Avaste Airfield

The airfield was closed due to military withdrawal and major geopolitical changes. It was a Soviet Air Force asset, and its closure was a direct result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent withdrawal of all Russian military forces from Estonia, which was completed by August 31, 1994. With the departure of its sole operator, the airfield was abandoned and transferred to Estonian authorities, who had no military or economic use for it.

The airfield is currently abandoned and in a state of disrepair. The concrete runway and some taxiways are still intact but are weathered, cracked, and being slowly reclaimed by nature. The site has no remaining buildings, such as hangars or control towers. Due to its long, straight, and isolated runway, the site has become a popular, albeit unofficial, venue for various motorsport activities, including drag racing, drifting, and driver training. It is occasionally used for organized events, but much of the activity is spontaneous. The land is under Estonian state or local municipal ownership, and there is no active maintenance or security.

Avaste Airfield was a strategic military installation built during the Cold War by the Soviet Union. It functioned as a 'Zapasnoy Aerodrom' (reserve/dispersal airfield) for the Soviet Air Force. Its primary purpose was not to host a permanent air regiment but to serve as a prepared, alternative base where aircraft could be dispersed from their main operating bases in the event of a conflict, increasing their survivability against a first strike. The airfield features a single concrete runway approximately 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) long, capable of handling Soviet-era tactical jet aircraft such as MiG and Sukhoi fighters and fighter-bombers. It was part of a dense network of such airfields in the Baltic Military District, underscoring the region's strategic importance to the USSR.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Avaste Airfield for aviation purposes. The significant cost required to renovate the runway and build modern infrastructure, combined with a lack of commercial or strategic demand for an airport in this rural location, makes reopening economically unviable. Estonia is well-served by existing airports, including the nearby Pärnu Airport (EPU), for regional needs. The site is expected to remain in its current state as a relic of the Cold War, primarily used for informal recreational activities.