Airport type Military / Public Elevation AMSL 314 ft / 96 m 11,484 3,500 Elevation 96 m | Location Otopeni 08L/26R 11,484 3,500 Asphalt Operator Romanian Air Force | |
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The Romanian Air Force 90th Airlift Base (Baza 90 Transport Aerian) is located at the Henri Coandă International Airport, near Bucharest. In 1949, the 49th Transport Group was the first unit to be settled at Otopeni airfield. Later, in 1971, a special squadron was commissioned here and after few years this squadron became the 50th Airlift Wing. On March 1, 1990, by gathering together these two units, the 90th Airlift Base was officially formed.
The base is currently home to the 901st, 902nd, 903rd, 904th, 905th aviation squadrons, operating C-130 Hercules, C-27J Spartan, An-26, An-30, IAR-330L and IAR-330 SOCAT. The 90th Airlift Base is also the home of the Presidential and Government aircraft.
In October 2004, the 61st Helicopter Squadron was transferred to the 90th Airlift Base, adding IAR-330 SOCAT to its inventory. The 90th Airlift Base has also MEDEVAC capability.
2007 IAR-330 SOCAT crash
Three crewmen were killed on November 7, 2007, including Commander Bucur Nicolae (one of the most experienced RoAF pilots, with over 2,700 flying hours), when an IAR-330 Puma SOCAT helicopter belonging to the 90th Airlift Base crashed in Ungheni, near Piteşti, Argeş County. The aircraft was performing a night training mission at the moment it disappeared from radar. Immediately after the crash, the 90th air base detached two helicopters for a search and rescue mission.