El Trompillo Airport (IATA: SRZ, ICAO: SLET) is located in the south part of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, about 2km (1.25 miles) away from the central plaza.

Creation

It was created in 1920 with a lane that measured no more than 800 meters (2,624 feet). The airport was given the name of “Captain Horacio Vasquez” honoring a pilot who died in an accident flying from Argentina to La Paz. Nevertheless, because of the location, the airport with time was known as “El Trompillo”. For the first 65 years, it was the only airport in the city, until in 1985 the international airport of Viru Viru was constructed. Since then it has only operated local flights and the landing and departure of students of the Bolivian Air Force.

The first airlines to use this airport were Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, known as LAB, and Panagra. About 70 departures and arrivals of the Air Force, and small and large airlines are registered. For a while, from 1980 to 1985, the amount of airplanes registered increased due to a combat against drug traffic.

Debate

With the years, buildings and houses have been constructed around the airport. The neighbors have found it to be disturbing due to the noises of car traffic and airplanes, and the size of the airport has affected the structure of the roads. Santa Cruz has a ring road structure, were each rings surrounds the previous one. This airport is located in the middle of the second and third ring, in the middle of Santa Cruz busiest center, which interrupts the traffic flow causing the noise the neighbors are disturbed with.

One of the main concerns, which arises a mayor debate and a government plan, is how dangerous this local airport can be. Cinecenter, one of the most popular movie theaters and game building is located in front of this airport. Many are concern with the idea of an accident, causing injuries to kids and adults, which could end up in an even greater disaster because of the car traffic. El Trompillo has suffered many accidents, including one where an airplane landed on the stadium, killing the passengers and the children playing in the stadium. It was this accident that triggered the construction of the main airport, Viru Viru. Since then other small airplane crashes have occurred, which supports the relocation of the local airport.

There is much conflict about the idea of moving El Trompillo to a new area and in its place creating a park and a civil administration building. The PLOT, which stands for the Operative Territorial Plan in English, has found some difficulties and conveniences along the way. Economically speaking, the airport has increased its income since a new popular airline has appeared, Aerosur, making it more difficult to relocate the airport. On the other hand the government doubts whether the grounds of the El Trompillo is adequate enough for an airport. Other investigations are taking place, such as the owner’s rights for the land and the infrastructure of the whole area that will determine the destination of this local airport.

Airlines and destinations

• Aerocon (Riberalta Rurrenabaque, Trinidad)
• Aeroeste (Cochabamba, La Paz)
• AeroSur (La Paz, Sucre)
• Amaszonas (La Paz, Riberalta, Rurrenabaque, Trinidad)
• Transporte Aéreo Militar (Cochabamba, La Paz)

The content above was published at Airports-Worldwide.com in 2010.
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