Bestuzhevo Airstrip

The primary reason for the airstrip's closure was economic. In the Soviet era, a vast network of small, local airfields was heavily subsidized by the state as essential infrastructure, connecting remote communities. Bestuzhevo was part of this system, operated by a regional division of Aeroflot. With the fall of the USSR and the transition to a market economy, these subsidies vanished. The local routes became economically unsustainable, leading to the mass closure of thousands of similar small airstrips across the country. There is no evidence to suggest the closure was due to a specific accident, military conversion, or environmental issue; it was a direct consequence of the systemic economic changes of the post-Soviet period.

The site of the former Bestuzhevo Airstrip is completely abandoned and derelict. Analysis of satellite imagery at coordinates 61.5929, 43.9428 shows the faint but clear outline of a single, unpaved runway. The entire area, including the former runway, is overgrown with grass, shrubs, and small trees. There are no remaining airport buildings, such as a terminal, control tower, or hangars. The land has reverted to a natural field and shows no signs of current use for aviation, agriculture, or any other purpose. It exists only as a remnant of a past era, visible from the air.

Bestuzhevo Airstrip was a vital transportation hub for the rural communities of the Ustyansky District in Arkhangelsk Oblast. Its significance was purely local but critical for the residents of Berezhnaya, Bestuzhevo, and surrounding villages.

Operations primarily consisted of:
- **Passenger and Mail Transport:** It was a stop on the local air routes (Местные воздушные линии - MVL) connecting remote settlements to larger regional centers, most likely Kotlas.
- **Aircraft Type:** The workhorse of these routes was the Antonov An-2 biplane, a versatile utility aircraft capable of operating from short, unpaved runways.
- **Lifeline Connection:** The airstrip served as a lifeline, especially during the spring thaw and autumn rains ('rasputitsa'), when unpaved roads in the region would become impassable. It ensured the delivery of mail, essential supplies, medicine, and provided a means for people to travel for administrative, medical, or personal reasons. It also supported 'Sanaviatsiya' (sanitary aviation) for medical evacuations.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Bestuzhevo Airstrip. The economic model that supported its existence is gone, and the local population and economy cannot sustain a commercial air service. The development of modern regional aviation in Russia is focused on upgrading larger, more strategically important airports. Rebuilding and certifying a small, remote airstrip like Bestuzhevo would require significant investment for which there is no economic justification. Furthermore, improvements in ground transportation, though still challenging in the region, have reduced the absolute dependency on air travel that existed in the Soviet era. The prospect of reopening is considered virtually zero.