Civil Airfield Portimão (LPPM)

Portimão (LPPM) is a busy VFR-only airfield in the Algarve, primarily serving general aviation and skydiving operations. Parking space is limited and PPR for parking is required; requests are best made via the email address in NOTAMs, though phone follow-up may be necessary. Hangarage may be available through local skydiving companies, with one example of hangar space at about €40 per night. High-visibility jackets are mandatory for all crew and passengers on the apron.

Landing fees and parking are generally moderate, with several examples: landing plus two days parking about €40–€50, landing plus three days parking about €50–€60, and a single landing fee about €20–€30. Example: landing and two days parking about €40. No additional fees are typically charged beyond these. Payment for fuel and fees is possible by cash or credit card; BP Carnet is not accepted.

AVGAS and Jet A1 are available but fuel is expensive and not self-service; fueling requires coordination at the west end of the ramp, sometimes necessitating pushing aircraft by hand. Fuel payment is possible by cash or credit card, but not all cards are accepted for all fuels. No BP Carnet accepted.

The airfield has no customs or immigration facilities for extra-Schengen arrivals or departures; intra-Schengen flights proceed without complication. For customs clearance to non-Schengen destinations, prior arrangement with authorities in Lisbon is required and may incur a fee of around €200.

Operations are affected by intensive parachuting activity: engine start is prohibited from two minutes before jump release until jumpers have landed and returned to their hangar. There is no taxiway; backtracking on the runway is required for each movement, which can cause delays during busy periods. Approaches to runway 29 require a step-down due to terrain; runway 11 departures can be challenging due to obstacles (hill at east end). Motor start requires tower clearance.

Facilities include a small café/restaurant, open WiFi, briefing room, and helpful English-speaking staff who assist with flight plans and paperwork. Rental cars can be arranged via https://udrive.cc (select "Alvor-Airport"), or through local contacts; taxis to Portimão cost about €10–€20, Uber also operates efficiently in the area.

The airfield lies close to attractive beaches and towns such as Lagos (often preferred over Portimão itself), with hotels available nearby. Procedures vary; see AIP/NOTAM for current requirements.

Overall, LPPM offers friendly service and good support for general aviation pilots but requires advance planning due to limited parking, parachuting operations, and absence of customs facilities for non-Schengen flights.