Los Citahuis Airport

Military Conversion. The airport was strategically selected by the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) to be converted into a new military air base. This decision was part of a broader national security strategy to enhance surveillance and rapid response capabilities against drug trafficking and organized crime operations in the critical Sonora-Sinaloa coastal corridor.

The site is now fully operational as the **Base Aérea Militar No. 18 (BAM-18) 'Teniente Coronel José Espinoza Fuentes'**. It is operated by the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana). The base underwent significant upgrades, including runway improvements, new hangars, barracks, and command facilities. It houses aerial squadrons, such as the Escuadrón Aéreo 204, which operates aircraft like the Beechcraft T-6C+ Texan II for surveillance, interception, and training missions. Its primary function is to provide aerial support to ground troops and conduct reconnaissance and interdiction operations in the region.

Prior to its closure, Los Citahuis Airport was a small regional aerodrome serving the municipality of Huatabampo and the surrounding agricultural region. Its operations were primarily focused on:
- **General Aviation:** Handling private aircraft for business and personal travel.
- **Air Taxi Services:** Providing on-demand charter flights to nearby cities and remote locations.
- **Agricultural Aviation:** Supporting the local farming industry with crop-dusting and aerial survey flights.
- **Government/Medical Flights:** Occasionally used for official transport or medical evacuations.
It did not handle scheduled commercial passenger flights from major airlines but served as a vital local infrastructure link for the regional economy.

None. There are no plans or prospects for the site to reopen as a civilian airport. Its current role as an active and strategic military air base for the Mexican Air Force makes a conversion back to public use highly improbable. The significant investment in military infrastructure and its integral role in national security operations have permanently established its function as a military installation.