Pumatos

The closure was a direct result of prolonged and intense tribal fighting in the surrounding region. The conflict made it unsafe for aircraft to operate and for the community to maintain the airstrip, which subsequently fell into disrepair and became overgrown.

Contrary to being permanently closed, the Pumakos airstrip is currently operational. After a peace agreement was established, the local community, with support and guidance from MAF's Airstrip-Recovery-Team and other partners, worked extensively to clear, level, and restore the runway. The airstrip officially reopened with the first MAF landing on May 21, 2019. It is now used as it was historically: an active airstrip receiving regular flights for supplies, personnel transport, and critical medical evacuations, connecting the isolated community to the rest of the country.

Pumakos airstrip is a vital lifeline for the remote communities around the Pumatose Mission, which is run by the Gutnius Lutheran Church. Historically, it was built by missionaries and the local community to overcome the extreme isolation of the mountainous Enga Province. When active, it was primarily served by missionary aviation groups like Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Operations consisted of flying in essential supplies (food, medicine, tools), educational and church materials, and personnel (doctors, nurses, teachers, pastors). Crucially, it served as the only reliable means for medical evacuations in life-threatening emergencies.

The airstrip has already been successfully reopened. Its continued operation is dependent on two key factors: the maintenance of peace between the local tribal groups and the ongoing commitment of the community to perform the necessary upkeep on the runway to ensure it remains safe for aircraft operations.