La Mota Airport

Aldama, MX 🇲🇽 Closed Airport

ICAO

MX-2079

IATA

-

Elevation

3858 ft

Region

MX-CHH

Local Time

Loading...

Loading...

Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 28.92663° N, -104.89862° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Nearby Points of Interest

Current Weather Conditions

Loading weather data...

Loading weather data...


Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

The exact closure date is not officially recorded. Analysis of historical satellite imagery indicates the airstrip was well-defined and likely active until at least 2015. By 2020, the runway shows clear signs of disuse and degradation. Therefore, the airport was likely abandoned gradually between 2015 and 2020 rather than being closed on a specific date.

Reason for Closure

The official reason for closure is unknown, as this was a small, private airstrip, not a public airport. The closure was most likely due to abandonment by its private owner(s). This could be for several reasons:
1. **Economic Non-viability:** The specific agricultural, ranching, or business purpose for which the airstrip was used may have ceased, making its maintenance no longer economically feasible.
2. **Deterioration:** As an unpaved dirt strip, it would require regular maintenance to remain safe and usable. A lack of maintenance led to its natural decay.
3. **Cessation of Illicit Activity:** Remote, unofficial airstrips in this region of Mexico are sometimes associated with narco-trafficking. A crackdown by authorities or a shift in cartel operations could have led to its abandonment. The name 'La Mota' is a common slang term for marijuana in Mexico, which may be coincidental or indicative of its past use.

Current Status

The airport is completely abandoned and unusable. Current satellite imagery shows the faint outline of the former dirt runway being reclaimed by the arid landscape. The strip is overgrown with vegetation and is crossed by numerous vehicle tracks, indicating the land is now used for ground transport related to local farming or ranching. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure on the site.

Historical Significance

La Mota Airport held no major historical significance. It was a private, rudimentary utility airstrip consisting of a single unpaved runway. Its operations would have been limited to light, single-engine aircraft typical of general aviation. Its purpose was likely utilitarian, serving local needs such as:
- **Agriculture:** Crop dusting or transportation for large farms or ranches in the Aldama municipality.
- **Private Transport:** Providing air access to a remote private property or ranch.
It never served commercial or scheduled flights and had no terminal, hangars, or other significant infrastructure.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening La Mota Airport. Given its rudimentary nature, remote location, and the lack of any apparent economic driver, its rehabilitation is highly unlikely. The aviation needs of the region are served by the much larger and fully equipped General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport (MMCU) in the nearby city of Chihuahua. The prospect for reopening is considered non-existent.

Nearby Airports

Algodonera del Oasis Airstrip
MX-0713
Ojinaga, MX
Small Airport
~25 km away
Pueblito Airport
MX-0392
Aldama, MX
Small Airport
~27 km away
Pueblito North Airport
MX-2058
Aldama, MX
Closed Airport
~29 km away
San Francisco Airport
MX-2077
Coyame del Sotol, MX
Closed Airport
~31 km away
El Trébol Airport
MX-2078
Ojinaga, MX
Small Airport
~34 km away
La Ruidosa Airport
MX-1537
Coyame del Sotol, MX
Closed Airport
~38 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

User Comments

No comments for this airport yet.

Leave a comment