Białystok 2018-12-10
Bialystok-Krivlany airport.
Geographic coordinates: 53.102N 23.169E. Elevation 153 m, 509 ft.
The city of Bialystok
The city of Białystok is the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, with the rights of a poviat. It is situated in the north-eastern part of Poland, in the Podlasie Lowland, on the Biała River. Historically, it is Podlasie. Geographic coordinates 53°08′07″N 23°08′44″E. The height above sea level is 120-160 m. The administrative area of the city is 102.12 square km. In 2017, 297,288 inhabitants lived here, which gave the city the 10th position in Poland. Due to the close location (Lithuania, Belarus, Moscow State) and historical events, the City of Białystok has a specific character.
The city of Białystok was founded in the period 1440-1444. It was granted city rights on July 17, 1691. In the 16th century, a Gothic-Renaissance castle was built here, which was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century, becoming the seat of the Braniecki family. Currently, it is one of the most beautiful palaces in the Republic of Poland. In the middle of the 18th century, an impressive town hall was built. In the 19th century, the city transformed from a residence into an administrative and industrial city. Numerous manufacturers, mainly from Lodz, came to the city and developed the textile industry. In 1892, the construction of the municipal water supply system began. During the Great World War, the city was occupied by the Germans, and in January 1919, it fell temporarily to the Muscovites.
On February 19, 1919, the Polish Army entered Białystok and the city was annexed to Poland. But on July 28, 1920, the Bolsheviks (Muscovites) entered the city again, who tried to set up the Provisional Polish Revolutionary Committee here, led by the murderers Dzierżyński and Marchlewski. Crimes against the Polish population began. On August 22, 1920, the Battle of Białystok took place, as a result of which the 1st Legions Infantry Regiment expelled the Bolsheviks. The Polish Municipal Self-Government was established. In 1939, the city had 107,000 inhabitants and was developing very dynamically. This was the case until the Germanic-Bolshevik occupation.
During the Second World War, on September 11, 1939, Białystok was bombed for the first time by the Germans. The Poleski Railway Station and the sanitary train, marked with red crosses, were bombed. On September 16, 1939, the Germans entered Bialystok, and after a few days, on September 22, 1939, the Bolsheviks took their place. In October 1939, the city joined the CCCP. In 1940, the Muscovites demolished the magnificent town hall, and in its place they planned to erect a monument to the bandit Stalin. In the unfinished Roman Catholic church, the Muscovites planned to make a circus. The townspeople paid huge bribes to prevent this from happening. In June 1941, the Germans occupied the city again, starting the bombardment of the city on June 22, 1941.
Throughout the entire period of World War II, the inhabitants of Białystok were subjected to constant repressions. On April 13, 1940, the first 3,000 inhabitants were exiled to Kazakhstan.
On July 27-29, 1944, the Soviets fought with the Germans for Białystok. Another new occupation has begun. From August 7, 1944, the NKVD began to shoot arrested Home Army soldiers. The communist trials of Poles who did not accept the new occupation lasted until 1947. The courtroom was the hall of the "Ton" cinema. The theoretical end of communist rule came in 1989.
After 1945, as a result of the migration of the Polish population from the East, Białystok quickly became populated, but it did not reach the number of inhabitants from 1939 until 1959.
Currently (2018), Białystok is one of the most beautiful cities in the Republic of Poland, which is increasingly visited by tourists. It is worth seeing the magnificent Branicki Palace and the equally beautiful old town with the rebuilt town hall.
Since its foundation, Białystok has been enlarged ten times. The last enlargement took place in 2006 and the city reached the area of 102.12 square kilometers. Białystok is an important railway and road junction. Roads from the center of Poland to the north and east run here. National roads are: No. S8, No. 19, No. 65 and provincial roads: No. 675, No. 676, No. 678. The S8 expressway is currently (2018) nearing completion. The S19 route will also be built, the plans of which have already been approved.
Bialystok-Krivlany airport.
Due to the cold climate, the aviation conditions here are not the easiest. The average annual temperature is only +7 degrees Celsius. The number of frosty days is 50-60 per year. The snow cover lingers here 90-110 days a year. Annual precipitation is also higher and amounts to 550 mm.
Krywlany was a village near Białystok, where in the 18th century there was already an inn. In the mid-nineteenth century, a farm was established here and a small manor house was built. Currently, the airport is known as Krywlany. In the second Polish Republic, the name Dojlidy was more often used, from the name of the village that was the property of Prince Jerzy Lubomirski, a wealthy landowner.
Bialystok’s relationship with aviation dates back to 1910, when Count Michał del Campo made an airplane flight over Białystok. During the Great World War, the Muscovites established the first air base of observation balloons in Pietrasze. Also at that time, a large bomber plane Ilja Muromiec G-II (G-36) was seen over Białystok. These planes bombed Prussia. In retaliation, in March 1915, German airships and planes bombed Białystok. In August 1915, after a successful offensive, the Germans established an air base in Krywlany. They cleared some forest, leveled the landing field and built two wooden hangars (firehouses). Six airplanes could be stowed in them. A permanent workshop and warehouse for fuels, oils and lubricants were set up.
After Poland regained independence, in March 1919, the 1st Aviation Group with three Intelligence Squadrons arrived at Krywlany Airport. The planes flew from Warsaw, and ground personnel with equipment arrived by rail transport. Planes flew for reconnaissance and bombing of the Bolshevik army in the direction of Lida. Bombs were then thrown by hand. The squadrons moved east. Then, as a result of the Bolshevik offensive, on July 28, 1920, the Squadrons returned to the Krywlany Airport. But at the beginning of August 1920, as a result of losses in equipment, they were withdrawn as far as Warsaw. After the Squadrons were equipped with new planes and after the victorious Battle of Warsaw, they returned to Białystok. At that time, they supported the Polish Army during the Battle of the Niemen. The first aerial photos of Białystok come from this period. Then the squadrons moved east, chasing the fleeing Bolsheviks. After the signing of the peace treaty, some of the Polish aviation units returned permanently to Białystok. Pilots and ground crew used the farm buildings.
In the 1920s, two hangars were built for the Polish Intelligence Squadrons based here. Later, another larger hangar was built. Concrete parking planes were built in front of the hangars. The take-off field was dirt, grassy. Military squadrons in Krywlany were stationed until around 1926, after which they were transferred to Lida and Vilnius. The airport served as a backup base for the 5th Aviation Regiment in Lida.
On September 23, 1924, on the initiative of the Białystok voivode – Eng. Marian Rembowski, the Voivodeship and Poviat Committee of the Air and Anti-Gas League was established. It was an important moment for aviation in Białystok.
In the first years of the Second Polish Republic, the airport in Krywlany was not legally sanctioned. In 1925, the expansion of the airport began. The initiator was the Provincial Committee of the Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Gas Defense League. The initiative was supported by the local authorities, headed by the voivode, Mr. Marian Rembowski, and the Ministry of Military Affairs. The airport in Białystok has become a stage airport for many aviation events organized in Poland. It was written and said proudly – Krywlany Airport in Białystok. In 1927, the land was bought from the owners. A total of about 250 hectares.
In 1935, a steel and wooden hangar and facilities were built.
In 1937, the Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Gas Defense League in Białystok became the owner of two RWD-8 aircraft. The glider section was very strong, supported by the gliding scout team. Its member was Ryszard Kaczorowski (future president in exile, who died in the Smolensk attack on April 10, 2010). Construction work at the airport reached its apogee in 1937, although the financial resources were modest.
At the Białystok Airport, air shows were regularly organized to popularize air sports. Planes, gliders and parachute jumps were presented, which were also performed by women. Sightseeing flights were organized for willing and able residents.
In 1938 in Bialystok, in Zwierzyniec, a parachute tower was built.
At that time, the airport had the largest area, which was about 270 hectares. The shape is close to a square. The main entrance to the airport was located on the eastern side, now Adama Mickiewicza Street. The main facilities of the airport’s facilities are located in its southern part. The remains are numerous concrete squares and roads.
The airport had its own railway siding leading from the Kuriany railway station. Currently, this siding is liquidated. Only here and there fragments of railway tracks have been left. The Kuriany station itself currently has only one track and has little rail traffic and is a railway stop.
It was not possible to create a communication airport in Krywlany. Białystok lost the competition with Vilnius – Porubanek, 200 km away.
Just before the outbreak of World War II, lighting for night flights was installed. It was planned to place a squadron armed with PZL P.37 Łoś bombers at the airport.
During the Second World War, from October 1939, Soviet troops were stationed here. In December 1939, the Soviets completed the construction of the hard runway. The I-16, ŁaGG-3 and UTI-4 training aircraft (version of the I-16 aircraft) were based here. In the spring of 1940, the Soviet aviation school began operating.
In June 1941, the airport was taken over by the Germans. They prepared plans to expand the airport. Barracks were built. More hangars and back-up buildings were built. The lighting system has been significantly expanded.
On the 75-meter tower of the church of St. Rocha, the Germans launched a beacon radio for the airport. Interestingly, the church was still under construction at the time, and earlier, in 1940, the Soviets wanted to organize a circus in it. The temple was consecrated by Archbishop Romuald Jałbrzykowski on August 18, 1946.
Around 1943, the Germans at the airport extended the concrete runway to accommodate heavy aircraft. (Not to be confused with the new 2018 RWY). It was built in the direction 14/32 and was 1,220 m long. Many combat aircraft were stationed at the airport: He-111, Ju-87, Ju-88, Me-109 and others. Before withdrawing, the Germans blew up almost all the facilities of the Airport.
In 1944, the airport was again occupied by the Soviet army. The demolished and burnt airport was provisionally prepared for operation. This time, the following aircraft were temporarily based here: Po-2, Ił-2, Ła-5, Jak-9, Li-2, Pe-2 and Douglas A-20 Havoc – Bostons.
In April 1945, there were plans to launch passenger air connections from Białystok. However, at that time it was impossible and the plans were postponed to another year. Soviet Lisunov Li-2 planes with "fixers of people’s power" landed at the airport. In March 1946, LOT Polish Airlines launched a Warsaw-Białystok air connection. They were operated by Li-2 and DC-3 aircraft. Flights were operated three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The ticket cost PLN 400. The flight lasted 50-60 minutes. The line did not enjoy much interest and was suspended after several weeks.
On May 14, 1946, the Białystok Aeroclub was registered.
Due to the ban issued by the CCCP to base at the Airport of the Polish Air Force, the infrastructure of the Airport was degraded. The airport was completely taken over by the Polish Aeroclub. In the 1950s, there were plans to liquidate the Kryvlany Airport.
In the 1950s and 1960s, part of the airport’s landing field, from the north and east, was allocated for allotments. A huge hospital complex was built near the airport; University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok.
For 70 years, the field of ascents has been used as a car market and a city market. The biggest movement was in the 90s. Passenger cars, agricultural tractors, motorcycles and trailers were traded. There were also agricultural machines. The entry fee for a passenger car was PLN 40, and for a motorcycle PLN 15. PLN 30 was paid for the parts stand, and PLN 50 for the catering stand. There were an average of 800 cars on the stock exchange. The stock exchange had five sectors, which also included sectors with clothing stands, small and large household appliances. Internet trading has stopped the development of the exchange.
On June 5, 1991, during John Paul II’s visit to Białystok, the Pope celebrated a holy mass at the airport. During this mass, he beatified Sister Bolesława Lament, the founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family. The remnants of the altar are to this day in the form of the Papal Mound. It was the 4th papal pilgrimage of St. John Paul II the Great to his homeland.
The airport was saved from liquidation by establishing an air branch of the Border Guard, and a little later a branch of the Polish Medical Air Rescue. A clear proof of the desire to liquidate the airport is the construction of a street that runs through the landing field. It is a fragment of the street which is now named Jacek Kuroń.
In 2007, efforts were made to significantly reduce the area of the airport. Allegedly there was a shortage of land for services, manufacturing facilities, a campus and more. Already in the 50s, out of 260 hectares, about 50 hectares were allocated to allotment gardens. In 2011, the airport was reduced to an area of 116 hectares.
However, since 2005, efforts have been made to transform the Kryvlany Airport into an airport of the 20th century, as an airport for public use. In 2011, the Białystok authorities reached an agreement with the Civil Aviation Office and the Białystok Aeroclub. The airport will remain on an area of 115 hectares. A new RWY will be created with the possibility of its extension in the next stage. Although the development and development plan is not favorable for the development of Krywlany Airport. It was agreed to lay new streets, as well as to build a new municipal stadium with fully covered stands and to build new high-rise buildings nearby.
At the same time, the proposal to build a new airport in a new location, promoted until 2009, was abandoned. At that time, a selection of seven options was analyzed, of which three were to be selected for detailed analysis. According to other sources, the Kryvlans were considered in these three proposals. This is contradicted by the resolution of the City Council adopted in 2009 on the construction of a new airport in Saniki near Tykocin, about 25 km from Białystok, to the west. However, these plans, at least for now, exceeded the needs. Another location was also considered. Topolany near Michałów, about 30 km from Białystok to the south-east.
In sum. First, shovels were dug in Krywlany. After the change of power, they wanted to dig in Topolany near Zabłudów. However, the location changed and the shovels were directed to Saniki. After the stupidity that was organized in Gdynia – Babie Doły (terminal in Kosakowo without an airport), the then Minister Elżbieta Bieńkowska (Minister of Regional Development) announced that she was blocking European funds for the construction of regional airports. Some people think that it was a sentence for Bialystok, but I think it turned out to be healthy. The Mayor of Białystok, Mr. Tadeusz Truskolaski, returned to the concept of the Krywlany Airport. And here there was a consensus of all political parties, with the slight difference that Law and Justice continued to strive for a regional airport, and not just for public use.
The expansion of Krywlany Airport was carried out without EU funds and was based only on the provincial and municipal budgets. However, it seems that this decision was good and will allow the use of these funds in the future.
There are several significant advantages of the extension of the Białystok Airport in Krywlany. First of all, the airport would not be liquidated anyway. There are: Aeroclub Bialystok, Border Guard, Polish Medical Air Rescue, which has a hospital airstrip nearby. Therefore, one more entity to a functioning facility is most beneficial. In addition, the airport is located very close to the city center. It can be seen that city councilors measure their strength for intentions. The analyzes showed that a commercial airport may be less than regional in nature. It should serve aircraft carrying less than 50 passengers. It was decided to build a new paved RWY.
In 2015, the mayor of Białystok and the authorities of the Polish Aero Club signed a letter of intent, which began the process of transforming the airport into public use, with limited certification (LUPOC), along with adapting the infrastructure to the requirements of aviation law.
Even before starting the works, in 2015, the scope of tasks was divided between the City of Białystok and the Polish Aero Club – Białystok. The city has committed that; He will prepare the investment in formal terms. Will prepare a local plan. It will secure funds for implementation. It will fence the airport area. It will build a hardened runway with a length of 1,350 m and a width of 30 m, together with the accompanying infrastructure. The Flying Club has committed that; It will proceed to change the airport’s status from exclusive use to public use, with a runway with a natural surface. It will obtain the necessary permits and decisions necessary to enter the Krywlany Airport as a public use airport with limited certification in the register of civil airports. It will undertake to maintain and operate the Airport in accordance with the provisions of the Aviation Law for this type of airport.
Therefore, it will not be a classic passenger airport with a terminal for passengers and check-in and air traffic control, but an airport for servicing aircraft with a capacity of up to 50 passengers and with a range of one and a half to two thousand kilometers. Such planes will be able to fly to all European capitals. Regular connections, for example by low-cost lines, are not a dream of the authorities of Białystok. Charter tourist traffic is more likely. The airport is mainly used for business and tourism. A possible passenger terminal and a cargo terminal are tasks for the future. Due to the free areas surrounding the airport, there will be no problem with the location of new facilities.
However, there is no shortage of critics of this investment. In particular, they criticize the size of RWY. They notice that it is too short, by 50 m, for any LOT Polish Airlines plane to land on it.
New hard RWY.
The former runway was not maintained in a proper technical condition for the following years and was completely degraded. The club stopped using it. In the times of People’s Poland, the CCCP did not allow the stationing of any Polish military aviation unit at this airport, nor the expansion of its infrastructure.
It was only in 2012 that the long-awaited decisions to build a new RWY were made. The new RWY measures 1,350 m x 30 m, with a turning plane from the eastern end. The surface is asphalt concrete.
It is worth mentioning that there were two concepts of RWY. The first one is only 800 m long. The second one is 1,350 m long and equipped with radio beacons. But so far (2018), nothing is said about beacons.
For safety, on an area of about 20 hectares, trees had to be removed that hindered the approach to landing.
At the same time, a runway with dimensions of 840 m x 160 m, with a grass surface, remained. It is located parallel to the new RWY. A taxiway with a length of 600 m and a width of 10.5 m was built. A platform slab was also built.
The new RWY has been under construction since December 2017 and was completed in September 2018. It will be commissioned in March 2019, after the necessary certifications are completed.
Other plans include the construction of two new aircraft hangars, the construction of a petrol station and a complete new airport fencing. New lighting that meets aviation standards will be introduced. There is also a landing zone for parachute jumpers, for people from the parachute section.
The estimated total investment cost is PLN 46 million. 16 million came from the budget of the province marshal, and the remaining 30 million from the city. The preparation of the documentation and obtaining the appropriate permits amounted to PLN 3 million. Initially, it was planned (2005) that the investment would close at PLN 28 million. The investment was carried out by a Polish-Lithuanian consortium of companies: B.K. Tras Roboty Drogowe (consortium leader), PPU Drabent, Projekt Plus and UAB Siauliu Plentas.
The length of the RWY (1,350 m) means that the Airport is capable of accepting SAAB 2000 class aircraft, which can take 50 passengers on board. It has a maximum range of 2,185 km (1,180 NM), which means that the aircraft can operate throughout Europe.
RWY can be extended. For starters, up to 1,470 m, which means that it can be used by ATR 72 class aircraft with a range of 1,400 km (770 NM), which can take 72 passengers on board.
There is a big problem with the further extension of the RWY, because on the extension, from the west side, new skyscrapers are built, at Viadukt Street. It is unlikely that they will be demolished.
The Aeroclub Bialystok is still the host of the airport. It has a lease agreement for 30 years, until 2040. It is the Flying Club that bears the costs of maintaining the facility and deals with its promotion. It is worth noting that, unlike at other airports, no company was established to run the facility. The city did not expect a return on investment, but expects indirect profits through the development of the region.
From May 21, 2020, the airport is certified for commercial flights.
Airport details.
Currently, the airport is known as Krywlany. In the second Polish Republic, the name Dojlidy was used, from the name of the village that was the property of Prince Jerzy Lubomirski. Kryvlany Airport is a public airport with limited certification, allowing you to reap the economic benefits of commercial flights. However, it should be remembered that such certification allows aircraft to land with the use of the GNSS satellite navigation system.
The airport is located in the southern part of Białystok, approximately 5 km from the city center. It has the IATA code – QYY the ICAO code – EPBK. The airport is surrounded by the Solnicki Forest. Geographic coordinates 53°06′18″N 23°10′29″E. It lies at an altitude of 153 m above sea level. 509 ft. Radio communication – Bialystok-Radio 118.45 MHz. Avgas 100LL fuel available. The host of the airport is Aeroclub Bialystok. Address: AEROCLUB BIALOSTOCKI ul. Ciołkowskiego 2 15-602 Bialystok.
The airport is also used by the Podlaski Border Guard Unit and the Polish Medical Air Rescue. The Polish Medical Air Rescue has its own base at the airport. The new building was built in 2010.
The landing field has RWY: 09R/27L asphalt-concrete (1,350 m × 30 m), 09L/27R grass (840 m × 160 m). The damaged RWY 14/32 concrete (1,120 m × 35 m) was liquidated.
Recommendations for pilots: Avoid flights over the City of Bialystok. 24-hour flights are provided by the Polish Medical Air Rescue, which uses helicopters. The new hard RWY will be approved for use in March 2019. Modernization of the airport’s lighting is in progress.
Turośń Kościelna airstrip.
The Turośń Kościelna airstrip is a former private aviation facility. Geographic coordinates 53°00′06.6″N 23°03′27.6″E. He belonged to the Białystok Aviation Society. The facility was located approximately 20 km from Białystok to the south-west. Ground take-off field, RWY with dimensions of 500 m x 100 m, direction 17/35. In 2010, it was entered into the register of civil airstrips of the Civil Aviation Authority. He was assigned a radio frequency of 122.4 MHz. There were two large halls and four smaller buildings on the site. There were several private light aircraft. Mainly Cessna planes. A few people practiced paragliding.
In 2016, the landing site was liquidated. The entire facility passed into the hands of a private person who set up a photovoltaic cell farm on the former landing field.
Bialystok sanitary heliport.
Geographic coordinates 53°07′31″N 23°09′31″E. The Białystok-University Clinical Hospital is located at ul. Maria Skłodowska-Curie 24a. They were built on the roof of one of the hospital buildings, which has six floors. The helipad measures 20 m x 20 m. It was commissioned in 2013. The owner is the State Treasury and the hospital is the manager. It is designed to perform take-offs and landings of medical and rescue helicopters during the day and at night with a maximum take-off weight of up to 5,700 kg.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman