4 minutes ago12 Kosovo's abandoned aircraft
Periskopi(4 months ago)
(4 months ago)Kosovo, with 1.5 million people, has only one certified international airport connecting it to the world: “Adem Jashari” airport in Pristina. Few know that within its territory there are also 12 areas or airtracks, registered as the special category of aerodrome in various municipalities. These spaces are built mainly on [...]
Few know that within its territory there are also 12 areas or airtracks, registered as the special category of aerodrome in various municipalities.
These areas are built mainly on agricultural land and lie in municipalities: Drenas, Skenderaj, Rahovec, Malisheva, Prizren, Suhareka, Ferizaj, Gjilan, Istog, Podujevo and two in Klin.
They are not commercial airports and usually do not accept commercial flights.
Although prior to the 1998/1999 war they had clear agricultural function, such as dusting land, today their situation is quite different: some are covered by waste, some are privatised, and some are used by auto schools.
Although prior to the 1998/1999 war they had clear agricultural function, such as dusting land, today their situation is quite different: some are covered by waste, some are privatised, and some are used by auto schools.
Their common characteristic is the size of the track, usually 450m long and 18m wide.
A document published by the Kosovo Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) in 2015 confirms the existence of these areas, but stresses that they do not have formal registration status or authorisation for air operations, serving only to reflect their infrastructure situation.
Airfield History
Airfield is a designated area on land, which is used in whole or in part for landing, departure and air vehicles.
In Kosovo, these fields or tracks were built in the years of HINA and 80 by the former social company “Agro-Kosovo” for spraying agricultural lands.
Their scope was planned to cover all regions of the country.
However, during the years dealt with the violent measures of the then Serbian regime, general aviation banned development in Kosovo, bringing gradual degradation of these spaces.
After the end of the war, in 1999, management of these spaces first moved to the then Kosovar Trust Agency (AKM), then to the Kosovo Privatisation Agency (AKP).
By law, the AKP is authorised for management, sale and transfer of social companies.
But she did not answer Radio Europe Free for the number of privatised air fields or their approach.
Who runs the planes?
Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) is the institution responsible for certificates, approval and registration of aircraft for civilian exploitation.
The aircraft is classified as certified, approved and registered, depending on the nature of operations and the degree of use.
Arian Islami, the task of AAC general director, tells Radio Free Europe that the use and development of these spaces is not in the direct competence of this institution, but that it depends on its owners and potential operators.
The role of AAC is that, in the event of initiatives for operating them for aeronautic purposes, it ensures that any development and operation is in line with regulatory requirements and security standards in force”, Islam says.
Currently, according to him, none of the identified air fields have registered, approved or certified status, so they are not considered functional for civil air operations.
It points out, however, that some of these spaces can be used for air activities, following the assessment by institution inspectors and the meeting of relevant regulatory requirements.
Municipal Air Court Status
Malisheve
So far, only Malisheva's aerodrome has been used repeatedly for air operations, after meeting requirements specified by AAC.
On June 14, 2024This institution registered the first air field found in the village of Bana in this municipality.
The next day, June 15, The AAC announced on its official page that the first flights, two borrowed planes, and with the support of Skopje's North Macedonia Aeroclub have been accomplished in this space.
According to AAC, this event was aimed at promoting general aviation and raising awareness of the functioning of air fields in Kosovo, such as areas that can be exploited by pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
Drenas
The airfield in the village of Korrotica, in the town of Drensa, is located about 25km from Pristina and only 10km of airline from Pristina International Airport “Adem Jashari”.
However, this track today is almost entirely covered with garbage and large stones, making it useless.
Her condition is also confirmed by the Drenas Town Information Office.
“Fusha is under the responsibility of the Kosovar Privatisation Agency (AKP) and is currently not used for any specific activity”, said the municipality's response to Radio Free Europe.
Podujevo
The airport in Dumun of Podujevo has been taken into management by Kosovo's central institutions, the Ministry of Defence and the Kosovo Security Force, respectively, for use in positions related to security and defence.
So announced the Free Europe Radio Office for Information of the Podujevo Community.
And, the Ministry of Defence did not give the REL clarification on the concrete way to exploit this space or the institution that uses it.
Suhareka
After the war ended, troops of NATO's peacekeeping mission KFOR were deployed at the Suhareka airport.
After their departure, several years later, property passed under the administration of the Kosovo Privatisation Agency and was later privatised.
The “is actually private property and, according to municipal local maps, is designated as commercial area”, confirms Arta Gashi, deputy head of the Suhareka municipality, for Radio Free Europe.
Skenderaj
The airfield in Skenderaj is located 40km from the city of Pristina, and only 20km of airline from Pristina International Airport “Adem Jashari”.
Unlike other areas, officials in this municipality suggest that the parcel is registered and the territory of the Weekend municipality.
The parcel has over 350 square meters. On the basis of official evidence there is no registered object or air field functioning basis, even though the actual state is built”, says Besiana Thaci, official information officer in the municipality, for Radio Free Europe.
According to AAC document from 2015, this air field “can become functional with a minimal” investment. Space is very suitable for general aviation activities, and in some cases it is used by local self-schoolers for training the original drivers, the document says.
Cline
There are two areas identified as air fields on the Kline municipality's territory -- one in the village of Jasanica and the other in Krusevo.
Nixon Daka, director of Cadastra, Geodesia and Property in this municipality, tells Radio Free Europe that these spaces are not in regular function for civil or commercial air surgery and are out of active use.
The two spaces have passed to AKP management; one has been privatised, while the other continues to be kept under the management of this agency”, he says, adding that they need investments in infrastructure, maintenance and safety standards.
Rahovec
Airfield in Rahovec was owned by company NBI-Rahoveci, who was later privatised.
Municipal officials said about REL that “in the NBI-Rahoveci period, this field served as a track for agricultural aircraft and was used for grape spray. After privatisation, it remained out of office”.
Prizren
On the territory of the Prizren municipality, there has been a cadastral plot destined as an airfield for the agricultural needs of the Progressive Company.
The municipality has no legal or administrative competence over this land.
After 1999, the Progress Lands passed into AKM management, then AKP's, and we have no information about what happened to this agricultural property”, say the Prizren Community for Radio Free Europe.
According to AAC's document, the air field in this municipality has been privatised and divided through various parcels what makes its identification virtually impossible.
Gjilan, Istog, Ferizaj
Radio Free Europe received no response from municipality officials in Gjilan and Istog for the aerodrome situation, while the Ferizaj municipality confirmed that “does not have any such space” in management.
According to AAC, only 5 out of 12 air fields were in good physical and infrastructure condition a decade ago.
Privatisation of airtracks strategic error
aviation experts see the degradation and privatisation of these spaces as a strategic error.
Eset Berisha, former director of the Kosovo Civil Aviation Authority, says that through a clear strategy of civil aviation, some tracks should not be sold, as they could be exploited for aviation purposes and other public needs.
These spaces could be used, for example, for pilot schooling and the development of new frameworks in aviation. But if the destination has been changed, the state has lost control and the opportunity to use for these purposes”, he tells Radio Free Europe.
Similarly, assessing Africa Ashir, the former director at Pristina International Airport, who stresses that the lack of long-term planning has resulted in the loss of the potential of these airspaces for aviation development.
“These spaces could be used for aerobic and sports flights, for opening flight schools, where the cost of training new pilots would be lower, as well as for training and vocational training for drones”, says Asia for Radio Free Europe.
AAC's Islam emphasises that civil aviation infrastructure development, including small aircraft, is part of government policies and institutional planning, not the direct competence of AAC.
According to him, AAC supports civil aviation development, including sports, as long as legal frameworks are respected in force.
The Kosovo government did not respond to REL's interest in whether there is any strategy for aviation and what are plans for the future of these planes. /Periscope
