
Mys Shmidta Airport, also known as Cape Shmidt Airport, is a former military airbase located in the Iultinsky District of Chukotka, Russia. It was constructed in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights. The airport was initially part of a ring of forward staging bases used by the Arctic Control Group (OGA) for intercontinental defence. On the other hand, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, also known as MSY, was originally named Moisant Field, after aviator John Moisant, and its IATA code MSY was derived from Moisant Stock Yards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mys Shmidta Airport, Cape Shmidt Airport |
| Location | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southeast of Mys Shmidta, Russia |
| Type | Former military airbase |
| Year Built | 1954 |
| Purpose | Built as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights |
| IATA Code | MSY |
| Named After | Aviator John Moisant |
| Owner | City of New Orleans |
| Distance from Downtown New Orleans | 11 miles (18 km) |
| Number of Runways | 2 |
| Number of Helipads | 2 |
| Land Area | 1,500 acres (607 ha) |
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What You'll Learn
- Mys Shmidta Airport is a former military airbase in Russia
- The airport was built in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights
- Mys Shmidta Airport is located 3 kilometres southeast of Mys Shmidta
- The airport was originally named Moisant Field after aviator John Moisant
- The IATA code MSY was derived from Moisant Stock Yards

Mys Shmidta Airport is a former military airbase in Russia
Mys Shmidta Airport, also known as Cape Shmidt Airport, is a former military airbase in Russia. It is located in the Iultinsky District of Chukotka, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southeast of Mys Shmidta. The airport was built in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights. It was part of a ring of forward staging bases used by the Arctic Control Group (OGA) during the Cold War, prior to intercontinental ballistic missiles becoming the primary means of long-range defence. The airfield has a large concrete tarmac, measuring 2,450 by 60 metres (8,038 ft x 197 ft), and the runway was likely intended to be extended to 3,000 metres.
The settlement of Mys Shmidta, from which the airport takes its name, was founded in 1931 as part of the Soviet Union's attempts to develop the extreme northeast of the country and strengthen its Arctic air defences. The settlement, the airport, and the nearby cape were named after Otto Schmidt, a Soviet scientist and explorer. Mys Shmidta was a central base for enterprises involved in the mining of tin and gold in the region.
Located on a spit separating the Akatan Lagoon from the open sea, the airport is protected from the full force of the Arctic Ocean. However, its remote location means that it experiences extreme Arctic conditions, with temperatures as low as −46.1 °C (−51.0 °F) recorded. The area is isolated during the winter, and even in summer, supply ships face challenges due to the Arctic conditions.
Mys Shmidta Airport is not connected to other parts of Chukotka by permanent road, making air travel a crucial mode of transport in the region. The airport continues to serve the area, although it is now primarily used for civilian purposes, with imports of food and coal being important for the settlement and surrounding rural localities.
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The airport was built in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights
Mys Shmidta Airport, also known as Cape Shmidt Airport, is a former military airbase in the Iultinsky District of Chukotka, Russia. It is located 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) southeast of Mys Shmidta. The airport was built in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights. It was initially used as part of a ring of forward staging bases by the Arctic Control Group (OGA) before intercontinental ballistic missiles became the primary means of long-range defence.
The Mys Shmidta Airport features a large concrete tarmac, measuring 2,450 by 60 metres (8,038 by 197 feet). The runway was likely intended to be extended to a length of 3,000 metres, as indicated by the gravel overrun. This extension would have allowed for even longer-range flights and potentially accommodated larger aircraft.
The construction of the Mys Shmidta Airport reflects a strategic decision to utilise the location as a forward staging base for intercontinental bomber flights. The Arctic region's proximity to potential targets and its relatively sparse population made it an ideal location for military purposes. The airport played a crucial role in the Cold War era, providing a base for bombers to patrol the Arctic region and potentially launch attacks on distant targets.
The choice of the Mys Shmidta area as a staging base was influenced by its geographical location and infrastructure. The area offered a suitable site for a large airport, and the nearby communities could provide support services. Additionally, the Arctic Control Group's presence ensured the necessary security and logistical support for military operations.
The Mys Shmidta Airport's history as a military airbase ended when intercontinental ballistic missiles replaced long-range bombers as the primary means of long-range defence. The airport's role in the Cold War dynamics diminished, and it may have been converted for other purposes or decommissioned over time.
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Mys Shmidta Airport is located 3 kilometres southeast of Mys Shmidta
Mys Shmidta Airport, also known as Cape Shmidt Airport, is a former military airbase in the Shmidtovsky District of Chukotka, Russia. It is located 3 kilometres southeast of Mys Shmidta, an urban-type settlement in the Iultinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. The airport was built in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights, with services provided by the Arctic Control Group (OGA).
The settlement of Mys Shmidta, the cape, and the airport were all named after Otto Schmidt. The cape, formerly known as North Cape or Cape North, was first reached by James Cook in 1778 when he sailed through the Bering Strait and into the Chukchi Sea, demonstrating that Russia and Alaska were separated. The modern settlement was founded in 1931 as part of the Soviet Union's attempts to develop its Arctic defences and establish mining operations in the region.
Mys Shmidta Airport is a major airfield, with a concrete tarmac measuring 2,450 by 60 meters. It was initially part of a ring of forward staging bases used by the Arctic Control Group for intercontinental bomber flights. The gravel overrun suggests that the runway was intended to be extended to 3,000 meters.
The airport is located near the Chukchi Sea, a part of the Arctic Ocean. The settlement of Mys Shmidta is positioned on a spit that separates the Akatan Lagoon from the open sea, providing some protection for the airport from the full force of the Arctic Ocean. The area experiences harsh Arctic conditions, with extremely low temperatures in the winter and brief summers.
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The airport was originally named Moisant Field after aviator John Moisant
The IATA code MSY was derived from Moisant Stock Yards, as the Lakefront Airport retained the code NEW. In the 1950s, the airport received many improvements under the direction of Retired United States Air Force Major General Junius Wallace Jones. By the time the airport's 1959 terminal building opened, the name Moisant International Airport was being used for the New Orleans facility. In 1961, the name was changed to New Orleans International Airport. In July 2001, to honour the 100th anniversary of Louis Armstrong's birth, the airport was renamed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
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The IATA code MSY was derived from Moisant Stock Yards
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, located in the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, is owned by the City of New Orleans. The IATA code for the airport is MSY. The airport is named after Louis Armstrong, the famous jazz musician, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1901.
The IATA code MSY, however, has a different origin story. The airport was originally named Moisant Field, after the aviator John Bevins Moisant. Moisant was born in Kankakee, Illinois, to French-Canadian immigrant parents and lived in El Salvador for about a decade. He became interested in aviation at the Reims Air Meeting in France and went on to pursue a career in aviation. Unfortunately, he died in 1910 in an airplane crash on the land where the airport is now situated.
The IATA code MSY is derived from the airport's original name, Moisant Field, and the name given to the land before the airport was built, Moisant Stock Yards. Thus, the IATA code MSY can be traced back to the Moisant Stock Yards, which was the name of the location before the airport was constructed and named after John Bevins Moisant.
Today, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (IATA: MSY) is a bustling aviation hub, providing nonstop service to approximately sixty destinations, including Europe, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It boasts two runways and two helipads, covering 1,500 acres of land. The airport has received recognition for its excellence, being awarded the Best Airport in North America (5 to 15 million passengers per year) by the Airports Council International (ACI) World in 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
Mys Shmidta Airport, also known as Cape Shmidt Airport, is a former military airbase in the Iultinsky District of Chukotka, Russia. It is located 3 kilometres southeast of Mys Shmidta.
Mys Shmidta translates to Cape Shmidt, which is the name of the district in which the airport is located.
Mys Shmidta Airport was built in 1954 as an Arctic staging base for intercontinental bomber flights.
The airport code for Mys Shmidta Airport is UHMI.
Alternatively, I found information relating to the 'MSY' airport code. Would you like to know about the history of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport?











































