Beja Airport (IATA: BYJ / ICAO: LPBJ) is located in the region of Alentejo, in 170 km in the South of Lisbon and in 150 km in the North of Algarve. It is dedicated to business aviation and directly connected with a wide network of highways which serve all the country. Its terminal dedicated to the transport of passengers, goods and aircraft maintenance allow realizing effectively any sorts of operations. At the moment there are no schedule pax flights and only HiFly use it to park its aircraft. But Beja is also a military Airport, Beja Air Base is officially designated as Air Base #11, and is one of the most important military air bases in Portugal including P3 Orion, C130 & AgustaWestland.

Written by Matteo Lamberts & Vitor Carneiro. Last Update: September 2020

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runway
01L/19R	3,450m (11,319ft); Asphalt
01R/19L	2,951m (9,682ft); Asphalt
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed and neither allowed against the fence at a military air base.
Car/Public Transport	Only 1 city bus connecting the Airport with Beja itself, car absolutely needed as there is nothing nearby.
Restrooms	Small café inside the Airport where you can drink and eat something.
Drinks/Food	Inside the Airport available.
Hotels	Herdade da Diabrória – Agroturismo, is the closest hotel near the Airport.
Season	No real season to Spot at Beja, it depends if you’re lucky enough that Hi Fly is flying charters around the world and at the end comes back to Beja after the lease. The key tip is to check FR24 most of the times for the Hi Fly aircraft, because when you see they’re heading south, you know enough. Beja is also next to being a civil Airport, also a military Airport. The Portuguese air force trains each week day. You can expect C130s, P3s, Agusta’s and so on. Even some interesting military fuel stops/nightstops may pass through Beja. From time to time the Portuguese Troops in Africa are in need of goods and etc, and so you can get a RubyStar IL76 or ADB A124 doing the chartered flights from and to Beja.
Runway Usage
General Info	Even if RWY 01 is in use but the wind is below 5kts for landings, will be at RWY 19 for the civilians. The same for departures, below 5kts will be RWY 01, even if RWY 19 is in use. Keep that in mind!
01L/19R	Used by non Portuguese Air Force aircraft – the civil stuff
01R/19L	ONLY used by the Portuguese Air Force

	Spot #1 – Morning landings RWY 01L
WHERE	The spotting location is located on the main road. In order to reach the spot, please drive and follow the signs towards the terminal of the airport. Park your car at the parking terminal and from there walk down to the location.
WHAT	Morning landings RWY 01L.
TIME	From sunrise till 1300.
MISC.	No ladder needed – sky shot. Heat haze is a problem during summer months as from 10AM.
FOCAL LENGTH	170mm = IL76

++We do not have any samples however if you do please email us, thank you++

	Spot #2 –  Afternoon landings RWY 01L
WHERE	The spotting location is located on the grass field right of terminal and next to the police station. In order to reach the spot, please drive and follow the signs towards the terminal of the airport. Park your car at the parking terminal and from there walk down to the location.
WHAT	Afternoon landings RWY 01L.
TIME	1430 till sunset.
MISC.	No ladder needed, you have to shoot in between light poles, so choose your spot! Heat haze might be a problem during the summer months, especially around 3PM, if they come in low.
FOCAL LENGTH	150mm = B707 / 140mm = IL76

BYJ-SPOT2

BYJ-SPOT2

	Spot #3 – Parked aircraft on the ramp – afternoon ONLY
WHERE	In town named São Brissos, next to the road on a field. In order to reach the location drive towards the airport and continue towards the next village. You’ll notice a line of trees on the right side it’s where the spot is located.
WHAT	Perfect to shoot parked aircraft on the ramp if they’re clean, without GPU, stairs etc.
TIME	From 1700 till sunset – heat haze problem due to the distance, the best it to shoot 1h before sunset.
MISC.	No ladder needed, fence well under the wheels.
FOCAL LENGTH	150mm = A310

BYJ-SPOT3