Kasimovo Airfield

Economic and administrative. The land, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, was deemed highly valuable for real estate. It was sold to private developers for the construction of a large residential area with cottage-style homes. The primary driver was the commercial value of the land due to its proximity to St. Petersburg, rather than any operational or safety issues with the airfield itself.

The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped into a residential housing area. The runways, taxiways, and airfield buildings have been demolished. A grid of streets and numerous private cottages and houses now occupy the land. The development is often marketed under names related to 'Kasimovo'. While the faint outline of the former main runway can sometimes be discerned on satellite imagery, the land is now fundamentally a suburban settlement and is no longer recognizable as an airfield from the ground.

Kasimovo Airfield was a key center for general and sport aviation in the Leningrad Oblast for several decades. It was operated by DOSAAF (The Volunteer Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Navy), the Soviet and later Russian paramilitary sports organization. Its primary functions included:
- **Pilot Training:** It was a primary training ground for civilian and sport pilots, using aircraft such as the Yakovlev Yak-52, Yak-18T, and the Antonov An-2.
- **Parachuting:** Kasimovo was arguably the most famous and active skydiving dropzone for St. Petersburg and the surrounding region. Thousands of first-time and experienced skydivers made jumps there.
- **Gliding:** The airfield also supported a gliding club, using tow planes to launch gliders for sport and training.
For many years, it was the heart of the local aviation community, hosting competitions, airshows, and serving as a base for numerous small aviation clubs.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening Kasimovo Airfield. The land has been permanently and irreversibly repurposed for residential use. The complete removal of all aviation infrastructure and the construction of a dense housing development make any return to aviation activities impossible.