Jirau Hydroelectric Plant Airport

Economic and Logistical. The airport was a purpose-built, temporary facility created exclusively to support the construction of the Jirau Dam. Its primary function was to transport personnel, specialized equipment, and critical supplies to the remote construction site. Once the dam was substantially complete and became operational, the massive logistical requirement for a dedicated airport ceased. Its continued operation was not economically viable, as the region's permanent aviation needs are served by the larger Porto Velho International Airport (SBPV).

The airport is permanently closed to all air traffic and is no longer a registered aerodrome with Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). Satellite imagery confirms that the paved runway (approximately 1600 meters) and apron are still physically intact but are in a clear state of disuse. The runway markings are faded, and there is no sign of aviation activity. The infrastructure is now part of the private property of Energia Sustentável do Brasil (ESBR), the consortium that operates the Jirau Dam, and is not maintained for flight operations.

The airport, officially designated with the ICAO code SWJI (the code BR-2143 is an unofficial identifier), was a critical piece of infrastructure for one of Brazil's most significant energy projects of the 21st century. Active mainly between 2008 and 2016, it was instrumental in the construction of the Jirau Hydroelectric Dam. It enabled the rapid transport of thousands of workers, engineers, and executives, as well as time-sensitive cargo, directly to the worksite in a remote area of the Amazon rainforest. This logistical advantage was crucial for adhering to the project's aggressive construction timeline. The airport primarily handled charter flights, including executive jets and turboprop aircraft carrying personnel and supplies.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The specific, large-scale demand that justified its existence has ended. Any future aviation needs for the operational dam or the local community of Jaci Paraná are adequately met by Porto Velho's Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport (ICAO: SBPV), located approximately 120 km away by road. Re-certifying, maintaining, and operating the airfield for public or private use would be cost-prohibitive with no foreseeable demand.