Spanish Town, JM 🇯🇲 Closed Airport
JM-0019
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- ft
JM-14
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 18.01444° N, -76.92416° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
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The exact date of closure is not officially documented. The airfield likely fell into disuse gradually during the late 20th century as its primary agricultural purpose declined. It was officially and permanently decommissioned with the commencement of major construction for the Caymanas Special Economic Zone, circa 2015-2017, which completely redeveloped the land.
The primary reason for the closure was land redevelopment and economic shift. The airfield's original purpose was to serve the Caymanas Estates' agricultural operations. As these operations scaled back and Jamaica's economic focus shifted, the land became significantly more valuable for industrial and logistical development. The establishment of the Caymanas Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) on the site finalized the airfield's closure, repurposing the land for a government-led strategic industrial hub.
The site of the former Caymanas Airfield has been completely absorbed and redeveloped into the Caymanas Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). The land where the runway once existed is now a major logistics and light industrial park. It hosts numerous large-scale warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. Companies operating within the zone benefit from tax incentives and its strategic location near the Port of Kingston. Satellite imagery shows no remaining trace of the runway or aviation facilities; the area is now characterized by large industrial buildings and paved infrastructure.
Caymanas Airfield was a private airstrip primarily serving the vast Caymanas Estates, which were historically significant for sugar cane and banana cultivation. Its main operations included:
1. **Agricultural Aviation:** It was heavily used for crop dusting and spraying over the large plantations, which was crucial for pest control and maximizing crop yields.
2. **Executive and Private Transport:** The airstrip provided a convenient landing spot for private aircraft used by the estate owners, managers, and business associates.
3. **General Aviation:** It was also utilized by the local general aviation community, including flying clubs and private pilots, for recreational flying and training.
4. **Occasional Military Use:** The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) occasionally used the airstrip for training exercises and logistical support due to its strategic location near Spanish Town and Kingston.
It represented a key piece of private infrastructure that supported one of Jamaica's major agricultural enterprises during the mid to late 20th century.
There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Caymanas Airfield. The land has been permanently and strategically repurposed as a key component of Jamaica's national economic development strategy through the Caymanas Special Economic Zone. The significant investment in industrial infrastructure on the site makes any return to aviation use completely infeasible.
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