Babadaira Airfield

The closure was due to a combination of factors. The primary catalyst was the death of the airfield's founder and owner in 2008, which created operational and succession challenges. The final blow was damage sustained by the runway during the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. The cost of repairs, combined with the lack of leadership, made continued operation unfeasible, leading to its official decommissioning.

The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped and is no longer recognizable as an aviation facility. It is now the location of the 'Otama Village Babadaira Solar Power Plant' (大玉村馬場平太陽光発電所), a large-scale solar energy farm. The runway, hangar, and all associated infrastructure have been removed and replaced with extensive arrays of solar panels.

Opened in 1989 by a private individual who was the president of a local construction company, Babadaira Airfield was a private 'off-airport landing site' (場外離着陸場 - Jōgai richakuriku-jō). It was a key hub for recreational aviation in the Fukushima Prefecture. The airfield primarily served as the home base for the 'Fukushima Sky Sports Club' and was heavily used for ultralight aircraft (ULP), motor gliders, and other light sport aviation activities. For over two decades, it was a cherished local facility for hobbyist pilots and aviation enthusiasts, featuring a grass/dirt runway and a hangar.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. The complete conversion of the land into a major solar power generation facility makes a return to aviation use virtually impossible.