 "The Airmen" were enrolled in the Divizia D, having in the lead also a new president, in the person of Doru Damaschin.But the return of Aerostar in the national football was difficult compared to other clubs, after five tough years spent at the county level, the team from Bacău promoted back to Divizia C at the end of the 1998–99 season.Returned to the third tier, Aerostar never relegated again, but also has failed to promote in the second league for the next 18 years.