Mapaio Village, PG 🇵🇬 Closed Airport
PG-0076
-
55 ft
PG-GPK
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: -7.656° N, 145.045° E
Continent: OC
Type: Closed Airport
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The exact date of closure is not officially recorded. However, based on the state of deterioration and the history of similar airstrips in the region, it likely fell into disuse and was officially closed sometime in the late 20th or early 21st century. The closure was a gradual process of the runway becoming unsafe rather than a single event.
The primary reason for the closure of Mapaio Airstrip was economic and logistical. Like many remote 'bush strips' in Papua New Guinea built during the colonial or post-colonial era, it suffered from a lack of consistent funding for maintenance. Without regular upkeep, the grass runway became overgrown, soft, and uneven, posing a significant safety risk for landing aircraft. This progressive deterioration made it non-compliant with safety standards, forcing aviation operators to cease services.
As of the latest satellite imagery, the Mapaio Airstrip is completely unserviceable and abandoned. The former runway is heavily overgrown with dense vegetation and is no longer distinguishable as a functional airfield from the ground. The land has been reclaimed by the surrounding jungle, and there are no signs of any aviation-related activity. The cleared area may be used by locals as a footpath, but it is not maintained for any formal purpose.
When active, Mapaio Airstrip was a critical lifeline for Mapaio Village and the surrounding isolated communities in the Gulf Province. It served as the primary link to the outside world for essential services and supplies. Operations typically involved STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, such as the Pilatus Porter, Britten-Norman Islander, and Cessna 206, operated by missionary groups like Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and various third-level commercial airlines. The airstrip was essential for transporting medical supplies, food, mail, building materials, and personnel (doctors, teachers, government officers), and was indispensable for urgent medical evacuations (medevacs).
There are no known official plans or funding allocated for the reopening of Mapaio Airstrip. The Papua New Guinea Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA) is responsible for restoring many of the nation's remote airstrips, but their efforts are prioritized based on community size, economic potential, and strategic importance. Given the extensive work and cost required to clear the land, rebuild the runway, and certify it for operations, Mapaio is not currently a priority. Any prospect of reopening would depend on future government initiatives, private investment, or a significant demonstrated need from the local community.
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