Petrovsk Air Base

The air base was closed following the disbandment of the 626th Training Aviation Regiment in 1998. This was part of the large-scale military downsizing and restructuring that occurred in Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, driven by economic constraints and a reduced need for military training facilities.

The site is abandoned and in a state of decay. Satellite imagery shows the runway and taxiways are still visible but are cracked, overgrown with vegetation, and unserviceable for any aviation use. The associated buildings and infrastructure are largely derelict or have been dismantled. There is no aviation activity at the site, and it is not used for any official purpose.

Petrovsk Air Base was a key military training airfield for the Soviet and later Russian Air Forces. It was primarily the home of the 626th Training Aviation Regiment (626 UAP), which was part of the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. The base was used for primary and advanced flight training for military cadets. Operations involved jet trainer aircraft, most notably the Aero L-29 Delfin and later the Aero L-39 Albatros. The base played a significant role in the Soviet military's pilot production pipeline for several decades.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Petrovsk Air Base. The infrastructure is severely degraded and would require complete reconstruction. Given its proximity to other active airfields and the lack of a modern strategic or economic requirement for an airport at this location, reopening is considered highly unlikely.