Rancho El Chicural Airstrip

The official reason for closure is not publicly documented. However, given its nature as a remote, private dirt strip in Sonora, the most probable causes are:
1. **Economic Abandonment:** The ranch or entity that owned and operated the airstrip may have ceased operations or no longer had the financial means or need to maintain it.
2. **Seizure by Authorities:** Remote airstrips in this region are frequently used for illicit activities by cartels. It is common for Mexican military (SEDENA) or law enforcement to discover and disable such clandestine runways. While there are no specific public reports about this particular airstrip, this remains a strong possibility for its closure.

The site is abandoned and the airstrip is inoperable. Current satellite imagery shows a clearly visible but unmaintained dirt runway. The surface is deteriorated, eroded, and overgrown with desert scrub and vegetation, making it unsafe for any aircraft landings or takeoffs. There is no visible infrastructure, such as hangars, terminals, or lighting, at the site.

The airstrip's name, 'Rancho El Chicural', indicates it was a private airfield serving a local ranch. Its purpose was for general aviation, supporting the agricultural and logistical needs of the ranch. Operations would have been limited to small, single-engine aircraft (e.g., Cessna, Piper) used for:
- Transporting ranch owners, staff, and guests.
- Moving supplies, equipment parts, and other goods to the remote location.
- Potentially for agricultural aviation, such as crop dusting or surveying the property.
Its significance was entirely private and local, with no history of commercial passenger or cargo services.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Rancho El Chicural Airstrip. Re-establishing the airstrip would require significant private investment to clear, regrade, and certify the runway. Furthermore, obtaining the necessary permits from Mexican aviation authorities (Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil) would be challenging, especially given the security concerns in the region. It is highly probable that the airstrip will remain permanently closed and continue to be reclaimed by the natural environment.