Vallecillo, MX 🇲🇽 Closed Airport
MX-1662
-
548 ft
MX-NLE
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 26.62383° N, -99.7932° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
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The exact closure date is not officially documented. However, analysis of historical satellite imagery indicates the airstrip fell into a state of disuse and was no longer actively maintained sometime between 2009 and 2014. Imagery from 2009 shows a well-defined and usable runway, while by 2014 it appears weathered and less distinct, a trend that continues to the present day.
The official reason for closure is not available in public records. The most probable causes, given its nature as a private rural airstrip, are:
1. **Economic Reasons/Disuse:** The owner of the property may have ceased aviation operations, sold the land, or found the cost of maintaining the airstrip prohibitive.
2. **Seizure by Authorities:** Private airstrips in this region of Mexico are frequently monitored and sometimes seized or rendered unusable by the Mexican military (SEDENA) or federal authorities to prevent their use for illicit activities, particularly drug trafficking. While there is no specific public announcement regarding El Cerrito Airstrip, this remains a common reason for the closure of such facilities in the area.
The site is abandoned and derelict. Current satellite imagery clearly shows the outline of the approximately 1,100-meter (3,600-foot) runway. However, the surface is unmaintained, significantly weathered, and overgrown with scrub vegetation. There are visible vehicle tracks, but it is not in a condition to support any aviation operations. The surrounding land appears to continue its use as a rural ranch, with the airstrip itself being an unused feature of the property.
El Cerrito Airstrip was a privately owned, unpaved runway. It held no public or commercial significance. Its operations were limited to general aviation, likely serving a large private ranch for the personal transportation of its owners, guests, or for agricultural purposes such as crop dusting. The airstrip would have accommodated small, single-engine aircraft with Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities suitable for unprepared dirt or gravel surfaces. Its existence was typical of many private ranches in rural northern Mexico which require air access due to their remote locations.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the El Cerrito Airstrip. Due to its remote location, private ownership, deteriorated condition, and the lack of any apparent economic or logistical demand, it is extremely unlikely that the airstrip will be restored for aviation use in the foreseeable future.