Dalnik Airfield

Economic reasons and systemic change. The airfield was operated by the local DOSAAF (Voluntary Society for Assistance to the Army, Air Force, and Navy) aeroclub. With the collapse of the USSR, state funding for the DOSAAF system ceased. The club could no longer afford to maintain the infrastructure, aircraft, and operations, leading to its eventual abandonment.

The airfield is completely defunct and abandoned. Satellite imagery and local reports confirm that the land has been repurposed for agricultural use. The faint outlines of its two intersecting grass/dirt runways are still visible, but the area is actively plowed and cultivated as farmland. The associated buildings, such as hangars and administrative offices, are in a state of severe disrepair or have been demolished.

Dalnik Airfield was a significant center for general and sport aviation in the Odessa region during the Soviet era. It was not a commercial or major military airport. Its primary functions included:
- **Flight Training:** It served as the base for the Odessa Aeroclub, providing primary flight training to civilians. Many future military and civilian pilots received their initial flight experience here.
- **Sport Aviation:** It was a hub for aerobatics and recreational flying. Aircraft commonly seen at such airfields included the Yakovlev Yak-52 for training and aerobatics, and the Antonov An-2 for parachute drops.
- **Parachuting:** The airfield was extensively used for parachute training and sport jumping.
In essence, it was a classic Soviet-era aeroclub airfield, crucial for paramilitary sports and fostering an interest in aviation among the youth.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Dalnik Airfield. The infrastructure is completely degraded, the land has been legally or de facto converted to agricultural use, and the nearby Odessa International Airport (UKOO/ODS) serves the region's commercial aviation needs. Given the current geopolitical and security situation in Ukraine, the development of new civil aviation infrastructure, especially for a small, defunct airfield, is not a priority and is considered highly unlikely for the foreseeable future.