Ämari is undergoing renovation work to its runway which will keep it out of action for the rest of this year. The air force, along with its two PZL M28 Skytruck planes, relocated to Pärnu Airport during this period.

Fast jets deployed by NATO allies as part of the Baltic Air Policing Mission are flying from Latvia's Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia, while work continues at Ämari.

Ahto Sternfeld, who commands the 1st squadron of the air force's flight unit, said personnel had relocated to Pärnu with the two M-28 transport planes, while a Robinson R44 helicopter unit, whose operations are not directly affected by the ongoing work, remains in Ämari.

NATO personnel involved in the Baltic air policing mission have relocated to Latvia.

"Of the shortlisted airports, the one here in Pärnu has the best infrastructure. Tartu and Kuressaare were also looked at, but this hangar suited us best," Sternfeld said of the rationale in choosing Pärnu Airport for the interim period.

Together with the airplanes, around 20 personnel have relocated.

Sternfeld said: "Half of this is the maintenance team, which carries out maintenance and repair of the planes, and is involved in flying, including the operators, who carry out the daily training."

Pärnu Airport operations manager Erki Teemägi, said that a 1,600-square-meter hangar completed last year has been set aside for military use; it had been used for maintenance work, including on a Spanish carrier's Airbus 320.

The facility was set up to revitalize Pärnu Airport, Teemägi said, and the presence of the air force will not detract from that goal.

Sternfeld said the air force is engaged primarily in a maritime surveillance role in support of the Estonian Navy.

"Everything functions exactly in the same way as it does from Ämari, meaning we are operationally ready to fly 24/7, per the air force commander's orders."

The Õhuvägi is organizationally a part of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) rather than being a standalone service. In addition to the Skytrucks and Robinson R44s, it also operates two Czech-made Aero L-39 Albatros trainer jets.

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