Provideniya Bay Airport
Provideniya Bay Airport Аэропорт «Бухта Провидения» | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Chukotavia | ||||||||||
| Location | Provideniya | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 72 ft / 22 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 64°22′42″N 173°14′36″W / 64.37833°N 173.24333°W | ||||||||||
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Provideniya Bay Airport (Russian: Аэропорт «Бухта Провидения») (IATA: PVS, ICAO: UHMD) (also Urelik and Ureliki) is a small airport in Chukotka, Russia located 3 km southwest of Provideniya at the northern end of the Istikhed lake on the eastern side of Provideniya Bay. It services primarily small transport aircraft. A concrete apron contains four parking spaces.
Military history
[edit]In 1954, an 8,200 ft (2,500 m) hard surface runway capable of supporting a fighter regiment and jet bomber deployments was constructed.[1] This attracted the interest of the US intelligence community as Provideniya was the closest Soviet military airfield to the United States.[1] By 1964, at least three S-75 Dvina (SA-2) surface-to-air missile sites were identified surrounding the airfield.[2][3]
529th Fighter Aviation Regiment PVO, part of 25th Air Defence Division, 11th Independent Air Defence Army, was stationed at the airfield from 1960 and 1968.[4] It flew MiG-17 (ASCC Fresco) and MiG-19 aircraft. U.S. intelligence agencies reported it as a division.[5] There were also three Mil Mi-4 helicopters. However after the Cold War, the airfield had deteriorated and was not adequate for Russia's modern military operations. There are anecdotal reports that it has received Tupolev Tu-95MR deployment flights as part of military exercises.
Civilian history
[edit]This airport was famous for the 1988 flight of Alaska Airlines known as the Friendship Flight at that time, as well as a similar Bering Air flight in May of the same year.
On 25 July 2005, a Swedish Airforce C-130 Hercules landed in Provideniya Bay, bringing in an international research team from the Beringia 2005 expedition,[6] organized by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.
The airport itself and the surrounding towns are not accessible to foreigners without a special permit from the Russian government.
Airlines and destinations
[edit]Chukotavia operates infrequent service to the regional capital Anadyr, usually 3-5 times a month. It also operates scheduled helicopter services around the region using a Mi-8, such as to Enmelen, Egvekinot and Lavrentiya.
Bering Air operates chartered tourist flights several times a year using small aircraft such as Beechcraft 1900 and CASA C-212 Aviocar.
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Chukotavia | Anadyr |
References
[edit]- ^ a b THE SOVIET ARCTIC, CIA-RDP79T01018A000300010001-0, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, July 1, 1959.
- ^ CABLE TO DIRNSA FROM NPIC, CIA-RDP78B04558A001100040033-0, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, April 7, 1964.
- ^ SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE (SAM) INSTALLATION SERIES, CIA-RDP78T05439A000400300013-4, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, November 1, 1964.
- ^ http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/iap/529iap.htm [bare URL]
- ^ CABLE TO DIRNSA FROM NPIC, CIA-RDP78B04558A001600040006-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, October 29, 1966.
- ^ Beringia 2005 expedition Archived 2007-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bering Air Alaska Archived 2014-04-28 at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]
- Flying to Russia on the New VFR Route - A General Guide - Federal Aviation Administration / Alaskan Region
- FAA description of the B369 VFR route Nome-Provideniya
- Swedish C130 at Provideniya Bay Airport