Severny Air Base

The air base was closed following the disbandment of the Orsk Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (Орское ВВАУЛ). This closure was part of a large-scale reduction and restructuring of the Russian Armed Forces in the post-Soviet era, driven by severe economic constraints and a re-evaluation of military training needs.

The air base is currently abandoned and in a state of severe disrepair. Satellite imagery and local reports confirm that the runways, taxiways, and aprons are crumbling, overgrown with vegetation, and unusable. The associated buildings, including barracks, hangars, and administrative offices, are derelict and have been heavily vandalized. The site has no official function and is occasionally visited by urban explorers and photographers.

The air base was the home of the prestigious Orsk Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots named after I. S. Polbin. Established in Orsk in 1953, it was a major training center for the Soviet and later Russian Air Forces. The base primarily handled intensive training flights for thousands of cadets. Operations centered on jet trainer aircraft, most notably the Aero L-29 Delfín and later the Aero L-39 Albatros. For over four decades, the base played a crucial role in supplying highly skilled pilots to the nation's air force.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Severny Air Base. The immense cost required to restore the dilapidated infrastructure to operational standards is a major barrier. Furthermore, the region is already served by the active Orsk Airport (IATA: OSW, ICAO: UWOR), making the reactivation of a second, derelict airfield for either civilian or military purposes economically and logistically unfeasible.