Aeródromo La Cerra

About Aeródromo La Cerra

Aeródromo La Cerra is a former firefighting air base located in the pine forest of La Cerra, near the town of Villapún, in the municipality of Santervás de la Vega (Palencia). It was built in 1996 by the Junta de Castilla y León as a take-off and landing runway for firefighting, with a runway 850 metres long and 26 metres wide, as well as a parking and engine-starting apron beside the eastern threshold, watchtower and water tanks.

History and current status

The base became operational in 1996 and was used by around 12 aircraft until the increase in the use of fire-fighting helicopters led to the construction of a helipad in Villaeles de Valdavia in 2002, which began the decline in use of the Santervás de la Vega runway. In 2011 the Junta de Castilla y León began legalisation procedures as "Base contraincendios aeródromo auxiliar La Cerra (Palencia)", but they were not completed and the facilities were abandoned. Currently it can only be used as a landing area in case of emergency, and requires cleaning and rebuilding of the runway to become operational again.

Recovery project

A group of flying enthusiasts of Santervás de la Vega and surroundings has created the Aeroclub La Cerra to promote the rehabilitation of the airfield. After consultations with the Santervás de la Vega Town Council, the Territorial Delegation in Palencia of the Junta de Castilla y León and the Directorate-General for the Natural Environment, a positive response was obtained to use the runway as "landing surface for ultralight aircraft", compatible with the priority firefighting role. The project includes the cleaning and reconstruction of the runway, the future construction of a hangar and the organization of recreational flying activities involving model aircraft and drones.

The flying club

The Aeroclub La Cerra accepts members without a compulsory fee, with the aim of building support to keep the airfield operational and also serve as a base for firefighting aircraft in case of emergency. The initiative seeks to bring activity to the region and offer a space for the practice of ultralight flight in the area.

Mapping discrepancy

In the aeronautical field, this airfield appears erroneously published as an aerodrome of Villanueva de Duero (Valladolid) due to an old error in the data, although its coordinates and characteristics correspond to La Cerra, in Palencia.

The club should be contacted for the airfield’s current legal and operating status before any aviation activity.