Ota Air Base

Military restructuring. As part of a major reorganization of the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa - FAP), its operational attack squadrons were transferred to other locations. The A-7P Corsair II squadrons (Esquadra 302 and Esquadra 304) were relocated to Air Base No. 5 in Monte Real. This change allowed the facility to be converted into the Air Force's central training center.

The site is an active and important military installation. It is no longer an operational air base with combat aircraft but serves as the Air Force's Military and Technical Training Center (Centro de Formação Militar e Técnica da Força Aérea - CFMTFA). This center provides basic military instruction and technical training for all new recruits, sergeants, and officers of the Portuguese Air Force. The airfield itself is maintained as Maneuver Airfield No. 1 (Aeródromo de Manobra n.º 1 - AM1) and is used for training flights, military exercises, and as a contingency/dispersal airfield.

Officially known as Base Aérea Nº 2, Ota was one of the most important air bases in Portugal for decades. It was a cornerstone of the country's air defense and NATO commitments during the Cold War. The base was famously home to the F-86F Sabre jet fighters of the 'Falcões' (Falcons) squadron. Later, it became the main operational base for Portugal's fleet of LTV A-7P Corsair II ground-attack aircraft, which were a vital component of the Air Force from the 1980s until the late 1990s.

Prospects for reopening as a major civilian or primary military airport are virtually zero. Ota was the center of a major national debate when it was selected in 1999 as the site for the New Lisbon Airport. The project was officially approved but faced intense opposition due to high costs, environmental concerns, and technical studies pointing to frequent adverse weather conditions (especially fog). In 2008, the Portuguese government officially cancelled the Ota project after a strategic assessment recommended an alternative location at Alcochete. Since then, Ota has not been a serious contender in ongoing discussions for a new airport and is expected to retain its crucial role as the Air Force's main training facility.