Novofedorivka

Novofedorivka (Ukrainian language: Новофедорівка) is a Ukrainian Air Force base (ICAO: UKFI) (formerly Soviet Naval Airforce) on the Black Sea coast of the Saky Raion, western Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine. It is several kilometers from the regional centre of Saky, and about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Sevastopol.

History

The Soviet Black Sea Fleet used Novofedorivka as a major air base; however, the base was also home to the only Soviet aircraft carrier landing trainer and test site, the Nazyemniy Ispitateiniy Treynirovochniy Kompleks Aviatsii (NITKA), with arresting gear and a ski-jump ramp that is a full-sized replica of the bow of Admiral Kuznetsov. It continued to be leased by the Russian Navy.^[1][2]

During the 2008 South Ossetia War, the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, has stopped Russian pilots from using the carrier training facilities. This decision was reversed in April 2010.^[1] Meanwhile, the Russian Navy has begun to build a similar facility at Yeysk in the Krasnodar Krai region by the Sea of Azov.^[1]

Layout

45°5′35″N 33°35′42″E / 45.09306°N 33.595°E / 45.09306; 33.595Coordinates: 45°5′35″N 33°35′42″E / 45.09306°N 33.595°E / 45.09306; 33.595 The base has two, parallel, south-west/north-east runways, a smaller east-west carrier landing facility, and an extensive 'dispersal' complex to the north and west. The main base hangars and workshops are to the west of the runway complex.

The carrier take-off trainer faces north-east on the northern parallel runway. The carrier landing trainer is on the south-west end of that runway.

Future

In April 2010, Jane's Defence Weekly reported that China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has expressed interest in using NITKA to train pilots ahead of commissioning trials of the former Soviet Navy carrier Varyag, now named Admiral Shilang.^[1].^[3][4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Ukraine reopens training base to Russian pilots, Reuben F Johnson, Jane's Defence Weekly (p6), 14 April 2010
2. ^ Ukraine reopens training base to Russian pilots, Reuben F Johnson, Jane's Defence Weekly, 9 April 2010
3. ^ China progresses aircraft carrier aspirations, Ted Parsons, Jane's Defence Weekly (p6), 14 April 2010
4. ^ China progresses aircraft carrier aspirations, Ted Parsons, Jane's Defence Weekly, 8 April 2010

External links

• Saki AB Airport Flight Arrivals, Saki AB, Ukraine
• Maps, weather, and information about UKFI Saki Air Base