Since it was established in Lisbon in 2002, the JALLC has enjoyed being hosted by the Portuguese Air Force, inside the compound of the Comando Aéreo. The Air Command provides the JALLC not only with our building, but also a variety of other services including catering, sports facilities, security, safety and emergency medical support.

On 19 April 2017, a group of JALLC staff visited the Air Force bunker in the compound from which Portuguese air space is surveyed and all military flights are controlled. It was good to meet colleagues from the Portuguese Air Force—whom we usually only see in the canteen or the gym—in their work environment and learn something about what happens in the compound.

The NATO staff received a briefing about the Portuguese Air Force capabilities, with a special focus on the National Search and Rescue function, Air Defence, and the NATO Air Policing responsibilities. After the briefing, the staff were invited to visit the operational rooms and saw the Portuguese radar system, with which the operators looks for abnormal situations that could require the intervention of the Air Force.

The JALLC’s visit contributed to increased shared knowledge with the Portuguese defence community and interoperability among the NATO Nations.