Batajnica Airbase
Encyclopedia
Batajnica Airbase is an airport in Serbia
. The airport is located between the town of Batajnica
and Nova Pazova
, some 20 kilometers northwest of Belgrade
and is a military air base of the Serbian Armed Forces. Batajnica is the only airport in Serbia with two asphalt runways.
Batajnica was home of 204th Fighter-Aviation regiment, 138th Transport-Aviation Regiment and other units of Yugoslav Air Force
.
In 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia the airport was bombed nearly every day. It was bombed 25 times, sustaining heavy damage.
In June 2006, two U.S. F-16 jets, part of USAFE
, visited Batajnica Air Base. It was the first official visit in more than 20 years that U.S. aircraft had landed at a Serbian military airport, which was seen as a renewal of military cooperation between the two states.
670 million Serbian dinar
s are expected to be invested to make Batajnica Air Base into a joint civilian and military airport. At first, the airport will be used for cargo aircraft but will soon after handle passenger flights. The prospect came after many airlines preferred using Niš airport
over Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport
due to the lower fees at Niš. It is also suggested that Batajnica Air Base, once it becomes available for civilian use, be used as an alternative airport to Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport due to the better weather conditions experienced at Batajnica Air Base.http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=09&nav_id=279759&nav_category=9
:
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. The airport is located between the town of Batajnica
Batajnica
Batajnica is an suburban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Zemun.-Name:...
and Nova Pazova
Nova Pazova
Nova Pazova is a settlement in Serbia, founded by German settlers.It is situated in the Stara Pazova municipality, in the region of Syrmia , in the autonomous province of Vojvodina...
, some 20 kilometers northwest of Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and is a military air base of the Serbian Armed Forces. Batajnica is the only airport in Serbia with two asphalt runways.
History
Construction of the airport started in 1947 and was completed in 1951, when the airport was officially opened. The purpose of the airport was to protect the Yugoslav capital city, Belgrade in case of any air attack. One grass and two asphalted runways are used. It was known as 177th Air Base, which was its name until the 2006 reorganization.Batajnica was home of 204th Fighter-Aviation regiment, 138th Transport-Aviation Regiment and other units of Yugoslav Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
.
In 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia the airport was bombed nearly every day. It was bombed 25 times, sustaining heavy damage.
In June 2006, two U.S. F-16 jets, part of USAFE
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, visited Batajnica Air Base. It was the first official visit in more than 20 years that U.S. aircraft had landed at a Serbian military airport, which was seen as a renewal of military cooperation between the two states.
Airport future
The Civil Aviation Directorate have visited Batajnica Airport and made a plan of reconstruction needed for handling civil air traffic (low cost carriers). On the 3rd of January 2008, one of 3 runways, which was badly damaged during the NATO attacks in 1999, was reconstructed and is in use.670 million Serbian dinar
Serbian dinar
The dinar is the currency of Serbia. An earlier currency also called dinar was used in Serbia between 1868 and 1918. The earliest use of the dinar date to 1214. Today's Serbian dinar is a continuation of the last Yugoslav dinar...
s are expected to be invested to make Batajnica Air Base into a joint civilian and military airport. At first, the airport will be used for cargo aircraft but will soon after handle passenger flights. The prospect came after many airlines preferred using Niš airport
Niš Constantine the Great Airport
Niš Constantine the Great Airport , is a Serbian airport that serves southern Serbia and the city of Niš. The airport, which is named for Constantine the Great, is located from the Niš city centre and is Serbia's second international airport.- History :...
over Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is Serbia's busiest airport, also known as Surčin , after a nearby Belgrade district.Named after Nikola Tesla, the airport is situated west, of central Belgrade, in the Municipality of Surčin, surrounded by Syrmia's fertile lowlands...
due to the lower fees at Niš. It is also suggested that Batajnica Air Base, once it becomes available for civilian use, be used as an alternative airport to Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport due to the better weather conditions experienced at Batajnica Air Base.http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=01&dd=09&nav_id=279759&nav_category=9
Service
Batajnica Air Base is home to several units and institutions of the Serbian Armed ForcesMilitary of Serbia
The Serbian Armed Forces are the armed services of Serbia. They consist of the Serbian Army and the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence...
:
- Serbian Air ForceSerbian Air ForceThe Serbian Air Force and Air Defence is the air force of Serbia and service branch of the Serbian Armed Forces. Established in 1912, it is one of the oldest air forces in the world.-History:...
204th Air Base204th Air BaseThe 204th Air Brigade is a main air base of Serbian Air Force and Air Defense. It's the home of Serbian fighter, training and transport aviation.-History:...
, composed of:- 101st Fighter-Aviation Squadron
- 252nd Mixed-Aviation Squadron
- 138th Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron
- 1st Reconnaissance Aviation Section
- 24th Air Force Technical Battalion
- 17th Air Base Security Battalion
- 117th Air Force Air Defense Artillery Battalion
- Air Force and Air Defense Training CenterTraining Command, Military of SerbiaThe training command was established on 23 April 2007, by merging parts of Operation Forces, Land Force and Air Force units. This merger created seven territorial centers for basic training and five centers for specialist training of the members of military arms, branches and services...
- Aeronautical Plant "Moma Stanojlović"
- Military Technical Test Center Flight Test Section
Sources
- Svaki peti putnik leteće lou-kostom
- "Od jeseni jeftin avio-prevoz"
- JP Aerodrom "Nikola Tesla" Beograd izašao je u susret potrebi Vojske Srbije za pokretnim stepenicama radi udobnijeg prijema VIP putnika na Aerodromu "Batajnica" i ustupio joj jedne stepenice. Na beogradskom aerodromu u upotrebi su avio mostovi za prijem i otpremu aviona, a stepenice su zamenjene novim modernijim.
External links
- Batajnica Airport map (Map, Underground hangarUnderground hangarAn Underground hangar is a type of hangar for military aircraft, usually dug into the side of a mountain for protection. It is bigger and more protected than a Hardened Aircraft Shelter ....
s, Air Show, MiG-29s, the Knights, the Wolfs & etc.) - Batajnica Airbase pre strike with visible Control Tower
