Fef Airport

The airport was permanently closed because it was replaced by a new, larger, and more modern facility. The old airstrip (ID-0051) was very short, had a gravel or grass surface, and was located directly in the center of Fef town, which posed significant safety risks and prevented any future expansion. The Indonesian government, as part of a national infrastructure initiative to improve connectivity in remote regions, constructed the new Fef Airport (ICAO: WASF, IATA: FEF) just north of the old site. This new airport features a longer, paved runway capable of handling larger turboprop aircraft like the ATR 42, significantly improving access and economic prospects for the Tambrauw Regency.

The site of the old airstrip is decommissioned and no longer used for aviation. Satellite imagery shows the runway's outline is still clearly visible, running through a residential area of Fef. The land appears to be used as a public open space, a local road, or for community activities by the town's residents. It has been absorbed into the town's landscape.

The old Fef airstrip was a critical piece of infrastructure for the remote community of Fef, the administrative capital of the Tambrauw Regency in Southwest Papua. For decades, it served as a vital lifeline, connecting the isolated region to the rest of Indonesia. Operations were limited to small, Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. It primarily handled:
- **Pioneer Flights (Penerbangan Perintis):** Government-subsidized routes operated by airlines like Susi Air to ensure basic transportation for residents.
- **Missionary Aviation:** Flights operated by missionary groups providing medical, logistical, and community support.
- **Government and Charter Flights:** Used for administrative travel, medical evacuations, and transporting essential goods.
The airport was fundamental to the social and economic life of the town before the development of more substantial infrastructure.

There are zero prospects for reopening the old Fef Airport (ID-0051). It has been made permanently obsolete by the new Fef Airport (WASF / FEF), which officially began full operations and was inaugurated in the 2023-2024 period. All regional air traffic and development efforts are focused on the new, superior facility.