San Javier Air Base
San Javier Air Base (ICAO LELC) is an active military air base in Spain, operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force. It has 2 runways. Home to Patrulla Águila, Escuela Elemental de San Javier, the 792 Escuadrón (Escuela Básica del Aire), flying C-101 Aviojet, T-35 Pillan, Pilatus PC-21.
Facility Details
| Operating Country | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Location | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Status | Active |
| Usage | Military only |
| Year built | 1929 |
| Operating Organization | Spanish Air and Space Force |
| Units & aircraft |
Patrulla Águila · C-101 AviojetEscuela Elemental de San Javier · T-35 Pillan792 Escuadrón (Escuela Básica del Aire) · Pilatus PC-21
|
| Coordinates | 37.7747°N, -0.8122°E |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) |
| IATA code | MJV |
| ICAO code | LELC |
| Runways |
05R/23L · Asphalt05L/23R · Asphalt
|
Description
San Javier Air Base is located on the northern shore of the Mar Menor in Santiago de la Ribera, Murcia, Spain. The site was built in 1929, with the military airbase established during the 1930s. In April 1939, following the Spanish Civil War, the facility served as a prisoner-of-war camp for Republican aviation personnel and hosted special aviation courts.
The Spanish Air Force operates the installation, which serves as the site for the San Javier Elementary School and the Patrulla Águila aerobatic team. Flight operations involve propeller and jet training aircraft, specifically the E-26 Tamiz and E-25 Mirlo (CASA C-101).
Infrastructure consists of two runways and a taxiway designated Calle Papa used for crosswind landings. A secondary runway, opened in 2011, is used for E-26 Tamiz training flights. The primary runway supports E-25 Mirlo operations. The base maintains a terminal building and has the capacity to accommodate medium-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 757 and Airbus A321.
Commercial flight operations at the base ceased on January 14, 2019, following the opening of the International Airport of the Region of Murcia. All civil personnel and airline operations were subsequently transferred to the new facility at Corvera. On January 15, 2019, San Javier Air Base returned to exclusive military use by the Spanish Air Force.
- AUG 212026 Updated Recorded the resident units missing from this air base
- AUG 212026 Updated Recorded the 3 aircraft types based at this air base
- AUG 142026 Updated Operating organization given in English, as every other operator on the site
- JAN 172026 Updated Secondary name removed
- JAN 122026 Created Page created: San Javier Air Base; then secondary name, IATA code and 10 more fields added; organization updated