Pyalitsa Airstrip

Primarily economic reasons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The extensive network of state-subsidized local air services (known as MVL - 'Mestnyye Vozdushnyye Linii' or Local Air Lines) became financially unsustainable. Without government funding, the low-volume, high-cost routes to remote villages like Pyalitsa were among the first to be eliminated by the newly commercialized air carriers.

The airstrip is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals the faint, overgrown outline of a single dirt/grass runway. The site is unmaintained, with no visible airport infrastructure, such as a terminal, hangar, or navigation aids, remaining. It has reverted to a natural field and is unusable for any form of aviation.

During the Soviet era, the Pyalitsa Airstrip was a vital lifeline for the isolated coastal village of Pyalitsa. It was an integral part of the local air network managed by the Arkhangelsk United Air Group. The airfield primarily serviced flights operated by Antonov An-2 biplanes, which were capable of landing on short, unpaved runways. These flights were the main source of transportation for passengers, mail, medical supplies, and essential cargo, connecting the community to regional hubs like Mezen and the oblast's capital, Arkhangelsk. For much of the year, when the sea was frozen or land travel was impossible, the airstrip provided the only reliable connection to the outside world.

There are no known plans or credible prospects for reopening the Pyalitsa Airstrip. The village's population is extremely small (under 30 people as of the last census), making regularly scheduled air service commercially unviable. The high cost of restoring the runway, re-establishing infrastructure, and subsidizing flights far outweighs the demand. The site will likely remain abandoned indefinitely.