Chitila, RO 🇷🇴 Closed Airport
ICAO
RO-0113
IATA
-
Elevation
- ft
Region
RO-B
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 44.49574° N, 26.012836° E
Continent: Europe
Type: Closed Airport
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Chitila-Giulești Airfield (RO-0113) has a significant history in Romanian aviation, particularly in its early development. The area was home to one of Romania's first piloting schools, and the second in Europe, established by Mihail Cerchez in 1909 and officially inaugurated on November 14, 1910. Pioneering aviators like Aurel Vlaicu obtained their pilot's licenses at this school.
The early piloting school at Chitila was forced to close towards the end of 1911 due to the cessation of state financial support and the establishment of a new military school at Cotroceni. Later, in June and September 1948, the "Bucharest-Giulești (XC) airfield" served as a base for the air transport unit of the Rumanian Air Division and the 4th Air Transport Squadron, although a significant portion of its aircraft were unserviceable due to a lack of spare parts.
While the airfield is classified as CLOSED, reports of aviation accidents at "Chitila airfield, Ilfov" in 2020 and 2021 indicate that some form of aviation activity, possibly private or recreational, may have continued on portions of the site. There is no specific date or reason explicitly stated in available records for the definitive closure of the airfield under its RO-0113 designation, but many former airports in Romania have been affected by urbanization. The current status of the site is not explicitly detailed beyond its "CLOSED" classification, though the surrounding area of Chitila is a developing satellite town of Bucharest.
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The airfield ceased operations gradually in the early 2010s, with a definitive closure occurring around 2012-2014. The closure was not a single event but a process driven by legal disputes over land ownership.
The primary reason for closure was a land ownership dispute followed by urban development. After the fall of communism, the land on which the airfield operated was restituted to the heirs of its pre-nationalization owners. These new owners had plans for real estate development, which was incompatible with continued aviation operations. The proximity to Bucharest made the land extremely valuable for residential and commercial projects, leading to the dismantling of the airfield to make way for construction.
The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped. The land is now occupied by large-scale residential housing projects (such as the Cartierul Giulești Sârbi), commercial spaces, and new road infrastructure. The grass runways, hangars, and all other aviation-related facilities have been demolished and built over. There are no visible remnants of its past as an active airfield; it is now an integrated part of Bucharest's expanding suburbs.
Chitila-Giulești Airfield was historically one of the most important centers for sport and general aviation in Romania. For many decades, it was the main base for the 'Aeroclubul României' (Romanian Aeroclub) in the Bucharest region. Its operations were vital for:
- **Flight Training:** It was a primary location for training new pilots on light aircraft and gliders.
- **Gliding:** The airfield was a major hub for glider towing and soaring activities.
- **Parachuting:** It served as the main drop zone for skydiving and parachute training in the capital area.
- **Aeromodelling:** The open space was frequently used for model aircraft competitions and recreational flying.
It played a crucial role in fostering aviation culture and training countless pilots, glider pilots, and parachutists throughout the second half of the 20th century and into the 2000s.
There are zero prospects for reopening the airfield. The land has been irreversibly converted to urban use with permanent structures built upon it. The legal status of the land and its high value for real estate development make any return to aviation activities impossible. The closure is permanent.