Nácori Chico, MX 🇲🇽 Closed Airport
ICAO
MX-2161
IATA
-
Elevation
3570 ft
Region
MX-SON
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 29.33123° N, -108.76686° E
Continent: North America
Type: Closed Airport
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
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The exact closure date is not officially documented. Analysis of historical satellite imagery indicates the airport fell into a state of disuse and was effectively abandoned sometime between 2010 and 2015. Satellite photos from the early 2000s show a well-defined, usable runway, while images from 2015 onwards show significant surface degradation, erosion, and encroaching vegetation, rendering it unusable.
The closure was primarily due to economic factors and obsolescence. As a basic, unpaved airstrip in a very remote and sparsely populated area, the cost of maintenance likely outweighed its utility. The abandonment appears to coincide with the establishment or preference for the Nácori Chico Airstrip (ICAO: MMNC), which is located much closer to the town itself. The existence of a more convenient airstrip made the more remote Cerro Puerto La Palma Airport redundant, leading to its gradual abandonment.
The site is an abandoned and derelict airstrip. The dirt runway is still visible from the air but is in a state of complete disrepair. It is heavily eroded, overgrown with shrubs and grass, and bisected by vehicle tracks. There are no remaining airport infrastructure, such as hangars, terminals, or fueling facilities. The land has effectively reverted to its natural state and is unusable for any aviation purposes.
Cerro Puerto La Palma Airport was a rural, general aviation airstrip that served as a critical transportation link for the isolated municipality of Nácori Chico in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. Before the improvement of local road networks, such airstrips were vital lifelines. Its operations would have been limited to light, single-engine aircraft (e.g., Cessna, Piper) and focused on:
- **Medical Evacuations:** Providing rapid transport for medical emergencies.
- **Supply Transport:** Flying in essential goods, mail, and equipment.
- **Personnel Movement:** Supporting local economic activities such as mining and cattle ranching by transporting personnel.
- **Private & Government Access:** Allowing access for private landowners and government officials to the remote region. It was never a commercial airport with scheduled passenger service.
There are no known or published plans to reopen Cerro Puerto La Palma Airport. The prospect of reopening is extremely low. The community's limited aviation needs are served by the closer Nácori Chico Airstrip (MMNC). The significant cost required to clear, regrade, and certify the abandoned runway for safe operation would be prohibitive and is not justified by any current economic or logistical demand.