Pie de la Cuesta Air Force Base

Base Aérea Militar No. 7 Pie de la Cuesta
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
Owner/OperatorMexican Air Force
LocationAcapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Built1945
CommanderGeneral de Grupo Piloto Aviador Diplomado de Estado Mayor Aéreo Pedro Velázquez Rodríguez[1]
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
Elevation AMSL20 ft / 6 m
Coordinates16°54′37″N 99°59′19″W / 16.91028°N 99.98861°W / 16.91028; -99.98861
Websitewww.gob.mx/sedena
Map
MM41 is located in Guerrero
MM41
MM41
Location of the airport in Guerrero
MM41 is located in Mexico
MM41
MM41
MM41 (Mexico)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10-28 2,320 Asphalt

Pie de la Cuesta Air Force Base (Spanish: Estación Aeronaval de Salina Cruz; B.A.M. 7), officially Base Aérea Militar No. 7 General de División Gustavo G. León González, Pie de la Cuesta (Air Force Base No. 7 Major General Gustavo G. León González) (ICAO: MM41), is a military airport located in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. The airport takes its name from Pie de la Cuesta, a beach neighborhood situated in the Acapulco Metropolitan Area where the airport is located.

History

In 1945, the airport was inaugurated as the civil airport serving Acapulco, a well-established coastal tourist destination in Mexico.[2] During the 1940s to the 1970s, Acapulco became the preferred destination for the Jetset, Hollywood celebrities, and affluent individuals seeking exclusive beach vacations in an exotic setting. As the popularity of Acapulco soared, the decision was made to construct a new airport.[3] On April 23, 1953, Acapulco International Airport was inaugurated, and the management of Pie de la Cuesta Airport was transferred to the Mexican Air Force.[4]

During the period known as the Mexican Dirty War, or state terrorism, in Mexico, the base served as a clandestine detention center. Illegal arrests, detentions, torture, interrogations, and the infamous "death flights" occurred here, involving the dropping of murdered and dying individuals from military planes into the Pacific Ocean. Military personnel accused of operating this method include Mario Arturo Acosta Chaparro, Alfredo Mendiola, Alberto Aguirre, and Humberto Rodríguez Acosta. Testimony suggests that teacher and guerrilla member Alicia de los Ríos Merino was last seen alive at this site.[5]

Facilities

The Air Force Station is situated at an elevation of 6 metres (20 ft) above sea level, it features one asphalt-surfaced runway, designated 10/28, measuring 2,320 metres (7,612 ft), and an apron measuring 14,153 square metres (152,342 sq ft) with parking positions for narrow-body aircraft and helipads. Adjacent facilities include 3 hangars, a control tower, and additional structures to house Air Force personnel.[6]

The airport is used by 204th Fighter Air Squad, that operates Pilatus PC-7 aircraft. Also is used by the 102nd Air Squad, that operates Bell 206 and Bell 212 aircraft.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bases Aéreas" [Air Bases]. Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. ^ Vázquez, Eduardo Francisco (23 May 2010). "POBLACION DEL VIEJO ACAPULCO 1938" [Old Acapulco Town (1938)] (in Spanish). Flickr. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Esto es Guerrero: Historia de la Aviación" [This is Guerrero: Aviation History] (in Spanish). Mediateca Guerrero. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  4. ^ Vázquez, Eduardo Francisco (23 May 2010). "POBLACION DEL VIEJO ACAPULCO 1938" [Old Acapulco Town (1938)] (in Spanish). Flickr. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. ^ adndevanlosdesaparecidos (6 October 2021). "Caso Alicia de los Ríos: los perpetradores de su desaparición salen de las sombras". A dónde van los desaparecidos (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  6. ^ "PLANTELES MILITARES". Blog: uerzas Armadas de México. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  7. ^ "BAM 7 "General de División Gustavo G. León González" Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero" [Air Force Base #7 "Division General Gustavo G. León González" Pie de la Cuesta, Guerrero] (in Spanish). Kiwi's Patch Collection. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2020.

External links

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