Aviation in Moldova

Aviation has been a part of Moldovan society since the early 20th century.

History

On June 1, 1922, the first aircraft (

.

The first scheduled flights to Chişinău started on 24 June 1926, on the route Bucharest – Galaţi – Chişinău and

, at the visitors terrace in the second floor (opened in December 2006), there is a sign remembering the first flight on June 24, 1926.

A 10-passenger

Bn4 started in May 1928 to operate the domestic air service Bucharest – Galaţi – Chişinău-Bălţi. In that years, planes were used for passenger, newspapers and mail.

In 1936,

In 1937 there was an air service Bucharest -

Bălţi

.

On June 28, 1938, in Chişinău was held an air rally.

During the year 1940, LARES operated daily the route

Bălţi

- Chişinău - Iaşi - Galaţi - Bucharest (the air service number 2116).

In the

Bălţi

.

During the

Moldavian branch of Aeroflot

On 19 September 1944, the first unit of

summer resorts.

In 1958, the Civil Aviation Squadron of Bălți (Бельцкая АЭ - Авиационная Эскадрилья) was formed in addition to the Moldaivan Special Aviation Group of the Civil Air Fleet (Молдавская ОАГ ГВФ - Особая Авиационная Группа Гражданского Воздушного Флота)[7]

Intra-Soviet flights were operated from Chisinau and from Balti. A new building of passenger terminal at Bălți City Airport was constructed in 1954. A new airport in Chişinău able to accommodate gas turbine aircraft opened early in the 1960s, while Balti served as a regional airport for intra-Moldovan and intra-Soviet flights and for agricultural use.

The enterprise received status of

aircraft expanded its fleet both in Chisinau and in Balti.

Since 1966, there are two independent Flight Units in Moldova: Chisianu Flight Unit No 253 and Balti Flight Unit No 281, both subordinated to the Directorate for Civil Aviation of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Regular flights to many cities in the

to the largest industrial centers of the USSR was established.

The first

.

The most important accident in Chisinau was the

is located at the highest altitude (231m ASL) as compared to most surrounding airports in Moldova, as well as in Romania and Ukraine.

Air Moldova

Main articles:

Air Moldova destinations

IATA

member.

Moldaeroservice

Moldaeroservice was established in 1966 and became largest state owned aviation enterprise in Moldova, employing 500 persons, being operator of two airports Bălți City Airport and Bălți International Airport, airfields in Bender and Soroca and airline with a branch in Chișinău, airline operating ambulance flights, regional transport, agricultural and police border flights.

Airlines of Moldova

• Air Moldova
• FlyOne^[8]
• Moldaeroservice
• Moldavian Airlines
• Nobil Air
• Tandem Aero
• Terra Avia^[9]
• Aerotranscargo

Defunct airlines of Moldova

• AerianTur-M
• Aerocom
• Aeronord
• Grixona
• Pecotox Air
• Tepavia Trans

Airports

Chişinău International Airport

There are two main international airports in Moldova:

, built for a capacity of up to 2,5 million passengers, which started operation of regular flights in 1989 and was granted status of international airport in 2001.

Chişinău International Airport

has commercial flights (approximately 20 destinations and 688,000 passengers in 2007).

Bălți International Airport operated regular flights to approximately 14 destinations between 1989-1993. In 2000-2001 regular flights Bălți-Istanbul were resumed at Balti International Airport. In 2013 the Moldovan Authority for Civil Aviation inspected Bălți International Airport and certified its services. In accordance with the action plan report dated 1 March 2013, established as part of an inspection carried out by the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority, the following services were inspected at Bălți-Leadoveni Airport: passenger and baggage service, general services, ticket office and air terminal, passenger transportation, baggage service.^[10]

There were also unfortunate attempts to reanimate Cahul International Airport and to transform the military air field Marculesti into an airport.

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7
over 3,047 m (9,997 ft): 1
2,438 to 3,047 m (7,999 to 9,997 ft): 2
1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 7,995 ft): 2
under 914 m (2,999 ft): 1 (2006 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 6
914 to 1,523 m (2,999 to 4,997 ft): 3
under 914 m (2,999 ft): 3 (2006 est.)

Civil Aviation Administration

The State Civil Aviation Administration of Moldova is the central specialized, executive, coordinating and control body of the Public Administration in the field of civil aviation, founded by the Government of Moldova. The Administration takes decisions of administrative character, approves regulations, norms, instructions and other normative acts obligatory for natural and legal persons who perform their activity in the field of civil aviation.

Moldovan Air Force

The Moldovan Air Force is the national

.

References

External links

• Cti ani are Aviatia civila a Moldovei? (in Romanian)
• Civil Aviation Administration of Moldova Web Site (in English)
• Transportul (in Romanian)