Krasnoufimsk Airfield

Primarily economic reasons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The state-subsidized system that supported local air travel collapsed, making regional routes unprofitable. The transition to a market economy, coupled with rising fuel costs and a decline in passenger demand due to higher ticket prices, led to the cessation of regular flights. There is no evidence of military conversion or a specific accident leading to the closure; it was part of a widespread collapse of Russia's local airline network during that period.

The airfield is abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery shows a clearly visible but decaying paved runway (approximately 1200 meters long). The former terminal and service buildings are in ruins or have been completely dismantled. The site is not officially used for any purpose. It is occasionally used by local residents for informal activities such as driving practice, but it has no official function and the infrastructure is not maintained.

Krasnoufimsk Airfield was a vital component of the local air network (Местные воздушные линии - МВЛ) in the Sverdlovsk Oblast during the Soviet era. Operated by a division of Aeroflot (specifically the Ural Civil Aviation Directorate), it connected the city of Krasnoufimsk and surrounding rural areas with the regional capital, Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), and other towns. Operations primarily involved small propeller aircraft, most notably the Antonov An-2 biplane and later the Let L-410 Turbolet. The airfield handled regular passenger flights, mail and cargo delivery, and served critical functions for sanitary aviation (air ambulance services). For decades, it was the fastest and sometimes the only reliable means of transport to and from this relatively remote area.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening the Krasnoufimsk Airfield. The economic case for restoring a small regional airport in the area is extremely weak, given the high cost of rebuilding infrastructure to meet modern safety standards and the existence of adequate road transportation to major centers like Yekaterinburg. The revival of such small-scale aviation is not a current priority in regional or federal transportation development plans.