Paramali, CY 🇨🇾 Closed Airport
CY-0070
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- ft
CY-XX
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 34.666881° N, 32.807612° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
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The exact closure date is not publicly documented. Aviation databases began listing the helipad as 'closed' around the mid-2010s. The closure was likely a gradual decommissioning as part of a broader military consolidation rather than a single event on a specific date.
The primary reason for closure was military operational consolidation. British Forces Cyprus (BFC) centralized its helicopter operations and support functions at its main airbase, RAF Akrotiri, which has superior facilities and maintenance capabilities. This move made smaller, ancillary helipads like Paramali South redundant for routine use, leading to its decommissioning to reduce operational and maintenance costs.
The physical helipad, a large, paved circular landing pad, remains intact on the ground within the secure perimeter of Episkopi Garrison. Although it is no longer an officially active aviation facility, the site is maintained by the UK Ministry of Defence. It is likely preserved as a contingency or emergency landing zone for military helicopters. The surrounding area continues to be used by British forces personnel for housing and recreation. The site is not accessible to the public.
The helipad's significance was entirely military. It was located within the 'Happy Valley' residential and recreational area of Episkopi Garrison, the headquarters for British Forces Cyprus. Its primary function was to provide direct helicopter access to the garrison command. Operations included:
- Transport of military personnel, commanders, and VIPs between Episkopi, RAF Akrotiri, and other UK military sites in Cyprus.
- Logistical support for military exercises conducted within the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA).
- A staging point for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) training and potentially real-world casualty transport.
It primarily served British Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force helicopters supporting the garrison.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the helipad for regular aviation operations, either military or civilian. Its strategic function has been permanently absorbed by the larger, more capable facilities at RAF Akrotiri. As it is located on sovereign UK military territory within an active garrison, any future reactivation would be solely for British military purposes, likely only in response to a significant change in operational requirements in the region.