Rožupe Airstrip

Economic collapse and systemic change. The airstrip was purpose-built during the Soviet era to serve the agricultural needs of the local collective farm (kolkhoz). Following the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991 and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, the collective farm system was dismantled. The state-sponsored agricultural aviation services, which were the sole users of the airstrip, became economically unviable and ceased to exist in their previous form. The airfield lost its only purpose and was abandoned.

The site is abandoned and derelict. The single asphalt runway is still clearly visible but is in a state of severe disrepair. The surface is cracked, weathered, and overgrown with grass and weeds. There are no remaining buildings or significant infrastructure on the site. The land immediately surrounding the runway is actively used for agriculture. The strip itself is not officially maintained or used for any aviation activity, though it may be used unofficially by locals for activities such as driver training or drone flying.

Rožupe Airstrip was a typical Soviet agricultural ('selkhoz' or 'S/Kh') aviation airfield. Its function was exclusively utilitarian, supporting the operations of the local 'Rožupe' kolkhoz. The primary operations involved 'aviakhimraboty' (aerial chemical work), which included crop dusting, fertilizing, and pest control. These tasks were typically performed by rugged Antonov An-2 biplanes, operated by the Latvian division of the Soviet state airline, Aeroflot. The airstrip was part of a vast, dense network of similar small airfields across the Latvian SSR, which were essential infrastructure for the Soviet model of large-scale, industrialized agriculture. It held no military or passenger transport significance; its importance was purely local and agricultural.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen or re-certify Rožupe Airstrip. The cost of restoring the runway surface and establishing the necessary infrastructure to meet modern safety and regulatory standards would be prohibitive. Furthermore, there is no apparent economic or strategic demand for a general aviation airfield in this specific rural location, as Latvia's current aviation needs are served by a network of larger, better-maintained airports and airfields. The prospect of reopening is considered nonexistent.