Oktyabrskiy, RU 🇷🇺 Closed Airport
RU-10023
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- ft
RU-ARK
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 61.078999° N, 43.199001° E
Continent: EU
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: Oktyabrsky Airport Аэропорт Октябрьский ULKO
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Mid-to-late 1990s
The airport's closure was a direct result of the widespread economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The state-subsidized model for local and regional aviation (known as Local Air Lines or MVL) became financially unsustainable. Key factors included the sharp rise in fuel costs, the decline in passenger demand due to decreased purchasing power, and the breakup of the centralized Aeroflot system, which led to the bankruptcy of many of its regional divisions. The 2nd Arkhangelsk United Air Squadron, which operated these local routes, ceased most of its services to small airfields like Oktyabrskiy during this period.
The airport is abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms the site's condition. The unpaved runway is still clearly visible but is overgrown with grass and is no longer maintained. Any associated infrastructure, such as a small terminal or service building, is likely in a state of severe disrepair or has been dismantled. The land is not being used for any formal aviation, industrial, or agricultural purpose and is slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Oktyabrskiy Airport was a vital component of the Soviet-era regional transportation network in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. Its primary function was to provide reliable passenger, mail, and cargo service connecting the remote Ust'yanskiy District with the regional capital, Arkhangelsk (primarily Vaskovo Airport, the hub for local aviation). Operations were typically conducted using rugged and reliable Antonov An-2 biplanes, which were well-suited for the airport's unpaved runway. These flights were a lifeline, especially during the spring and autumn 'rasputitsa' (mud seasons) when road travel was difficult or impossible. The airport ensured connectivity for residents, government administration, and the delivery of essential supplies.
There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Oktyabrskiy Airport. The economic case for re-establishing a small, fixed-wing airfield in this location is extremely weak. Road infrastructure in the region has improved since the 1990s, reducing the critical need for air travel. While the government of the Arkhangelsk Oblast periodically discusses reviving regional aviation, efforts are typically focused on a few larger, more strategically important airfields or on the use of helicopters for specific needs. The cost of restoring and certifying the airfield, acquiring suitable aircraft, and subsidizing operations makes its revival highly improbable.
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