Usino Airport

The closure was primarily due to economic and logistical reasons. Key factors include:
1. **Lack of Maintenance:** Insufficient funding for the regular, essential maintenance required to keep the unpaved grass/dirt runway safe for aircraft operations.
2. **Development of Road Infrastructure:** The gradual improvement and increased use of the nearby Ramu Highway provided an alternative, albeit slower, method for transporting goods and people, reducing the economic viability of frequent and costly air services to the community.
3. **Shifting National Priorities:** A decline in centralized government support for the vast network of rural airstrips led to many, including Usino, becoming inoperable over time.

Based on recent satellite imagery, the site of Usino Airport is still clearly identifiable. The runway alignment remains visible as a long, straight clearing. However, the surface is overgrown with grass and vegetation, indicating a complete lack of aviation-related maintenance. It is not suitable for aircraft operations in its current state. The land is not being used for agriculture or construction and appears to be maintained as a clear open space by the local community, possibly for use as a walking path or public area.

During its operational years, Usino Airport was a vital lifeline for the remote community of Usino and surrounding areas in the Ramu Valley. In a country with challenging terrain and limited road access, the airstrip served several critical functions:
- **Connectivity:** It provided the primary link to larger centers like Madang and Lae for passengers, mail, and news.
- **Medical Services:** The airstrip was crucial for medical evacuations and the delivery of essential medicines and medical supplies by organizations like the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).
- **Economic and Community Support:** It facilitated the transport of trade goods, food staples, and technical equipment, supporting the local economy and community development projects.
- **Operations:** The airport handled light, Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft, such as the Cessna 206, Britten-Norman Islander, and Pilatus Porter, which are well-suited to the short, unpaved runways typical of rural PNG.

There are currently no official, publicly announced plans to reopen Usino Airport. However, the government of Papua New Guinea, through the Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA), has an ongoing program to survey, restore, and reopen vital rural airstrips across the country. The reopening of Usino would depend on factors such as a formal request from the local community, support from the Madang Provincial Government, and its inclusion in the RAA's priority list for funding and restoration. Given that the airstrip's physical footprint is still intact, future reopening remains a possibility if a strategic need is identified.