Former Dangyang Airport

Military Decommissioning and Economic Redevelopment. The primary reason for closure was the disbandment of its resident PLAAF unit. Following its decommissioning as an active military facility, the land was transferred to the local government and repurposed for industrial and economic use, which was more valuable given its proximity to the city.

The site has been extensively redeveloped and is now the Dangyang Economic and Technological Development Zone (当阳市经济技术开发区). While the main runway (approximately 2,500 meters long) and some taxiways are still clearly visible from satellite imagery, they have been integrated into the industrial park's infrastructure. The runway itself is used as a main road, often referred to as 'Jichang Dadao' (Airport Avenue), and for vehicle testing or storage. Numerous factories, warehouses, and other industrial buildings have been constructed on the former aprons, taxiways, and surrounding land.

The facility was a significant military installation known as the PLAAF Dangyang Air Base. Constructed in the late 1960s (around 1968-1970), it served as a key fighter base during the Cold War era. It was home to the PLAAF 18th Fighter Division (空军第18师), which operated fighter aircraft, most notably the Shenyang J-6 (a Chinese-built version of the MiG-19). The airport's function was purely military; it never handled scheduled commercial passenger or cargo operations.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the original Former Dangyang Airport. The site is now a heavily developed and integrated industrial park, making a return to aviation operations impossible. However, the Dangyang municipal government has made separate plans to build a *new* general aviation airport at a different location to support regional economic development, tourism, and emergency services, as part of Hubei Province's broader plan to expand its general aviation network.