Pista da Barragem de Odivelas

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons and the cessation of activities by the local flying club that managed it, the 'Clube de Voo de Odivelas'. Like many small, private airfields, its operation likely became financially unsustainable due to declining membership, rising maintenance costs, and insurance liabilities. There is no evidence of a major accident, environmental issue, or military conversion leading to the closure. The land is managed by EDIA (Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infra-estruturas do Alqueva, S.A.), and the usage agreement may have expired or been terminated.

The site is completely abandoned and non-operational for any aviation purposes. Satellite imagery clearly shows the faint outline of the former runway, but it is heavily overgrown with vegetation and shrubs. The surface is eroded and crossed by what appear to be farm tracks or service roads. There are no remaining aviation facilities like hangars or a clubhouse. The land has reverted to its natural state and is part of the agricultural and recreational area surrounding the dam.

Pista da Barragem de Odivelas was a small, private airfield primarily used for recreational aviation, specifically for ultralight (ULM/ultraleve) aircraft. Its ICAO designator, PT-0078, is a national identifier for ULM airfields, not a standard international ICAO code. The airfield consisted of a single unpaved (dirt and grass) runway, approximately 500-600 meters long. Its main significance was as a base for the local flying club and as a scenic destination for private pilots, given its picturesque location directly adjacent to the Odivelas Dam reservoir in the Alentejo region. It handled no commercial, cargo, or military operations.

There are no known plans, proposals, or prospects for reopening the Pista da Barragem de Odivelas. The significant cost required to clear, regrade, and certify the runway, combined with the apparent lack of a local organization or club to manage and fund its operations, makes any future revival extremely unlikely. The demand that once supported the airfield no longer appears to exist in the immediate area.