Kalipetrovo Agricultural Airfield

The closure was a direct result of major economic and political changes in Bulgaria following the end of the socialist regime in 1989. The primary reason was economic. The airfield's existence was tied to the state-run system of collective farms (ТКЗС - Трудово-кооперативно земеделско стопанство). With the dismantling of this system and the privatization and restitution of land, the need for large-scale, state-managed aerial spraying diminished. The national operator, 'Селскостопанска авиация' (Agricultural Aviation - SSA), which serviced these airfields, faced financial collapse and was eventually declared bankrupt, leading to the abandonment of its extensive infrastructure, including the Kalipetrovo airfield.

The airfield is abandoned and derelict. The single paved runway, while still visible in satellite imagery, is in a state of severe disrepair. It is cracked, overgrown with grass and weeds, and is not suitable for any aviation activity. The site is now used for informal agricultural storage; it is common to see hay bales, farming equipment, or other materials stored on the runway surface. Any associated buildings are in ruins. The property is unsecured and has effectively reverted to unused farmland.

During its operational years in the socialist era, Kalipetrovo Agricultural Airfield was a vital piece of local infrastructure for the highly productive agricultural region of Silistra. Its sole purpose was to support agricultural aviation. Operations consisted of seasonal flights for crop dusting, aerial application of fertilizers and pesticides, and pest control over the vast, collectivized farmlands. The airfield primarily serviced robust, short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft, most notably the Antonov An-2. It was part of a dense, nationwide network of similar small airfields that were essential to the industrialized agricultural model of the planned economy, ensuring high yields from major crops like wheat and sunflower in the region.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the Kalipetrovo Agricultural Airfield. The economic and agricultural model that required such a facility no longer exists. Modern agricultural practices in the region rely on more efficient ground-based machinery and, increasingly, on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for precision spraying. The cost to restore the runway and facilities to modern standards would be prohibitive and without any economic justification, making its revival for either agricultural or general aviation purposes highly unlikely.