El Pilón de La Purísima Airport

No single official reason for the closure has been published, which is common for small, private, or rural airstrips. The closure was likely due to a combination of factors:
1. **Economic Non-Viability:** The cost of maintaining even a basic dirt airstrip likely outweighed its utility as traffic dwindled.
2. **Improved Ground Transportation:** The paving and improvement of Mexican Federal Highway 1 and connecting roads in Baja California Sur made ground travel to the region more practical and cost-effective, reducing the need for a local airstrip for basic transport.
3. **Decline in Use:** The specific general aviation, agricultural, or tourism-related activities that the airstrip supported may have ceased or declined, rendering the facility obsolete.
4. **Security and Regulatory Factors:** Mexican aviation authorities (AFAC/DGAC) have, over the years, worked to consolidate aviation operations and close small, unmonitored airstrips that could potentially be used for illicit activities.

The airport is permanently closed and completely abandoned. Current satellite imagery shows a heavily degraded dirt runway that is eroded and being reclaimed by the desert landscape. There are no visible buildings, hangars, or any other airport infrastructure remaining. The site is unusable for any form of aviation and is effectively just a scar on the land.

El Pilón de La Purísima was a classic example of a remote, rural Baja California airstrip. It was never a commercial airport with scheduled flights. Its primary significance was as a utility for general aviation. When active, it would have handled small, single-engine aircraft (like Cessna or Piper models) capable of operating from a short, unpaved runway. Its operations were likely focused on:
- **Supporting Local Ranches (Ranchos):** Transporting owners, personnel, and essential light supplies to and from remote agricultural properties.
- **Niche Tourism:** Providing access for private pilots or small charter operations bringing tourists to the remote and scenic areas around La Purísima for activities like hunting, fishing, or eco-tourism.
- **Community Access:** Serving as a vital link for the small oasis town of La Purísima before road access was reliable, allowing for faster transport and medical evacuations in emergencies.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening El Pilón de La Purísima Airport. The revival of the airstrip is considered extremely unlikely due to several factors:
- **Lack of Economic Incentive:** The region is adequately served by larger, paved airports for any significant commercial or tourism needs (e.g., Loreto International Airport - LTO).
- **High Re-establishment Costs:** Restoring the runway and bringing it up to modern safety and regulatory standards would require a significant financial investment with no clear return.
- **Sufficient Ground Infrastructure:** The existing road network now serves the needs of the local community and ranches.