Son San Juan Air Base

Son San Juan Air Base is a Spanish Air Force installation located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, operating adjacent to the Palma de Mallorca civil airport. Established in 1936 on the Son Suñer field, the facility was expanded to host the Italian Aviación Legionaria during the Spanish Civil War. Control transferred to the Spanish Air Force in 1939, which initially deployed Polikarpov I-16 and Fiat CR-32 aircraft. The facility was officially designated a Base Aérea in 1950 and received F-86F Sabre and T-33 jet aircraft in 1956 following the 1953 Pact of Madrid.

The base hosts Wing 49 (Ala 49), which incorporates 801 Squadron. It also serves as the Palma Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Palma), one of three such centers in Spain, with responsibility for the Balearic search and rescue (SAR) region. The unit maintains a 24-hour SAR alert for the Barcelona Flight Information Region (FIR). Wing 49 administers the maritime training center at Pollensa Military Aerodrome and provides logistical support to the Puntiró powder magazine and Surveillance Air Squadron No. 7 in Sóller.

The 801 Squadron and Wing 49 have participated in international missions including ISAF, Operation Atalanta, Unified Protector, and Operation Sophia. Current flight equipment consists of the CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft (VIGMA) and AS332 Super Puma helicopters. Historically, the base hosted Heinkel He 111, PBY Catalina, Grumman Albatros, and CASA C-212 Aviocar aircraft.

Recent organizational changes include the 2008 merger of the air base unit and 801 Squadron to form Wing 49. Fleet transitions include the retirement of the CASA C-212 in 2014 and the SA 330 Puma in 2017. AS332 Super Puma helicopters were re-introduced to the unit in 2019. The base shares taxiways with the civil airport and conducts SURMAR sea survival training exercises throughout the year.