Glamoč Air Base

Military transition and strategic realignment. The base was originally built for the Yugoslav People's Army. After the Bosnian War (1992-1995), it was taken over by international peacekeeping forces (SFOR, then EUFOR). As the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina stabilized, the large-scale international military presence was reduced. The base was no longer required as a primary air logistics hub for peacekeepers and was subsequently transferred to the control of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to serve a new military purpose as a ground training area.

The site is an active military area owned and operated by the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is now known as the **Combat Training Center Glamoč** (Centar za borbenu obuku Glamoč) and serves as the primary training ground for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH). The vast, open area is used for large-scale exercises, including live-fire artillery and tank drills, tactical vehicle maneuvers, and joint training operations with NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations. The runway and airfield infrastructure are not maintained for regular aviation and are in a state of disrepair, though the area remains a restricted military zone.

Glamoč Air Base holds significant military history from two distinct eras.

1. **Yugoslav Era (pre-1992):** It was constructed by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) as a strategic reserve airfield and training facility. Located on the vast and flat Glamočko Polje (Glamoč Field), it was part of a wider network of bases (including the famous Željava Air Base) designed for the dispersal of air assets in case of a major conflict, ensuring the survivability of the air force. It was primarily used for military exercises and pilot training.

2. **Post-War Peacekeeping Era (1995-c. 2007):** Following the Dayton Agreement, the base became a critical logistical and operational hub for the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) and its successor, the European Union Force (EUFOR). Its long runway could accommodate large military transport aircraft like the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III. It was instrumental for troop rotations, delivering supplies and equipment, and supporting peacekeeping operations throughout the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are no concrete, funded, or official plans to reopen Glamoč as a civilian or commercial airport. The idea has been periodically discussed by local politicians and development agencies as a potential way to stimulate the economy of the sparsely populated Glamoč canton, envisioning it as a cargo hub or a base for low-cost airlines. However, several major obstacles exist:

1. **Current Military Use:** Its critical role as the nation's central military training ground makes a civilian conversion highly improbable.
2. **High Cost:** The infrastructure, including the runway, taxiways, and terminals, would require a complete and very expensive overhaul to meet modern civilian aviation standards.
3. **Economic Viability:** The economic case is weak due to the low population density in the surrounding area and its relative proximity to other established international airports in Split, Sarajevo, and Banja Luka.