Angeles West Airfield

The primary reason for the airfield's closure was the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991. The eruption blanketed the entire region, including Angeles City, with heavy volcanic ash and lahar (volcanic mudflows), rendering the runway and facilities completely unusable. A secondary factor was the subsequent departure of the United States Air Force from the nearby Clark Air Base, which was also closed due to damage from the eruption. The American military personnel and expatriate community formed the core user base of the airfield, and their departure eliminated the demand for its services.

The site of the former Angeles West Airfield has been completely redeveloped. An analysis of the coordinates (15.13013, 120.56456) shows the area is now a dense, urbanized zone within Barangay Anunas, Angeles City. The land is occupied by numerous residential subdivisions, commercial buildings, hotels, and restaurants, and is considered part of the city's vibrant 'Korean Town' district. There are no visible remnants of the runway, hangars, or any other airport infrastructure.

Angeles West Airfield was a small, privately-owned general aviation airport. Its main purpose was to serve the local recreational flying community, most notably the 'Angeles West Flying Club'. Operations consisted primarily of flight training, private aircraft flights, and leisure aviation activities. Due to its close proximity to the massive Clark Air Base, the airfield was a popular hub for off-duty US military personnel, their families, and American expatriates who were aviation enthusiasts. It played a small but important role in the local aviation scene prior to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Angeles West Airfield. The land has been irreversibly converted to high-density urban use, making a return to aviation activities impossible. Furthermore, all regional and international air traffic is now served by the large and modern Clark International Airport (RPLC/CRK), which is located just a few kilometers away and adequately meets the region's aviation needs. The reopening of a small general aviation strip in this location is neither feasible nor necessary.