Batajnica Airbase (IATA: BJY, ICAO: LYBT) (Serbian: Аеродром Бaтajницa / Aerodrom Batajnica) is a military airbase in Serbia. The airport is located between the town of Batajnica and Nova Pazova, some 20 kilometers northwest of Belgrade. Batajnica is the only airport in Serbia with two asphalt runways.

Batajnica Airbase Aerodrom Batajnica Аеродром Батајница
Batajnica control tower
IATA: BJY – ICAO: LYBT
Summary
Airport type		Military
Operator		Serbian Air Force
Serves		Belgrade
Location		Batajnica
Built		1947
In use		1951 – present
Elevation AMSL		ft / 86 m
Coordinates		44°56′07″N 020°15′27″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
11/29	x	1,100	Grass
12R/30L	7,999	2,438	Asphalt
12L/30R	x	2,502	Asphalt

History

Construction of the airbase started in 1947 and was completed in 1951, when the airbase was officially opened. The purpose of the airbase was to protect the capital from 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.

During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia the airbase was heavily bombed for 25 days and sustaining heavy damage.

In June 2006, two USAF F-16 fighter jets, visited Batajnica airbase. It was the first official visit of USAF aircraft in more than 20 years and the first since the bombing.

Civil usage

Civil aviation authorities in Serbia have speculated about the possibility to transform Batajnica to accept commercial flights from low-cost carriers at some point in the future. Proponents argue that the air base is more ideally located than the neighboring Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, just a few kilometers away, because of its close proximity to the E75 highway and direct rail link to the city, as well as its more favorable weather conditions. Under the proposal, the airbase would serve a dual purpose and continue to serve its military purpose but ownership of the airport would be transferred to the city authority.

Units

A MiG-21 gate guardian at Batajnica

Serbian Air Force units operating outside of Batajnica Air Base:

• 204th Air Brigade, composed of:

101st Fighter Squadron

252nd Training Squadron

138th Transport Squadron

890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron

24th Air Force Technical Battalion

17th Air Base Security Battalion

177th Air Force Air Defence Artillery Battalion

• Air Force and Air Defense Training Center :
• Aeronautical Plant “Moma Stanojlović”
• Military Technical Testing Center Flight Test Section

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