Nurmsi Airfield

Military and political change. The primary reason for its closure as a military airbase was the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The airfield was part of the Soviet military infrastructure in occupied Estonia, and with Estonia regaining its independence, the Soviet (later Russian) Army abandoned the site.

The site is currently a multi-purpose recreational and paramilitary area. It is officially registered as an uncontrolled airfield (ICAO: EENI) and is actively used for several purposes:

1. **Skydiving:** It is the primary base of operations for the Estonian Skydiving Club (Eesti Langevarjuklubi), making it the main center for parachuting and skydiving in Estonia.
2. **Motorsports:** The long, flat concrete runway is frequently used for legal drag racing events, including those organized by the Estonian Drag Racing Association (EDRA), as well as other automotive and motorcycle events.
3. **General Aviation:** The airfield is used by light and ultralight aircraft for recreational flying. Pilots can use the field, but there are no services like fuel, air traffic control, or permanent ground staff.
4. **Military Training:** The Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit), particularly the local Järva District unit, uses the airfield and surrounding territory for military exercises and training.

Nurmsi Airfield was a Soviet Air Force reserve (or dispersal) airfield built during the Cold War, likely in the 1970s or 1980s. Its primary strategic purpose was to serve as a secondary base where military aircraft could be dispersed from their main operating bases (like Ämari or Tapa) in the event of a conflict, making them less vulnerable to a first strike. It features a single, robust concrete runway (approximately 2500 x 40 meters) capable of handling Soviet-era fighter jets, interceptors, and transport aircraft. The base was part of a dense network of military installations that underscored the strategic importance of the Estonian SSR to the Soviet Union's western military frontier. It did not typically house a permanent flying regiment but was maintained in a state of readiness for rapid activation.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Nurmsi Airfield as a public commercial airport or a full-time military airbase. The national aviation needs are met by existing airports, primarily Tallinn Airport (TLL). Its current status as a hub for recreational aviation, motorsports, and part-time military training is well-established and appears to be its stable, long-term future. Redevelopment would require immense investment in infrastructure such as a terminal, air traffic control facilities, and navigation aids, for which there is no current demand.