Iwonicz Airfield

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. The airfield was operated by the state-sponsored Aeroklub Podkarpacki, which faced severe funding cuts after the fall of communism in 1989. This made the maintenance and operation of satellite airfields like Iwonicz financially unsustainable. With the decline in subsidized flight training, the land was eventually returned to its original agricultural purpose.

The site of the former airfield has been fully reclaimed for agricultural use. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows open fields with no visible remnants of the runway, taxiways, or any aviation-related buildings. The land is now privately owned farmland and is indistinguishable from the surrounding rural landscape.

Established in the post-WWII era, Iwonicz Airfield served as a satellite grass airstrip for the main airport in Krosno. It was primarily used as a training center for glider pilots, operated by the Aeroklub Podkarpacki. Its location in the hilly terrain of the Beskid Niski foothills provided excellent conditions for thermal and ridge soaring. The airfield played a significant role in local aviation, especially for youth training programs, utilizing winch-launches for basic glider instruction on aircraft such as the SG-38, and later the IS-A Salamandra, Czapla, and Bocian. It was an important entry point into aviation for many pilots in the region.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening the Iwonicz Airfield. The land is privately owned and actively farmed. The general aviation and sport flying needs of the region are adequately met by the nearby Krosno Airport (EPKR), which has paved runways and extensive infrastructure. Re-establishing the airfield would face significant financial and logistical hurdles with little practical demand.