Ileg Airport

The closure was not due to a single event like a military conversion or major accident. The primary reasons are economic and logistical, which are common for remote bush strips in PNG. These include: lack of funding for essential maintenance (such as grass cutting and erosion repair), the high cost of aviation fuel, and a potential decline in consistent service from third-level airlines or missionary aviation groups who may have consolidated their operations to serve more populated areas. The runway became unsafe and was eventually abandoned.

The airport is permanently closed and unusable. Satellite imagery confirms that the runway is completely overgrown with tall grass, shrubs, and other vegetation. While the outline of the airstrip is still visible as a clearing on the mountain ridge, it has been reclaimed by the surrounding jungle and is not maintained in any way. The site serves no aviation purpose, and the area is only accessible on foot.

Ileg Airport was a critical piece of infrastructure for the isolated communities in the mountainous interior of Madang Province. In a region with virtually no roads, the airstrip was the sole lifeline for the local population. Its operations would have consisted exclusively of small, STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, such as the Cessna 206, Pilatus Porter, and Britten-Norman Islander. It was primarily used by:
- **Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and other faith-based aviation services:** For delivering medical supplies, food, mail, and personnel, as well as performing medical evacuations.
- **Government Patrols ('Kiap' patrols):** For administrative, census, and law-and-order functions.
- **Local Community:** Providing the only link to larger towns for access to markets, higher education, and advanced healthcare. The airport was essential for connecting the Ileg people to the outside world.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Ileg Airport. The cost to clear, regrade, and recertify the airstrip to modern safety standards would be substantial. Given the extreme remoteness, the small population it served, and the high operational costs, there is no economic or governmental incentive to restore it. The airport is considered permanently abandoned.