Tinogasta Airport

Replacement and obsolescence. The old airport was a basic dirt/gravel airstrip with minimal infrastructure. It was located very close to the expanding urban area of Tinogasta, posing safety concerns and limiting potential expansion. The government of the Catamarca province constructed a new, modern airport (SANI) a few kilometers away with a paved 1,600-meter runway, runway lighting for night operations, a terminal building, and superior safety standards to better serve the region's needs, including tourism and emergency medical flights. The old airport was therefore deemed redundant and shut down.

The site has been repurposed for recreational use. The faint outline of the former runway is still visible on satellite imagery, but it is deteriorated and crossed by dirt tracks. A significant portion of the former airport grounds, including the apron and taxiway areas, has been converted into a go-kart track known as the 'Kartódromo Club Tinogasta'. The land is no longer used for any aviation activities.

The airport was the original air access point for the city of Tinogasta for many decades. It was primarily the home of the 'Aero Club Tinogasta' and served general aviation, including private pilots, flight training, and agricultural aviation (crop dusting). It played a vital local role in connecting the remote region, supporting recreational flying, and providing a base for emergency or private charter flights before modern road infrastructure was fully developed. However, due to its unpaved runway and lack of instrumentation, it could not handle larger aircraft or operate in all weather conditions.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening this old airport. All aviation services and future development for the city are focused on the new, fully operational Tinogasta Aerodrome (SANI), which was built specifically to replace this defunct facility. The land of the old airport has been permanently repurposed.