title: Simisini Air Base
text: # Simisini Air Base
  
  Kisangani Simisini Air Base (ICAO: FZIA) is a military airport in the city of Kisangani, capital of the Tshopo Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  
  Located in the western portion of Kisangani, 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) north of the Congo River, most of its traffic has moved to Bangoka International Airport. The airport is now a military airfield, though it also serves humanitarian flights and some private operations.
  
  The Bangoka VOR-DME (Ident: KGI) and non-directional beacon (Ident: KIS) are located 9.6 and 12.1 nautical miles (17.8 and 22.4 km) respectively east of the airport, at the Bangoka International Airport.
  
  ## History
  
  As Kisangani Ville Airport, it was the original airport of the city, then named Stanleyville. In the turbulent times of Congo's independence and the subsequent struggles, it was the city's only airport, and was the scene of severe fighting during the Simba Rebellion and the associated Operation Dragon Rouge in 1964.
  
  