JGSDF Camp Iwamizawa Airfield

Military Reorganization. The airfield was closed as part of a strategic consolidation of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) aviation assets in the Northern Army. The resident 11th Aviation Squadron (第11飛行隊) was moved to JGSDF Camp Okadama in Sapporo to centralize operations at a larger, more modern, and strategically located aviation hub.

The airfield is permanently closed to all aviation traffic. The site remains an active part of JGSDF Camp Iwamizawa (陸上自衛隊岩見沢駐屯地), which houses other units like the 12th Artillery Regiment. The former runway and associated taxiways are no longer maintained to aviation standards and have been repurposed as a multi-purpose training ground. It is now primarily used as a driving course for military vehicles, for parade drills, and for other ground-based training exercises.

The airfield was the home base for the JGSDF 11th Aviation Squadron from its formation in 1962 until its relocation in 1994. It was a crucial facility for the JGSDF's 11th Division, providing essential air support for ground forces responsible for the defense of central and southern Hokkaido. Operations primarily consisted of reconnaissance, artillery spotting, liaison, and medical evacuation missions. The squadron operated a mix of fixed-wing aircraft, such as the L-19/O-1 Bird Dog, and helicopters, including the OH-6J/D observation helicopter and the UH-1B/H utility helicopter. The airfield was integral to the region's defense posture and disaster response capabilities for over three decades.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the facility as an active airfield. The JGSDF's consolidation of aviation assets at Camp Okadama is a long-term strategic decision, and the Iwamizawa runway's conversion to a ground training area makes its reactivation for aviation purposes highly improbable.