🇻🇪 Alberto Carnevalli Airport

Alberto Carnevalli Airport (SVMD (MRD)) is a public airport located approximately 3 km southwest of downtown Mérida, the capital of Mérida State, Venezuela. It is named after Alberto Carnevalli, a Venezuelan lawyer and political activist.

Type of facility and operations: The airport is situated in the Chama River valley within the Andean mountains, surrounded by higher terrain. It operates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) due to the absence of nearby radio aids and lacks customs facilities, preventing international flights. Night operations are prohibited, a restriction attributed to the surrounding mountainous terrain and the lack of runway beacons. The airport has a single asphalt runway, 07/25, which is 1,630 meters (5,348 ft) long. Services available include car rental, excursion bookings, air ticket sales, a taxi stand, cafeteria, restaurant, and commercial shops.

Notable features and history: Inaugurated in 1946, the airport was originally on the city's outskirts but became surrounded by urban development during the 1960s and 1970s. Until 2008, it was a significant airport for the Mérida state and the Andean region. Commercial services were suspended for five years following the Santa Bárbara Airlines Flight 518 crash in 2008, resuming on August 1, 2013, with new regulations limiting commercial operations. A notable historical event includes the landing of Pope John Paul II in a Douglas DC-9-30 in 1985. The airport's elevation is approximately 1,526 meters (5,007 ft) above sea level.

Current status: Currently, Alberto Carnevalli Airport does not handle regular commercial passenger traffic. Its operations are primarily focused on general aviation, training, and specific services.