Vlorë air base lies north of, and close to, the city of Vlorë. The city is located on the Adriatic coast, in the south of Albania. It was constructed in the 1950s. It is the home base for the Air Academy, which was first established in 1962. Since the base was occupied by rioters in 1997, the educational facilities have been refurbished. In 2001 the Air Academy merged with the airbase at Kuçovë to form the Akademia e Forcave Ajrore (Air Force Academy). Pilot training resumed in April 2004, with all aircraft flying from Kuçovë. There is also a large naval base on Sazan Island, off Vlorë.