Bălți-City Airport was the second largest airport in
Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
and one of the two major civilian airports in Bălți (the second being
Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport located in the suburb of Bălți in
Corlăteni).
Established after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
to replace Moldova's main military airfield in Bălți (located in the suburb Bălți in
Singureni), the Bălți City civilian airport was the second busiest airport in Moldova for domestic
Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
n and
Soviet
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
air traffic until the late 1980s, when the second airport in Bălți,
Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport, became operational.
Bălți-City Airport ceased airport and air navigation activities in 2010, following the transfer of all airport real estate assets and land to
Bălți Free Economic Zone,
on the condition that Bălți Free Economic Zone builds real estate assets at
Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport to replace the real estate assets including plots of land received from Bălți-City Airport.
Bălți-City Airport is located in the eastern limits of the urban area of
Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
opposite the suburb of Bălți , the village of
Elizaveta Elizaveta () may refer to:
People
* Elizaveta Alexandrova-Zorina, (born 1984), Russian-born writer
* Elizaveta Arzamasova (born 1995), Russian actress
* Elizaveta Akhmatova (1820–1904), Russian writer, publisher and translator
* Elizaveta Ax ...
, which is part of the
Municipality of Bălți, at a distance of 3.2 km from the centre of Bălți. The airport consists of one passenger terminal which serves for both
domestic Moldovan and
domestic Soviet flights, as well as aircraft and cargo hangars and a control centre. In 1977, the number of domestic flights from
Chișinău
Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Moldova, largest city of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the coun ...
to
Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
exceeded 7 times the number of flights to any other most popular domestic destination in Moldova. During its existence, Bălți-City airport served about 30 destinations: both local domestic destinations and destinations in neighbouring Soviet republics (
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as the Ukrainian SSR, UkrSSR, and also known as Soviet Ukraine or just Ukraine, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1991. ...
,
Russian SFSR
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (Russian SFSR or RSFSR), previously known as the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and the Russian Soviet Republic, and unofficially as Soviet Russia,Declaration of Rights of the labo ...
).
During the
Soviet period
The history of the Soviet Union (USSR) (1922–91) began with the ideals of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution and ended in dissolution amidst economic collapse and political disintegration. Established in 1922 following the Russian Civil War, ...
, Bălți-City Airport was a
hub for planes and helicopters of
Aeroflot
PJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines (, ), commonly known as Aeroflot ( or ; , , ), is the flag carrier and the largest airline of Russia. Aeroflot is headquartered in the Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow, with its hub being Sheremetyevo Interna ...
airlines, Bălți Combined Aviation Unit (Bălți Aviation Unit No. 281) of the Civil Aviation Directorate of the
MSSR, with civil air squadrons from Bălți at
Chișinău airport
Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the capital and largest city of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc, a tributary of the Dniester ...
and
Bender airfield, as well as for planes and helicopters of
Moldaeroservice.
History
Origins

During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
the main
air military base of
Bessarabia
Bessarabia () is a historical region in Eastern Europe, bounded by the Dniester river on the east and the Prut river on the west. About two thirds of Bessarabia lies within modern-day Moldova, with the Budjak region covering the southern coa ...
and the region was the Bălți airfield at
Singureni with 5
advanced airfields used by
IAP-55 of which 2 in the
MSSR and 3 in the
UkrSSR. After the transfer of Bălți to the jurisdiction of the
USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
and at the end of World War II, the company
Aeroflot
PJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines (, ), commonly known as Aeroflot ( or ; , , ), is the flag carrier and the largest airline of Russia. Aeroflot is headquartered in the Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow, with its hub being Sheremetyevo Interna ...
came to Bălți, created earlier by the merger of Ukrvozdukhput and Dobroliot on 1 November 1930
(Dobroliot derived from Deruluft, a German-Russian company created on 8 November 1921). The development of
civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military and non-state aviation, which can be both private and commercial. Most countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and ...
in the northern region of Moldova continued after 1944, when two
Polikarpov Po-2
The Polikarpov Po-2 (also U-2 before 1944, for its initial Glossary of Russian and USSR aviation acronyms: Aircraft designations, ''uchebnyy'', 'training', role as a flight instruction aircraft) was an all-weather multirole Soviet Union, Soviet b ...
landed at the former
Bălți military airfield in Singureni, followed by a
Yakovlev Yak-12
The Yakovlev Yak-12 (, also transcribed as Jak-12, NATO reporting name: "Creek") is a light multirole STOL aircraft used by the Soviet Air Forces, Soviet civilian aviation and other countries from 1947 onwards.
Design and development
The Yak- ...
from Chișinău The planes belonged to the Moldovan branch of Aeroflot.
In the
post-war period
A post-war or postwar period is the interval immediately following the end of a war. The term usually refers to a varying period of time after World War II, which ended in 1945. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum, w ...
, civil aviation was needed in the absence of a full-fledged network of functioning roads. In 1946, the
Lisunov Li-2
The Lisunov Li-2 (NATO reporting name: Cab), originally designated PS-84, was a license-built Soviet-version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced by Factory #84 in Khimki, Moscow-Khimki and, after the factory's evacuation in 1941, at the Tash ...
bomber regiment was transferred to Bălți. The regiment was equipped with at least 35
Lisunov Li-2
The Lisunov Li-2 (NATO reporting name: Cab), originally designated PS-84, was a license-built Soviet-version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced by Factory #84 in Khimki, Moscow-Khimki and, after the factory's evacuation in 1941, at the Tash ...
, whose military versions could carry about two tons of bombs, while the civilian versions performed regular passenger flights (particularly Bălți – Chișinău), carrying about 25 passengers.
On 15 May 1947, the Bălți Flight Service Base was opened at the
Singureni airfield. The same year, three
Yakovlev Yak-12
The Yakovlev Yak-12 (, also transcribed as Jak-12, NATO reporting name: "Creek") is a light multirole STOL aircraft used by the Soviet Air Forces, Soviet civilian aviation and other countries from 1947 onwards.
Design and development
The Yak- ...
were deployed from Chișinău to Bălți, carrying civilian mail and cargo, and then the following year they were used for passenger transport, as well as to transport medical personnel to populated areas, to transport seriously ill patients to Chișinău hospitals in the capital, and for transport in agriculture and
forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...
. The above-mentioned planes delivered mail to the following destinations from
Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
:
Cuhnești
Cuhnești is a commune in Glodeni District, Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania t ...
,
Ocnița
Ocnița () is a town and the administrative center of Ocnița District in northern Moldova.
History
According to the 1930 Romanian census, the population was 96.1% Romanian, 1.7% Russian, 0.81% Jewish, 0.44% Ukrainian and 0.37% Polish
Polish ...
,
Glodeni
Glodeni () is a List of cities and towns in Moldova, city in Moldova. It is located in the north-western part of the country, in the old Bessarabia region. It is the largest city and administrative center of Glodeni District. Spread across an ar ...
and, if necessary, delivered 1–2 passengers to
Chișinău
Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Moldova, largest city of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the coun ...
.
[
The first years of operation of ]civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military and non-state aviation, which can be both private and commercial. Most countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and ...
after World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
at the Bălți military airfield in Singureni showed the disadvantages of the military infrastructure
Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and pri ...
in Singureni that existed there for regular civilian flights, which included the long distance from the centre of Bălți for a relatively light aircraft that did not require a long runway
In aviation, a runway is an elongated, rectangular surface designed for the landing and takeoff of an aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt concrete, asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (sod, ...
and the lack of a highway linking Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
with the airfield in Singureni. Indeed, the M14 highway was opened for the occasion of passing through Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
of the olympic flame
The Olympic flame is a Olympic symbols, symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. The Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece, several months before the Olympic Games. This ceremony s ...
for the 1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad () and officially branded as Moscow 1980 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in present-day Russ ...
and connected Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
and the rest of Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
with the Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport in Corlăteni a neighbouring village to Singureni. For these reasons it was decided to create a civilian airport within Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
, in particular for the convenience of servicing domestic flight
A domestic flight is a form of commercial flight within civil aviation where the departure and the arrival take place in the same country.
Airports serving domestic flights only are known as domestic airports.
Domestic flights are generally c ...
s with light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a Maximum Takeoff Weight, maximum gross takeoff weight of or less.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 308. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997.
Light aircraft are use ...
.
Development
In the postwar period
A post-war or postwar period is the interval immediately following the end of a war. The term usually refers to a varying period of time after World War II, which ended in 1945. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum, w ...
, Bălți-City Airport quickly became the second hub of civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military and non-state aviation, which can be both private and commercial. Most countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and ...
in the Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic or Moldavian SSR (, mo-Cyrl, Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ Молдовеняскэ), also known as the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan SSR, Soviet Moldavia, Sovie ...
.
In 1954, a new air terminal built at Bălți-City Airport was commissioned, and the military aircraft Lisunov Li-2
The Lisunov Li-2 (NATO reporting name: Cab), originally designated PS-84, was a license-built Soviet-version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced by Factory #84 in Khimki, Moscow-Khimki and, after the factory's evacuation in 1941, at the Tash ...
, converted into civil aircraft, began to land from Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
in Lviv
Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
, Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk (, ), formerly Stanyslaviv, Stanislav and Stanisławów, is a city in western Ukraine. It serves as the administrative centre of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast as well as Ivano-Frankivsk Raion within the oblast. Ivano-Frankivsk also host ...
and Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi (, ; , ;, , see also #Names, other names) is a city in southwestern Ukraine on the upper course of the Prut River. Formerly the capital of the historic region of Bukovina, which is now divided between Romania and Ukraine, Chernivt ...
. The first civilian squadron commander of the Bălți Aviation Company was A.N. Vorontsov.[
Beginning in 1961, Bălți-City Airport began accepting ]Ilyushin IL-14
The Ilyushin Il-14 (NATO reporting name: Crate) is a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950 in aviation, 1950, and entered service in 1954. The Il-14 was also manufactured in East ...
aircraft for landing and transporting passengers on intercity routes to the most distant cities of the former USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
by Aeroflot
PJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines (, ), commonly known as Aeroflot ( or ; , , ), is the flag carrier and the largest airline of Russia. Aeroflot is headquartered in the Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow, with its hub being Sheremetyevo Interna ...
aircraft.[
In September 1969, the Bălți Combined Aviation Unit was formed. All ]Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet Union, Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. I ...
, Yakovlev Yak-12
The Yakovlev Yak-12 (, also transcribed as Jak-12, NATO reporting name: "Creek") is a light multirole STOL aircraft used by the Soviet Air Forces, Soviet civilian aviation and other countries from 1947 onwards.
Design and development
The Yak- ...
and helicopters of Chișinău Flight Unit No 253 (that is, all of the above aircraft and helicopters of the Civil Aviation Administration of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova were transferred to the Bălți Flight Unit No 281) of the Bălți Combined Aviation Unit. At the Bender (Tighina) airfield was based a civil squadron of Bălți Flight Unit No 281, consisting of 2–3 Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet Union, Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. I ...
aircraft and 1–2 Mil Mi-1
The Mil Mi-1 (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 32", NATO reporting name "Hare") was a Soviet three- or four-seat light utility helicopter. It was the first Soviet helicopter to enter serial production. It is powered by one Ivchenko AI-26V radial ...
helicopters. A xcivil squadron of Bălți Flight Unit No 281, consisting of 4–5 Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet Union, Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. I ...
aircraft, was stationed at Chișinău Airport
Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the capital and largest city of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc, a tributary of the Dniester ...
for medical missions and local air flights.[
]
The airport had an area of 136.49 hectares and was managed by Moldaeroservice, a company established by the Ministry of Transportation and Road Infrastructure.
Towards the end of the 1980s, passenger traffic at Bălți-City Airport began to decrease due to the appearance of land-based bus services on the new built roads of the Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic or Moldavian SSR (, mo-Cyrl, Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ Молдовеняскэ), also known as the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan SSR, Soviet Moldavia, Sovie ...
and an increase in long-distance flights by jet aircraft
A jet aircraft (or simply jet) is an aircraft (nearly always a fixed-wing aircraft) propelled by one or more jet engines.
Whereas the engines in Propeller (aircraft), propeller-powered aircraft generally achieve their maximum efficiency at much ...
– then, in 1987, the construction of a new runway
In aviation, a runway is an elongated, rectangular surface designed for the landing and takeoff of an aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt concrete, asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (sod, ...
capable of handling Tupolev Tu-134
The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain oth ...
, Tupolev Tu-154
The Tupolev Tu-154 (; NATO reporting name: "Careless") is a three-engined, medium-range, narrow-body airliner designed in the mid-1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. A workhorse of Soviet and (subsequently) Russian airlines for several decades, ...
and Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 (; NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau as a commercial freighter in 1967, to replace the Antonov An-1 ...
aircraft was completed. Since then regular flights by Tupolev Tu-134
The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain oth ...
and Antonov An-24
The Antonov An-24 (Russian/ Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-24) (NATO reporting name: Coke) is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport/passenger aircraft designed in 1957 in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau and manufactured by the Kyiv ...
planes began to perform from the Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport. Until 2010 Bălți-City Airport together with helicopter helipad
A helipad is the landing area of a heliport, in use by helicopters, powered lift, and vertical lift aircraft to land on surface.
While helicopters and powered lift aircraft are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fa ...
s was used to serve the population, agriculture, as well as for irregular and short flights between the regions of the Republic of Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised ...
.
Decision of the Government of 2010
Bălți-City Airport existed from the post-war period
A post-war or postwar period is the interval immediately following the end of a war. The term usually refers to a varying period of time after World War II, which ended in 1945. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum, w ...
until 2010, when the Government of Moldova
The government of Moldova () is the government of the Republic of Moldova. It is housed in the Government House at the Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău
Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the Capital city, cap ...
decided to transfer the land at Bălți-City Airport to the Bălți Free Economic Zone, with the obligation of the latter to construct immovable facilities at Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport in exchange for real estate assets received from Bălți-City Airport. To date, Bălți Free Economic Zone has not fulfilled its obligation to build immovable facilities at Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport.
Government Decision No. 983 of 19 October 2010 on the transfer of immovable property (supplemented by Decision No. 1199 of 31 October 2016[
][)])) has transferred all immovable objects of Bălți-City Airport to the Ministry of Economy for use and expansion of the Bălți Free Economic Zone (''Bălți FEZ''). In accordance with the feasibility study established by the Ministry of Economy in 2011, the real estate assets obtained by Bălți FEZ from Bălți-City Airport were meant for the creation of an industrial park
An industrial park, also known as industrial estate or trading estate, is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development. An industrial park can be thought of as a more heavyweight version of a business park or office par ...
and a business incubator
A business incubator is an organization that helps startup companies and individual entrepreneurs to develop their businesses by providing a fullscale range of services, starting with management training and office space, and ending with venture ...
. The strategic goals of creating an industrial park in Subzone 3 of Bălți FEZ are: to attract domestic and foreign investments in Municipality of Bălți, to increase the share of the industrial sector of the municipality and of the Northern Development Region
The Northern Development Region (abbreviated RDN) is a development region in the Republic of Moldova that includes the municipality of Bălți and 11 districts, with an area of approximately 10,014 km2. It represents approximately 33% of the tot ...
in the total amount of industry through the renewal of competitive industrial sectors based on modern and innovative technologies, to take over the operational practices of foreign companies in industrial production activities, carrying out economic activities in line with the specific development opportunities of the Northern Development Region of Moldova, including more efficient use of public assets, creating jobs in the industrial park, developing human resources by increasing the quality of training in the park.
Today, despite the provisions of the feasibility study, including several buildings and recreational complexes have been built on the land of former Bălți-City Airport which was transferred to the Bălți Free Economic Zone.
Access and ground transport
Public transport
Train
Bălți City Airport is located 5,9 km (10 minutes car drive) from Bălți Northern Railway Station and 6,1 km (11 minutes car drive) from Bălți Central Railway Station. There is no railway station directly at Bălți City Airport.
Trolleybus, bus, and shuttle bus
Most trolleybuses, buses and shuttle buses operate until the terminal station "Airport"[
] or until the terminal station "Autogara" (located 3,1 km away from airport, 5 minutes car drive):
* trolleybuses: 1, 2, 2a and 3
* buses: 16, 25
* shuttle buses: 1, 18
Hotel access
The closest hotels to Bălți City Airport are VisPas (2,9 km in 4 minutes car drive) and Astoria (4,6 km in 5 minutes car drive). Remaining Bălți hotel network is accessible via public transport or taxis.
Taxi
Taxis are available upon order. There is no permanent taxi stand at the terminal.
Car
Access to strada Aerodromului, where is located Bălți City Airport, is available through the central strada Stefan cel Mare, national roads R13 (from Bălți eastwards through Florești Florești may refer to several places:
Moldova
*Florești, Moldova, a city in Moldova
*Florești District, in Moldova
*Florești, a village in Cobusca Veche Commune, Anenii Noi District
*Florești, a village in Buciumeni, Ungheni, Buciumeni Commu ...
to Rîbnița
Rîbnița ( or , , ) or Rybnitsa (; ) is a town in the breakaway state, breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria, 2004 census, it has a population of 53,648. Rîbnița is situated in the northern half ...
) and R14 (part of ring road
A ring road (also known as circular road, beltline, beltway, circumferential (high)way, loop or orbital) is a road or a series of connected roads encircling a town, city or country. The most common purpose of a ring road is to assist in reducin ...
around Bălți).
Operator
In 1958, the Civil Aviation Squadron of Bălți (') was formed in addition to the Moldaivan Special Aviation Group of the Civil Air Fleet (')[
Since 27 July 1964 the Civil Aviation Squadron of Bălți has been subordinated to the Moldovan Special Aviation Group of Civil Aviation (').][
Between July 1965 and 1966 the Combined Civil Aviation Squadron of Bălți (') was subordinated to the Combined Aviation Unit of Chișinău (').
From 1966 to September 1969 the Bălți Flight Unit No. 281 (') was subordinated to the Civil Aviation Directorate of the ]Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic or Moldavian SSR (, mo-Cyrl, Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ Молдовеняскэ), also known as the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan SSR, Soviet Moldavia, Sovie ...
(').
Between September 1969 and February 1978, the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți (') was subordinated to the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic or Moldavian SSR (, mo-Cyrl, Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ Молдовеняскэ), also known as the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan SSR, Soviet Moldavia, Sovie ...
.
From February 1978 until 1 January 1983 the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți was subordinated to the Republican Production Unit of the Moldovan Civil Aviation (').
Since 1 January 1983, the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți has been subordinated to the Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic or Moldavian SSR (, mo-Cyrl, Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ Молдовеняскэ), also known as the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan SSR, Soviet Moldavia, Sovie ...
.[
The state enterprise "Moldaeroservice", was founded in 1966 as the Bălți Flight Unit No. 281 (') of the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți by order of the Minister of Civil Aviation of the ]USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
, based on the civil aviation squadron of Yakovelev Yak-12 and Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet Union, Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. I ...
aircraft. Together with the Bălţi-City Airport Services, the Bălți Aviation Unit No. 281 formed the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți.
The commander of Bălți Flight Unit No. 281 was appointed Nicolae Zavadschii, the head of the airport – Petru Ovcinicov, the head of the airport technical service base – Victor Șerstiuc and the head of the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți – Vitalie Bezdenejnîh. Among the commanders of the Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți were: Alexei Lyciman, Yevgeny Ilyakov, Anatolii Bajucov, Alexei Alexeev, Vasilii Burma, Ivan Tomac, Vladimir Rishkov, Valery Cenin. Among the heads of the airport's technical services base were Grigore Rotari, Boris Cabac, Victor Gherta. The air navigation service was headed by Dmitrie Covalciuc, and the passenger service by Maria Ribacova, Alexandr Ojegov, Leonid Solovyov. The airport and ground service was headed by Petru Lobanov, Rașid Biriucov, Dmitrie Gubarev, Vasile Barabaș. Throughout its development, the company went through many stages of restructuring and advancement. In 1989 the concrete runway
In aviation, a runway is an elongated, rectangular surface designed for the landing and takeoff of an aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt concrete, asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (sod, ...
was put into operation at the newly built Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport (also managed by Moldaeroservice), thanks to which the passengers from the northern region of the Republic of Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised ...
gained the possibility of air travel to 14 cities of the former USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
with aircraft of the type Antonov An-24
The Antonov An-24 (Russian/ Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-24) (NATO reporting name: Coke) is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport/passenger aircraft designed in 1957 in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau and manufactured by the Kyiv ...
, Tupolev Tu-134
The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain oth ...
, Let L-410 Turbolet
The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engine short-range transport aircraft designed and produced by the Czech Republic, Czech aircraft manufacturer Aircraft Industries, Let Kunovice (named Aircraft Industries since 2005).
It was developed as the ''L ...
until 1993.[
With the ]dissolution of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Declaration No. 142-Н of ...
, the airspace control and surveillance service became an independent service, delegated to the Bălți branch of the state enterprise "MOLDATSA".
The Combined Aviation Unit of Bălți, which became the Bălți Aviation Company, was reorganised and renamed "Moldaeroservice" in 1994. Thus, the company became a self-sufficient company as "Moldaeroservice" with its own balance sheet, having under its management: Bălți-Leadoveni International Airport (145 ha), Bălți-City Airport (136 ha), professional staff, buildings and premises necessary for the technological and production process, Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet Union, Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. I ...
aircraft and Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 (NATO reporting name: Hoplite) is a small, three Helicopter rotor, rotor blade Soviet-designed multi-purpose helicopter developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, designed in the early 1960s and produced exclusively by PZL-Świdn ...
helicopters. In accordance with the air operator's permit № Md 001, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova, the company performs the following operations: air ambulance flights, observation flights, flights for search and rescue operations, advertising and leisure flights, flights for the benefit of the agricultural and forestry sector.[
According to certificate MD.145.0025, Moldaeroservice is approved as a maintenance organisation for Antonov An-2 (ASH-62IR); Mil Mi-2 (GTD-350); C3; C5; C6; C7; C8; C9; C12; C13; C14; C18.9.]
Destinations
During the existence of Bălţi-City Airport, the main airlines operating scheduled and charter flights to/from Bălţi-City Airport to about 30 intra-Soviet and domestic Moldovan destinations were Aeroflot
PJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines (, ), commonly known as Aeroflot ( or ; , , ), is the flag carrier and the largest airline of Russia. Aeroflot is headquartered in the Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow, with its hub being Sheremetyevo Interna ...
, Moldaeroservice and Air Moldova
Air Moldova was the flag carrier airline for The Republic of Moldova, headquartered in the country's capital Chișinău. It mainly operated scheduled and charter services to destinations within Europe from its base at Chișinău International A ...
. Moldaeroservice was the last operator to operate from Bălți City Airport.
Direct services were provided to the extended territory of the former Soviet socialist republics
In the Soviet Union, a Union Republic () or unofficially a Republic of the USSR was a constituent federated political entity with a system of government called a Soviet republic, which was officially defined in the 1977 constitution as " ...
and to the national network of localities of the Soviet Republic of Moldova.
In the late 1980s, Bălți-City Airport, with its airfield and heliport, served mainly domestic traffic between Bălți
Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...
and the northern rajons of Moldova, mostly in agriculture and for public service needs.
Images
Image:Antonov An-2 099.jpg,
Image:ER-07351 An-2 at Balti City Airport.jpg,
Image:Fuselage of An-2 at Balti City Airport.jpg,
Image:Scrapped Mil Mi-2 at Balti City Airport.jpg,
Image: ER-07351 An-2 ter at Balti City Airport.jpg,
Incidents
* On 1 March 1950, a Lisunov Li-2
The Lisunov Li-2 (NATO reporting name: Cab), originally designated PS-84, was a license-built Soviet-version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced by Factory #84 in Khimki, Moscow-Khimki and, after the factory's evacuation in 1941, at the Tash ...
aircraft crashed in Bălți. The plane crashed on take-off from the airfield, killing three pilots of the Li-2 bomber while performing a training flight. The plane hit a hill near the village of Mîndreștii Noi, where there is now a television tower, in heavy snowfall and zero visibility. The pilots asked for the flight to be cancelled, and the flight manager said no: ''"No, that's it, Odessa
ODESSA is an American codename (from the German language, German: ''Organisation der ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen'', meaning: Organization of Former SS Members) coined in 1946 to cover Ratlines (World War II aftermath), Nazi underground escape-pl ...
is not cancelling, keep flying"''. The aircraft was accelerating on the longest runway, ''"apparently they could not gain enough acceleration and altitude"''. The two pilots at the front in the cockpit survived. At the back of the plane the flight engineer Mikhail Ivanov, the navigator Myakotin and the gunner-radiologist Nikolay Fedorov, all three died. Commander Khestanov sustained minor injuries, while co-pilot Ivan Kravtsov spent a year in a hospital in Odessa. ''"The dead crew members were buried by the whole city. They were lying in the pilots' club, which is now a municipal court (there was a pilots' town between Mira Street and Moskovskaya Street)."'' All three of them were buried in the cemetery on Decebal Street. Then Myakotin's widow took the remains of her husband back home and later when a military burial was created in a new cemetery on Gagarin street in Bălți, the remains of Ivanov and Fedorov were also reburied in the new cemetery.
* On 10 December 1961, an accident occurred involving an aircraft technician of the 253rd Special Operations Squadron of the Moldaivan Special Aviation Group of the Civil Air Fleet. After conducting three morning flights from Bălți-City Airport, the aircraft technician visited the canteen and found himself intoxicated before the Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet Union, Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. I ...
aircraft started training flights. The suspended pilot was instructed to prepare the An-2 aircraft for training flights. He was assisted by an avionics technician together with an aircraft mechanic, knowing that the technician was drunk. As a result of his negligence, the plane was accessed by strangers visiting one of the airport workers. The technician started the engine and went for take-off together with the passengers who happened to be on the plane. While taxiing
Taxiing (rarely spelled taxying) is the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or pushback (aviation), pushback where the aircraft is moved by a tug. The aircraft usually moves on wheels, but the term ...
, an attempt was made to stall the aircraft by the pilot-in-command and the co-pilot, who tried to jump in but were blown away by the rudder of the plane. The father of an underage passenger also tried to enter the moving plane. The airport commander and airport controller tried to steer the aircraft technician away from taxiing and only after takeoff at 11:25 a.m. the aircraft technician started to answer from the radio, using obscene words. Two simulated approaches were made over the airfield
An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes in ...
. Seeing this, the commander of civil aviation squadron gave instructions to decelerate and land. However, the aircraft technician would go back to climbing in altitude again each time. Flying at low altitude over the city, the aircraft hit the power line pole with its lower left wing, knocking out part of the wing and the strut between the surface area of the wing
A wing is a type of fin that produces both Lift (force), lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform (aeronautics), planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-d ...
s. Then, after hitting the poles in two more places, the aircraft blew out its left landing gear strut and, losing speed, crashed onto a city street at 11:43 am. After the crash, a bystander quickly opened the door and jumped out of the plane with the boy first, followed by the aircraft engineer. The plane caught fire and burst into flames. The aircraft technician was unharmed. The passengers got minor injuries. There were no injuries on the ground.
Famous personalities related to history of Bălți aviation
*Alexander Pokryshkin
Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin (; – 13 November 1985) was a Soviet fighter pilot in World War II, and later a marshal of aviation. He was one of the highest-scoring Soviet aces, and the highest-scoring pilot ever to fly an American aircraft, ...
*Rudolf Schmidt
*Grigory Leadov
*Reinhard Heydrich
Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich ( , ; 7 March 1904 – 4 June 1942) was a German high-ranking SS and police official during the Nazi era and a principal architect of the Holocaust. He held the rank of SS-. Many historians regard Heydrich ...
*Grigore Baștan Grigore, the equivalent of Gregory, is a Romanian-language first name. It may refer to:
*Grigore Alexandrescu (1810–1885), Romanian poet and translator
*Grigore Antipa (1866–1944), Romanian Darwinist biologist, ichthyologist, ecologist, oceanol ...
*Nadia Russo
Nadia (Nadejda) Russo-Bossie (17 June 1901 – 22 January 1988) was a Romanian military aviator during World War II. She was a member of the White Squadron, a team of female aviators who flew medical aircraft during World War II. Romania wa ...
* Robert Frimtzis
See also
* Civil Aviation Administration of Moldova The Republic of Moldova Civil Aviation Authority (CAA; ) is the central specialized, executive, coordinating and control body of the Public Administration in the field of civil aviation, founded by the Government of Moldova. The Administration takes ...
* List of airports in Moldova
This is a list of airports in Moldova, sorted by location.
Airports
Decommissioned airports
See also
* Transport in Moldova
* List of airports by ICAO code: L#LU – Moldova
* Wikipedia:WikiProject Aviation/Airline destination list ...
References
External links
Civil Aviation Administration of Moldova
Satellite photo of Bălți-City Airport
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balti City Airport
Defunct airports
Airports in Bălți
Airports in Moldova
Buildings and structures in Bălți
Aviation in Bălți
Airports established in 1954
Airports disestablished in 2010