Ubrub Airport

The closure appears to be a gradual abandonment rather than a sudden event. The primary reasons are believed to be economic and logistical. Like many remote pioneer airstrips ('lapangan terbang perintis') in Papua, its operation likely became unsustainable due to the high cost of maintenance relative to the low volume of traffic. A lack of consistent funding from local government or the withdrawal of services by the primary users (missionary aviation groups) would lead to the runway falling into disrepair and eventually being reclaimed by the surrounding jungle.

The airport is permanently closed and completely abandoned. The site of the former runway is now fully overgrown with tall grass, shrubs, and other vegetation. While the faint outline of the airstrip is still visible from satellite view, it is no longer functional or recognizable as an airfield from the ground. The land is effectively unused, though it may be crossed by local footpaths connecting parts of the Ubrub village.

Ubrub Airport was a critical lifeline for the isolated village of Ubrub, located in a rugged, mountainous region of Keerom Regency with no reliable road access. It was a STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) airstrip, featuring a short, unpaved runway. Its operations were essential for connecting the community to the outside world. The airport primarily handled flights by missionary aviation organizations (such as Mission Aviation Fellowship - MAF) and small charter operators. These flights were vital for delivering food, medicine, and other essential supplies; transporting personnel like doctors, teachers, and missionaries; and conducting emergency medical evacuations (medevac). For decades, the airstrip was the sole means of rapid transport and access to critical services for the local population.

There are no known or published plans to reopen Ubrub Airport. The cost and effort required to clear the extensive overgrowth, regrade and compact the runway surface, and re-certify the airstrip for operations would be substantial. Given that it was allowed to close due to a lack of sustained use and funding, it is highly unlikely that resources will be allocated for its reopening in the foreseeable future unless a new, significant economic or strategic need arises in the immediate area.