The Airforce Base

[jamesfshaw]

I have been told that the facilities of the base are available to ex service people from any country within the EU. Is that so?

If it is does anyone know how to go about gaining the acess?

Jim Shaw

 

[Sparky]

Hi Jim, this was published in the DB back in January. Might be of interest to you:-
{ Port of Pollensa air base opens its doors to European military tourism
STAFF REPORTER
POLLENSA
THE air base in the Port of Pollensa is opening up its facilities to the new European markets fulfilling its function as a holiday destination for staff of the military of NATO member states.

Last year, there were 40'000 overnight stays registered at the base, largely made during the high tourist season. For the first time, it was visited by soldiers coming from Austria and the Czech Republic.

The Colonel in Chief of the military base, Vicente Sanchez Salgado, released the figures last month during a speech made on the occasion of an annual Air Force celebration.

Sanchez took the opportunity to explain the importance of the Pollensa base in terms of the recreational facilities it provides to military personnel and their families. “Housing is provided to personnel from other European army staff as part of established agreements over exchange,” he said.

The base also acts as a training ground for air crews being schooled in the art of emergency survival, and search and rescue. At any given time, there is a rotating presence of some 45 military staff, said the Colonel in Chief.

The Ministry of Defence insists that the military base in the Port of Pollensa is of strategic national importance and has refused to allow members of the general public to use the facilities there, despite moves to the contrary by both Pollensa town council and by Central Government Congress itself. Both Council and Congress have wanted to set up an investigating committee to see what part of the base can be feasibly used by the general public.

The Majorcan Socialist party (PSM) said in its local magazine published this week that the Ministry of Defence is making “much ado about nothing” about the importance of the base in Pollensa.

A PSM commentator said that if the base was really of such significance, there are no circumstances under which the Ministry would allow it to be used by military staff from other countries for holiday purposes.}

 

[debz1]

There are ways of getting into the base!! My girls and Bella's son met a couple of the pilots from the base in Chivas a couple of years back. They were 'smuggled' into the base the next day and went on a very hairy flight in the seaplane

Meanwhile a very envious Bella and I sat and watched from the beach!

Although we weren't quite so jealous when they returned, all looking extremely queasy. They had been handed sick bags before they took off, which they thought was hilarious, until they were dipping and diving over the bay. This was no luxury Easyjet flight (?) ... no seat belts or air conditioning and they said it was scarier than any fairground ride! Still a liittle bit jealous 'tho

 

[Sparky]

Oh Debz that was a great story....i can imagine the end of flight announcement
"Thank you for flying Air PP......please take your sick bags with you" .

 

[BonysLad]

Wow Debs,

Sounds like an adventure from a "Famous Five " Book .

Seeing these guys in a totally different light now.

Up partying all night at Chivas , then a few hours later, zooming over my pad frightening the horses ( not to mention the servants ) and clearing me Toldos by about 50 feet.

Wow, talk about those magnificent men in their flying machines !!!!

BonysLad

( Bloody hell, Sparky. Think the feral cats are the least of our worries !!)

 

[Sparky]

BL it's not just the drinking in Chivas, they often start in El Posito at lunchtime .

Debz, maybe we should do lunch one day .

 

[Tonsyl]

PP Air Force

Which reminds me Sparky, I didn't thank you for arranging the air displays down here on the beach for 3 days last week and again this morning.
You must have many friends in this town.

 

[Sparky]

Tonsyl,
I do my best and am glad you enjoyed it but will you please remember in future to let me know if you have lots of firemen on your doorstep .
I am most upset that i missed them but have got my detectives on the case to find out what that was all about.

 

[debz1]

BL it's not just the drinking in Chivas, they often start in El Posito at lunchtime .

Debz, maybe we should do lunch one day .

Sounds a good idea to me Mind you the photos the girls took of them in Chivas in their civvies, compared to the ones taken at the base in their uniforms (think Tom Cruise in Top Gun) are very different! There again beggars can't be choosers

 

[Tonsyl]

Sorry Sparky, I will let you know immediately if anything untoward happens again. If you don't find out first, I'll ask Rosa when I next go in.

 

[ray]

The sooner they close this base (which is of no strategic military importance) and open it up to the public the better. They can keep the little sea plane there, that's useful and nice to watch

 

[Sparky]

Ray the Spanish Ministry of Defence chief will disagree with you, he says it is very important for the training of air crews in survival and air/sea rescue. They are also often used for forest fire fighting on all the Balearic Islands.

 

[Jimbo the Jambo]

Ray the Spanish Ministry of Defence chief will disagree with you, he says it is very important for the training of air crews in survival and air/sea rescue. They are also often used for forest fire fighting on all the Balearic Islands.

Sparky,

I believe they carry out fire fighting ops. all over the Med area. They train pilots to carry out unique operational duties and it is to their credit they do so.

Plus the fact it is so entertaining to watch the seapale take off circle, pick up water drop it on unsuspecting boaties who parked in the wrong place etc. and landings, usually on the water.

All adds to the fun but with a serious side to it.


cheers,

jimbo

 

[Mary Williams]

Air base

I lived in air base 1958/59. Am looking for news of family Miguel Pericas who worked there. They had one son Miguel. Can anyone help? Mw

 

[Mary Williams]

Sequier bros

Is there still a shoe factory in Pollensa owned by the Sequier bros? Mw