Provideniya Bay Airport (Russian: Аэропорт «Бухта Провидения») (IATA: PVS, ICAO: UHMD) (also Urelik and Ureliki) is a small airport in Chukotka, Russia located 3 km southwest of Provideniya at the northern end of the Istikhed lake on the eastern side of Provideniya Bay. It services primarily small transport aircraft. A concrete apron contains four parking spaces.
In 1954, an 8,200 ft (2,500 m) hard surface runway capable of supporting a fighter regiment and jet bomber deployments was constructed.[1] This attracted the interest of the US intelligence community as Provideniya was the closest Soviet military airfield to the United States.[1] By 1964, at least three S-75 Dvina (SA-2) surface-to-air missile sites were identified surrounding the airfield.[2][3]
529th Fighter Aviation Regiment PVO, part of 25th Air Defence Division, 11th Independent Air Defence Army, was stationed at the airfield from 1960 and 1968.[4] It flew MiG-17 (ASCC Fresco) and MiG-19 aircraft. U.S. intelligence agencies reported it as a division.[5] There were also three Mil Mi-4 helicopters. However after the Cold War, the airfield had deteriorated and was not adequate for Russia's modern military operations. There are anecdotal reports that it has received Tupolev Tu-95MR deployment flights as part of military exercises.
This airport was famous for the 1988 flight of Alaska Airlines known as the Friendship Flight at that time, as well as a similar Bering Air flight in May of the same year.
On 25 July 2005, a Swedish Airforce C-130 Hercules landed in Provideniya Bay, bringing in an international research team from the Beringia 2005 expedition,[6] organized by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.
The airport itself and the surrounding towns are not accessible to foreigners without a special permit from the Russian government.
Chukotavia operates infrequent service to the regional capital Anadyr, usually 3-5 times a month. It also operates scheduled helicopter services around the region using a Mi-8, such as to Enmelen, Egvekinot and Lavrentiya.
Bering Air operates chartered tourist flights several times a year using small aircraft such as Beechcraft 1900 and CASA C-212 Aviocar.
