The news became known on Monday that the German company Lufthansa Technik will build a factory to repair engine parts and aircraft components in Santa Maria da Feira, led the Federation of the Socialist Party of Baixo Alentejo (FPSBA) mentioning that we are “missing an excellent opportunity to reinforce the strategic importance of Beja airport”.
In a statement, the president of the socialist structure, remember that it will be an investment of several million euros, creating about 700 work posts, which, if implemented in Beja, would “take good advantage of all existing infrastructure, increasingly dedicated to industrial aeronautics”, remembering Nelson Brito, that the company Mesa “is preparing to invest in the construction of a second hangar for aircraft maintenance and repair in Beja”, concluded.
In the announcement of the investment in Santa Maria da Feira, Lufthansa Technik stated that the location of the investment “was taken in cooperation with the Government”, also justifying socialist deputy elected by the district, that the mayor of Beja assured him that “the Municipality was never contacted with a view to presenting the potential of this territory”, which could allow the airport to move forward with the 2nd phase of expanding the aircraft apron.
Not shown, the FPSBA accuses AICEP-Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal, supervised by the Ministry of Economy, “He has responsibilities for not having studied the Beja option, in an investment that would be structuring for the territory.
Announced and failed investments in Beja
Part I- In 2011 Aeromec signed a contract and thirteen years later went to Ponte de Sôr
In February 2011, a Aeromec, was considered the first aircraft maintenance company to establish itself at Beja airport. At that time, a contract was signed between Aeromec – Mecânica de Aeronaves and ANA, that had Pedro Beja Neves, ANA director responsible for Beja airport.
The agreement between the two parties involved an investment of around five million euros in the construction of a hangar for the maintenance of wide body and narrow body aircraft.. The deadline for providing space within Beja airport was 30 year old. The Aeromec installation in Beja should create around 100 work posts.
Thirteen years after the announcement and signing of the contract for investment in Beja, Aeromec turned to Ponte de Sôr Municipal Aerodrome. The project, which should start by the end of the year, predict, In a first phase, the hiring of 25 skilled workers, with perspectives of, no future, reach a maximum of 100 Professional.
Part II- Aeroneo fails to invest in BA land and facilities 11
In 22 September 2017, during the “Geringonça” era, an order signed by the State Secretaries of the Treasury was published in the Official Gazette, Álvaro Novo, and National Defense, Marcos Perestrello, in which the “Factory” property composed of hangars and areas attached to BA11 was removed from military domain, in Beja, with an area of 113.621 m2, intended for Aeroneo to install an industrial unit for aircraft maintenance and dismantling and aeronautical services management.
The initial contract had a duration of 15 year old, but, For reasons that have never been clarified, Aeroneo never signed the leasing contract and the “Factory” and attached areas were once again reverted to military control..
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
