Puerto Ocopa Airport

The primary reason for the closure was infrastructural and economic. The construction and significant improvement of the road connecting Puerto Ocopa to the provincial capital, Satipo, made ground transportation significantly faster, cheaper, and more reliable. This development rendered the small, high-maintenance airstrip economically unviable and largely obsolete for the regular transport of passengers and cargo, which was its main purpose.

The site of the former airport is no longer used for aviation. Satellite imagery shows the unpaved runway is still clearly visible but is not maintained. It is now used by the local community as a public open space, a footpath, and an informal road for local traffic. A community soccer field has been built directly adjacent to the former runway strip, and the area is fully integrated into the town's landscape. It is completely unsuitable for any standard flight operations.

Historically, Puerto Ocopa Airport was a critical lifeline for the remote district and its surrounding communities in the Central Jungle (Selva Central) of Peru. Its main functions were:

1. **Community Connectivity:** It provided the primary connection to the outside world for the local population, which is predominantly of the Asháninka indigenous group.
2. **Missionary Support:** The airport was vital for the Franciscan missions operating out of the nearby historic Ocopa Convent, which gave the town its name. It facilitated the movement of personnel and supplies for their religious, educational, and social work.
3. **Government and Health Services:** It enabled government presence and the delivery of essential services, most importantly medical outreach. Doctors, nurses, and medical supplies were flown in to serve a region with limited healthcare access.
4. **Aircraft Operations:** The airport handled small Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft capable of operating from a short, unpaved runway. Typical aircraft included the Cessna 206, Pilatus PC-6 Porter, and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by small charter companies, missionary aviation fellowships, and the former state-run airline TANS Perú.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Puerto Ocopa Airport. The robust and improved road network is considered a more sustainable and cost-effective transportation solution for the region's current needs. A full reactivation is highly unlikely due to the lack of economic justification and the community's current use of the land.