A BA 6 in Montijo there should already be planes landing in 2026. What future will the unit have and where will the squads be moved is the question that arises. BA11 may see operational capacity strengthened ?
According to a source from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the decision consists of three steps. The first is to do some works right away at Humberto Delgado. In second place, Montijo should already have planes landing in 2026. will be needed 12 a 18 months to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (AAE) and three more years for works. In third place, the government advances, also, with the scenery of Alcochete, infrastructure that could be ready in 2035. In other words, Alcochete is the big long-term bet.
The question that arises, is what the future BA6 will be in Montijo, as a military base of the Air Force and to the flight squadrons and the Training Center. Are moved to other units ? Which are ? What will be the future role of BA 11, in addition to receiving the new KC 390 to be operated by the Squadron 501.
BA6 currently has the C-130 HERCULES fleets (Esquadra 501- "Bisontes"), which will be moved to BA11, os C-295M (Police Station 502- “Elephants”), FALCON 50 (Squad 504-“Lynxes”) e EH-101 MERLIN helicopters (Squad 751-“Pumas”). The Air Force Survival Training Center also operates at the unit's facilities. (CTSFA).
Remember that in June 2020, the then Minister of Defense revealed that Squadron 501-“Bisons”, which operates the C-130s and will start operating the new KCs 390, manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraer, that will replace the current Hercules, will pass BA6, no Montijo, for BA11.
At this time, FAP is making an investment of 9,8 million euros in BA 11, building the building for the Squadron 501 and for the flight simulator, works that will cost 5,3 million, and the upgrade of the hangar 131-264, whose works are already in progress, with a base price of 4,3 million. The hangar target of major requalification, it was for many years “to home” dos Alpha-Jet, from Squad 103-“snails”, suspended in 2018 with the end of life of aircraft received from Germany.
Given the conditions that the unit has, it will be able to receive the C-295M (Police Station 502- “Elephants”) and the Air Force Survival Training Center (CTSFA) ? There are two questions that may have answers in the next few days..
In reverse is the Squadron 552 - “Drones”, with the new Koala that must still 2022, leave BA11 and head to BA1, in Sintra.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
