BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KALOCSA AIRFIELD
1951-1956
Hungarian military airport, only the fighters of the Hungarian Airforce used the airport and the airspace.
1956-1990
After the Hugarian trial to escape from communism, the Soviets came into Hungary. The helicopters and bombers of the Soviet Army used the airport and the airspace. The use of this airspace was strictly forbidden for civil and sporting flying. This meant a forty-year-exile for parachutist, power-driven and sailplane pilots and later for hang- gliders and specialists. The aeroclubs of Szeged, Kiskunfélegyháza, Szolnok, Budapest, ?csény and Baja admitted the lovers of airsports at and around Kalocsa. Then, under the egis of MHSZ (Hungarian National Defence Association) the aim of pilot and parachutist training was to provide specialist-supply for the army. Although Kalocsa was practically deprived of its airport, still it had many air sports enthusiasts as these trainings were free. On László Kollár s own initiative a corporation agreement was signed in 1966 by the Headquarters of Soviet South Troops and by MHSZ, which made it possible for Hungarian parachutists to bale out from Soviet helicopters at the airport. In 1969 the Hungarian Parachutist Representative Team was the guest of the Soviets, too. This possibility came to an end in 1971.
The Soviets built barracks and blocks of flats near the airport. Just a sin the case of other territories used by the Soviet Army, after they leave of the troops very extensive environmental pollution was discovered here, too.
1990-1995
After the withdrawal of Soviet troops the estimation of damages and the stopping of soil pollution began. This later was terminated by financial straits. The reorganisation of local airsport began through the efforts of Bácska Hang-gliding Club, functioning in the area of Baja and Kalocsa.
Meanwhile, there were attempts to make use of the airport mainly in the view of the 1996 World Fair. The very high initial price and later the cancelling of the World Fair dashed the interest. There were few airy offers but the airport remained a closed object without an operational permit. The buildings and runway are under armed protection and they are continuously being destroyed by weather conditions.

The hang-gliders of Bácska Aeroclub rented the hangar and a few- hundred-meter long grassy area in the northern part of the airport. This initiative meant the presence of flying at Kalocsa. They established Flyers for Kalocsa Fund, and their aim was to help Kalocsa and its environs progress by keeping at least this area. They offered the police and the fire brigade their technology to help their work in the fields of air observance and photography. Parachuting became more and more popular at Kalocsa, nowadays there are more than thirty parachutists who bale out regularly. Up to the present they belonged to Aeroclub Kiskunfélegyháza. Besides the growth in the number of parachutists, their professional level rose significantly, and they organised successful training camps with international participation.
An LRI (Aviation and Airport Management) survey was carried out concerning Airport Kalocsa, which suggested the separation of the barracks, the fuel storage, the airport area, and other buildings and areas. This made it possible for sporting flyers to prepare their project. The essence of the project is to use the airport in its original function because that is how we can make a real use of it.

However, in May l995 a project was brought to light according to which the airport would be converted into and used as surface oil storage. There were rumours that a group would buy the airport for this purpose. This would practically mean the end of the airport and the ceasing of the region s chance for potential progress. At the same time, the construction of such oil storage would be very dangerous for the inhabitants of Kalocsa because of the prevailing northwestern wind direction and the closeness of the densely inhabited areas. The devotees of airsports would have been forced to a grassy area near the dumping ground of Kalocsa which is not suitable for aeroplanes and parachutists. Naturally it would not promote the progress of tourist industry and economy of the region, either.
In August 1995 the sporting flyers organised open days and as the event was widely advertised, it became very successful. This proved that with proper professional arrangements the conceptions of using the airport by small planes are realistic. In connection with the success of the event on 11th October 1995 a long-considered idea was brought to life: AEROPORT KALOCSA Aeronautical Club (in exact translation, the name is Aeroport Kalocsa Flyers Association) was formed. On 25th October 1995 Dr Heged?s Dezs?, the secretary general of MRSZ (Hungarian Aeronautical Association) visited to Kalocsa. He outlined a new conception according to which the establishing of National Flyers Fund" was under way and this Fund would run Airport Kalocsa with the control of sporting flyers. On the same day the Club held a press conference about the forming of itself, its aims and about the importance of the airport. On this conference it became evident that the three flyers organisations (the Club, the Bácska Aeroclub and the Flyers for Kalocsa Fund) would take steps together in the case of the airport through Aeroport Kalocsa Aeronautical Club and with the support of MRSZ.At the end of October the proceedings necessary for authorizing the airport and the collection of official licenses began. The Association started its first sailplane pilot training. In November the American representatives of IFOR Forces observed Airport Kalocsa as an alternative aero serving base of a potential Baja depot. Instead of Baja the IFOR chose Pécs, so this usage is not a real alternative in the case of the airport. By December the management of the Club collected a large number of supporting statements in the interest of putting the airport into operation.
1996-1997
In the meantime the realization of National flyers Fund significantly slowed down, and the case of the airport s privatization got to ÁPV Rt. (the governmental organization to control the privatization process in Hungary). Because of these reasons, the preparation of a project became justified. This project suggests such a solution that serves regional and national interests. Thanks to the efforts of the managing director of the Club in February 1996 the airport obtained the temporary operational permit. Between 1st- 11th March the Aeroport Kalocsa Flyers Association organised a Flying-Parachuting Exhibition to arouse the public s attention and to prove that the nearly hundred pilots and parachutists and their intentions must be and can be taken seriously.
1997-
One of the villages (Uszod), mentioned above didn't signed the temporary permission for this year. It means, that airfield activity should be restricted to a part of the airport. It seems, that the company payd some of the money to Uszod for the part now owned by the village. This company is dealing with (store, buy and sell) not only oil, but environmentally hazardous materials, like dangerous waste. There is a civil initiative to prevent establishing a hazardous depot just next to Kalocsa on the former airbase.

The Aeroport Kalocsa Aeronautical Club continues its activity, organizes programmes on the part of the airfield belongs to Kalocsa and Fokt?.
The local authorities and the mayors of Kalocsa and Fokt? decided to establish an industrial park and invite investors to the territory of the the former base. If the  local authority of village Uszod changes the decision and wouldn't sell its part to that company, the airfield can be kept for flying besides the industrial park.

Now it is the state of the art. Flyers will  never give up, they will continue flying even without the airfield. It will be harder, but maybe there is a field somewhere appropriate for landing. Only a part of the national treasure will be lost...