JUDU Independencia I Helideck

The specific official reason has not been publicly released by the operator, Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). However, the closure is most likely due to operational and economic factors. Common reasons for closing a helideck on an offshore platform include:
1. **Change in Operational Status:** The platform may have transitioned to a 'Normally Unmanned Installation' (NUI), which is controlled remotely and only requires periodic maintenance visits, often conducted by boat rather than helicopter.
2. **Consolidation of Logistics:** Helicopter operations for the entire field may have been consolidated to a larger, central platform nearby, making individual helidecks like this one redundant.
3. **End of Field Life:** The gas well serviced by the Independencia I platform may have reached the end of its productive life, leading to the platform being shut down and the helideck being decommissioned as a first step.
4. **Safety or Structural Issues:** The helideck may have failed to meet modern safety certification standards or sustained damage, and it was deemed more cost-effective to close it than to repair or upgrade it.

The helideck (ICAO: MX-0969) is permanently closed to all air traffic and has been officially decommissioned as an active landing site. The underlying 'Independencia I' platform structure likely still exists at the location. Its current operational status is not public knowledge; it may be in a standby 'cold' state, actively producing but serviced by other means, or pending full removal as part of a wider field decommissioning plan.

The JUDU Independencia I Helideck was a private aviation facility located on the 'Independencia I' offshore natural gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Operated by PEMEX, its sole purpose was to serve as a logistical hub for the platform. When active, it handled regular helicopter traffic, primarily for:
- **Crew Changes:** Transporting engineers, technicians, and other operational personnel to and from the mainland (likely from bases in Tuxpan, Poza Rica, or Ciudad del Carmen).
- **Light Cargo and Supplies:** Delivering urgent spare parts, medical supplies, and essential provisions.
- **Emergency Evacuation:** Serving as a primary point for medical or emergency evacuations from the platform.
It was a vital piece of infrastructure for the safe and efficient operation of the offshore asset.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the JUDU Independencia I Helideck. The closure is listed as permanent in national and international aviation registries. Re-establishing the helideck would require a complete structural and safety recertification by Mexico's Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) and a renewed operational need for the platform, both of which are highly improbable.