Salinas Airport

The closure was due to changes in military operational requirements. The airfield was part of the Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center, operated by the Puerto Rico National Guard (PRNG). As the PRNG's aviation focus shifted more towards helicopter operations and as fixed-wing aircraft that could use the short runway were phased out or consolidated at other bases (like Muñiz Air National Guard Base), the need for this specific airfield diminished until it was officially closed.

The airport is permanently closed and abandoned. The runway and taxiways, though still clearly visible from the air, are in a state of severe disrepair with significant cracking and vegetation growth. A substantial portion of the land formerly occupied by the airfield and its surroundings has been repurposed for the Camp Santiago Solar Energy Project, a large-scale solar farm that provides power to the military base and the local grid. The presence of this critical energy infrastructure makes the site's use as an airfield obsolete.

Salinas Airport was not a public or commercial airport but a military airfield serving the adjacent Camp Santiago. Its primary role was to support the training and logistical operations of the Puerto Rico National Guard and other military units training at the base. It handled light fixed-wing military aircraft (such as the C-12 Huron for liaison and light transport) and helicopters. The airfield was a key asset for deploying troops and equipment for maneuvers within the vast training area of Camp Santiago, especially before helicopter transport became as dominant as it is today. It played a supporting role in the training of thousands of soldiers over several decades.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Salinas Airport. The reopening is considered infeasible for several reasons: 1) The land has been repurposed for a large-scale solar energy project. 2) The original military need for the airfield no longer exists. 3) The runway and support infrastructure would require a complete and costly reconstruction. 4) There is no commercial or general aviation demand that would justify such an investment, especially with other airports in the region.