Academia General del Aire San Javier Air Base Murcia Spain
The San Javier Air Force Base 2024, also known as Murcia–San Javier Airport (MJV, LELC), is a military air base and former civilian passenger airport located in San Javier, 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Murcia, Spain. It is owned and operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force.
The military air base dates back to at least the early 1930s and is located at the northern end of the airport. It is currently used for training purposes by the Spanish Air Force Academy (Academia General del Aire) with turboprop, piston and jet-engined training aircraft. The base is also home to the famous aerobatic demonstration team of the Spanish Air Force, Patrulla Águila, which you can often see practicing their routines over the nearby Mar Menor lagoon. The civilian section of the airport was closed in January 2019 after the opening of the new Región de Murcia International Airport which can handle a larger volume of passenger traffic.
Academia General del Aire
The Academia General del Aire y del Espacio (Spanish Air and Space Force Academy), often abbreviated as AGA, is a premier institution in Spain dedicated to training future officers for the Spanish Air and Space Force. The base itself is the premier and central training facility for the whole Spanish Air Force and is home to over 850 staff. Training with the T-35C and the C-101EB has now ceased in 2024, all flight training roles are performed by the recently introduced Pilatus PC-21. Although the Casa 101 can be still be seen flying at San Javier, these are now only flown by the Patrulla Águila display team. New student pilots will do 25 hours on the simulater before starting to fly the PC-21, they then progress step by step through various courses until they get their "wings".
Here's a breakdown of what you should know about the Academy:
Purpose:
- Trains officer candidates for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Location:
- Situated in San Javier, Murcia, Spain, on the San Javier Air Force Base.
History:
- Established in 1971, consolidating the training of aspiring Air Force officers previously conducted at various schools.
- Witnessed a significant transformation in 2010 with the incorporation of university degree programs alongside its traditional military education.
Key Points:
- It's the main training centre for Spanish Air Force pilots, but also trains officers for other Air Force specialties.
- Offers university degrees alongside military flight training, making it a comprehensive educational institution.
- The Academy boasts a rich history and plays a crucial role in shaping the future leadership of the Spanish Air and Space Force.
AviationReporting would like thank the Defence Attache Madrid, Chief Staff Sergeant F Sanchez of the external relations department our tour guide for the visit and Edward Davision for all the interviews on base.
Photography Mark Forest & Robert Leech
Author Christopher Hipkin