Provideniya Bay Airport

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Provideniya Bay Airport

Аэропорт «Бухта Провидения»
Provideniya Airport - ground view.jpg
  • IATA: PVS
  • ICAO: UHMD
  • LID: ПРД
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorChukotavia
LocationProvideniya
Elevation AMSL72 ft / 22 m
Coordinates64°22′42″N 173°14′36″W / 64.37833°N 173.24333°W / 64.37833; -173.24333Coordinates: 64°22′42″N 173°14′36″W / 64.37833°N 173.24333°W / 64.37833; -173.24333
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
01/19 6,562 2,000 Gravel and sand

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. It services primarily small transport aircraft. A concrete apron contains four parking spaces.

Military history[]

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]

A division of MiG-17 Fresco and MiG-19 aircraft was based at the airport between 1960 and 1968,[4] along with 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[]

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,[5] 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[]

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.

AirlinesDestinations
Bering Air Charter: Nome
Chukotavia Anadyr

References[]

World Aero Data [6]

  1. ^ a b THE SOVIET ARCTIC, CIA-RDP79T01018A000300010001-0, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, July 1, 1959.
  2. ^ CABLE TO DIRNSA FROM NPIC, CIA-RDP78B04558A001100040033-0, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, April 7, 1964.
  3. ^ SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE (SAM) INSTALLATION SERIES, CIA-RDP78T05439A000400300013-4, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, November 1, 1964.
  4. ^ CABLE TO DIRNSA FROM NPIC, CIA-RDP78B04558A001600040006-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, October 29, 1966.
  5. ^ Beringia 2005 expedition Archived 2007-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Bering Air Alaska Archived 2014-04-28 at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

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