In this context, attempts to operate several irregular flights with medium-sized aircraft from the military airfield in Marculesti (with ground handling and air navigation personnel being driven in for each landing/takeoff to Marculesti from Balti, since not available at the airfield in Marculesti) caused numerous scandals and panic among residents of Bălți. The runway of the military airfield of Marculesti, oriented directly towards the city of Bălți from the east towards the west (direction of border with Romania), was built for light and manoeuvrable military aircraft so that such aircraft could bypass the city on a take-off/landing path that medium and heavy aircraft cannot do.
