Argentina officially decommissions two airfields
The resolutions were published Monday in the Official Gazette after confirming the abandonment and disappearance of both sites, with no operational signals or updated documentation.
The National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) has formally decommissioned the Elizalde (ELZ) airfield in La Plata (Buenos Aires Province) and Montecarlo (MTL) in Misiones, according to Resolutions 374/2025 and 377/2025, respectively, published today in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic.
Both decisions are based on on-site inspections and satellite evaluations that confirmed a complete lack of operational aeronautical infrastructure, the presence of unauthorized buildings on the premises, and the absence of basic visual signaling—minimum conditions required to maintain aerodrome certification.
Elizalde: From glider club to informal settlement
In the case of the former Elizalde airfield, certified in 1965, ANAC confirmed there are no remaining traces of aviation infrastructure, and the site has been overtaken by non-aeronautical constructions. The Central Regional Directorate verified its condition.
However, the decommissioning merely formalizes a process that began in 2022, when the State Assets Administration Agency (AABE) removed over 293,000 m² from ANAC’s jurisdiction and granted the Buenos Aires provincial Ministry of Community Development temporary use with an option to purchase. This was framed as part of a "comprehensive urbanization and housing project"—language that glossed over the long-standing informal occupation of the site, tacitly tolerated by provincial authorities.
AABE’s Resolution 121/2023 also corrected the land’s cadastral location, defining it between 83rd and 153rd streets in the city of La Plata. This land transfer for “housing policies” effectively foreshadowed the airfield’s closure, now formalized under aviation regulations.
Resolution 374/2025 (spanish document) cancels the airfield’s certification and mandates notification through Aeronautical Information systems.
According to MADHEL records, Elizalde had two dirt runways: 07/25, measuring 900 x 30 meters, and 17/35, measuring 750 x 30 meters.
Montecarlo: Private airfield with no infrastructure and unclear ownership
Montecarlo airfield in Misiones, certified in 1973 as a private facility by Air Traffic Directorate Message 2,439, was also inspected following a formal request in September 2024. The inspection, carried out by the Northeast Regional Directorate (DRNE) and corroborated by satellite imagery, confirmed the absence of operational infrastructure and the presence of unauthorized constructions on the site.
ANAC also discovered discrepancies regarding ownership: the official registry listed "Aero Club Montecarlo" as the responsible entity, while the property is in fact owned by the company “Puerto Laharrague-Chodorge S.A.” This irregularity further supported the decision to revoke its certification under Resolution 377/2025 (spanish document).
According to MADHEL, Montecarlo featured a dirt runway measuring 1,000 meters in length and 30 meters in width, oriented 01/19.
Formal closure and removal from aeronautical records
Both resolutions were signed by ANAC’s national administrator, Oscar Alfredo Villabona, citing the authority granted under Article 27 of the Aeronautical Code (Law 17.285) and Decree 1770/2007, which empowers the agency to certify or decommission airfields throughout the national territory.
The definitive closure means the airfields will no longer appear in official aeronautical publications and cannot be considered for any public or private flight planning.
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES
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