Ribeirão Cascalheira (Oliveira Silva) Airport

Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR 🇧🇷 Closed Airport

ICAO

BR-0896

IATA

-

Elevation

1253 ft

Region

BR-MT

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -12.911482° N, -51.826887° E

Continent: SA

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: SIKR

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 24, 2025
Closure Date

The airport was officially closed and removed from aviation databases in the early 2010s, approximately between 2010 and 2013. The closure was not a single event but a gradual process of falling into disuse and failing to meet safety standards.

Reason for Closure

The closure resulted from a combination of factors. The primary reasons were: 1) **Economic and Maintenance Issues:** The unpaved airstrip suffered from a lack of funding for required maintenance, leading to its deterioration into an unsafe condition. 2) **Urban Encroachment and Safety Concerns:** As the town of Ribeirão Cascalheira grew, the airport became situated within the urban perimeter. This proximity to residential areas posed a significant safety risk, ultimately leading to its interdiction and permanent closure by Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).

Current Status

The site of the former airport is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows the clear but overgrown outline of the former dirt runway. The land has not been repurposed for any formal use and is slowly being reclaimed by vegetation and encroached upon by the expansion of the town. It is an empty, unused plot of land with visible remnants of its past as an airstrip.

Historical Significance

For decades, the Ribeirão Cascalheira (Oliveira Silva) Airport was the main air link for a remote but economically important agricultural region in the Araguaia Valley. It primarily handled general aviation operations, serving as a vital hub for:
- **Air Taxis:** Connecting residents and workers to larger cities like Cuiabá and Goiânia.
- **Agricultural Aviation:** Supporting the region's large cattle ranches (fazendas) and farms.
- **Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC):** Providing critical, life-saving transport in medical emergencies.
- **Private and Business Flights:** Used by landowners, business people, and government officials.
It was an essential piece of infrastructure that enabled the development and settlement of the area before local road networks, particularly the BR-158 highway, were significantly improved and paved.

Reopening Prospects

There are **no plans to reopen the original airport** at this location due to the safety risks associated with its proximity to the urban center. However, the municipal government of Ribeirão Cascalheira has been actively pursuing the **construction of a new airport at a different, more suitable site** outside the city. Since 2021, local authorities have been in discussions with state and federal officials to secure land and funding for this new project, citing the need for air access to boost economic development, tourism, and healthcare services. As of early 2024, the project remains in the planning and negotiation phase.

Nearby Airports

Ribeirão Cascalheira (SOS Mecanica Diesel) Airport
BR-1639
Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR
Small Airport
~1 km away
Fazenda Floresta Airport
SSJQ
Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR
Small Airport
~13 km away
Recanto Airport
BR-2140
Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR
Closed Airport
~13 km away
Fazenda Campo Alto Airport
SJNU
Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR
Small Airport
~19 km away
Fazenda Santa Juliana Airport
BR-3134
Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR
Small Airport
~21 km away
Fazenda Furnas Airport
BR-2567
Ribeirão Cascalheira, BR
Small Airport
~27 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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