El Novillo Airport

The airport was closed due to project completion and economic obsolescence. It was a purpose-built utility airstrip constructed to support the massive Plutarco Elías Calles (El Novillo) Dam project (1958-1964). Once the dam was operational and permanent road access to the remote site was established, the need for a dedicated fixed-wing airstrip to transport personnel and supplies was eliminated, making its continued maintenance economically unviable.

The site is an abandoned airstrip. Satellite imagery confirms the presence of a single, unpaved runway adjacent to the dam. The runway is in a state of severe disrepair; it is unmarked, eroded, and significantly overgrown with desert vegetation, rendering it completely unusable for any type of aircraft. The surrounding land appears undeveloped and the site is not used for any other purpose.

El Novillo Airport's historical significance is entirely tied to its role as a critical logistical asset for the construction of the El Novillo Dam, one of Mexico's most important hydroelectric projects of the mid-20th century. When active, it handled small general aviation and utility aircraft (such as Cessnas and Pipers). These operations were crucial for transporting engineers, technicians, government officials from the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), and urgent, high-priority supplies to the otherwise inaccessible construction site in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen El Novillo Airport. The existing road network provides sufficient access to the dam for routine operations and maintenance. For any specialized or emergency situations requiring air access, the use of helicopters would be far more practical and cost-effective than restoring a deteriorating fixed-wing runway in such a remote location.