinates: | 38.0789°N -7.9325°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Portugal |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 150 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Portugal |
| Pushpin Label: | Beja |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Ownership: | Ministry of National Defence |
| Operator: | Portuguese Air Force |
| Controlledby: | Air Command |
| Site Area: | 800hectare |
| Built: | –1964 |
| Used: | 1964 – present |
| Condition: | Operational |
| Iata: | BYJ |
| Icao: | LPBJ |
| Wmo: | 085620 |
| Elevation: | 193.8m (635.8feet) |
| R1-Number: | 01L/19R |
| R1-Length: | 3450m (11,320feet) |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| R2-Number: | 01R/19L |
| R2-Length: | 2951m (9,682feet) |
| R2-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Footnotes: | Airfield shared with Beja Airport Source: Portuguese AIP[1] |
Beja Air Base (Portuguese: Base Aérea de Beja;), officially designated as Air Base No. 11 (Portuguese: Base Aérea Nº 11, BA11) is one of the most important military airbases in Portugal, 9km (06miles) northwest of Beja,[1] 100km (100miles) 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 3450mx60mm (11,320feetx200feetm).[1] The base is home to two training squadrons, one helicopter squadron and one maritime patrol squadron.
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.
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.
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 3450m (11,320feet) in length and the other 2951m (9,682feet) 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.[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]