Yuruf Airport

The closure was not due to a single specific event like an accident or military conversion. It was a result of gradual disuse, a common fate for many remote 'pioneer' airstrips in Papua. The primary reasons likely include:
1. **Prohibitive Maintenance Costs:** Maintaining even a simple grass/dirt runway in a tropical climate with heavy rainfall is difficult and expensive. Without consistent funding from the local government or a sponsoring organization (like a mission), the runway would deteriorate.
2. **Operational Viability:** A lack of consistent, economically viable flight demand may have led operators to cease services.
3. **Safety Concerns:** As the runway surface degraded, it would have become unsafe for landings and takeoffs, leading to its eventual de-certification by Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The airport is completely abandoned and non-operational. High-resolution satellite imagery confirms that the runway is entirely overgrown with dense grass and shrubs, making it indistinguishable from the surrounding terrain except for its linear shape. The facility is derelict and unusable for any form of aviation. The land appears to have reverted to nature, though the nearby village of Amgotro remains inhabited.

Yuruf Airport was a classic example of a 'missionary' or 'lifeline' airstrip, crucial for connecting the isolated village of Amgotro with the outside world. Its historical significance is purely local and humanitarian. When active, its operations were essential for:
- **Medical Evacuations (Medevac):** Providing the only rapid means to transport critically ill or injured patients to hospitals in larger towns like Jayapura.
- **Supply Chain:** Facilitating the delivery of essential goods such as medicine, food, educational materials, and building supplies.
- **Personnel Transport:** Enabling access for doctors, teachers, government officials, and missionaries.
Operations were exclusively handled by STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, such as the Pilatus PC-6 Porter and Cessna 208 Caravan, which are designed for short, unprepared runways. Flights were typically operated by missionary aviation groups (like MAF or AMA) or specialized commercial charters (like Susi Air).

There are currently no known official plans, discussions, or funding allocated for the reopening of Yuruf Airport. The prospect of it reopening is extremely low. Re-establishing the airstrip would require a significant investment to clear, re-grade, and compact the runway, as well as ensure proper drainage. Furthermore, it would need to be inspected and re-certified by the DGCA, and an airline operator would have to commit to serving the location. The current trend in the region is to consolidate resources and improve a smaller number of more strategically located airports rather than maintaining hundreds of small, remote airstrips.