Heliport Palagruža island

The primary reason for the heliport's official closure was economic and logistical. The automation of the Palagruža Lighthouse eliminated the need for resident keepers, thereby removing the main requirement for regular helicopter flights for personnel rotation and resupply. With its primary civilian function gone, maintaining it as an officially registered and inspected heliport became unnecessary and economically unviable. It was a logistical heliport, not a commercial one, and its main purpose ceased to exist.

Although officially listed as 'closed' in aviation databases, the physical helipad (a concrete or asphalt pad with a faded 'H' marking) remains intact and functional. It is currently used as an unofficial, emergency landing zone. The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) and the Croatian Air Force frequently use the site for medical evacuations and other urgent missions. It is not abandoned but rather maintained at a basic level for emergency and occasional state use. There is no public or commercial access.

The heliport on Palagruža was of significant strategic and logistical importance as it served Croatia's most remote island. Its primary operations included:

1. **Lighthouse Support:** It was the critical airlink for the Palagruža Lighthouse (built in 1875), transporting keepers, technicians, food, water, and equipment. Before the heliport, supply was solely dependent on challenging sea voyages.
2. **Meteorological Station Support:** The island hosts an important meteorological station. The heliport was used to support its staff and operations.
3. **Military and Coast Guard Operations:** Due to its strategic position in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, the island has military significance. The heliport was used by the Yugoslav People's Army and later the Croatian Armed Forces for surveillance, transport, and maintaining a presence in the area.
4. **Emergency Services:** It was, and still is, a vital point for emergency medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) for fishermen, sailors, or the rare tourist in the remote central Adriatic.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the heliport for public, commercial, or scheduled private flights. The demand is virtually non-existent, as the island is uninhabited except for automated lighthouse and meteorological equipment, and a small number of tourists who stay in the lighthouse apartments and arrive by boat. The cost of upgrading, certifying, and operating it as a public facility would be prohibitive. Its future role will almost certainly remain as an essential emergency landing site for government and rescue services.