Didn’t you know that Aeropuerto de Morón was once the main airport in Argentina? It predates Ministro Pistarini International Airport. That’s quite a legacy for this place in Morón.
Aeropuerto de Morón is more than just runways and hangars. It’s a piece of Argentine aviation history. This airport is located just southwest of Morón’s center. It’s about 20 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
Imagine this area in the 1940s. Aeropuerto de Morón was the gateway to Argentina. Big planes landed here. It bustled with international travelers. In 1948 a grand central building was inaugurated. However its service as an international airport was short lived.
The opening of Ministro Pistarini International Airport in 1944 changed everything. Aeropuerto de Morón was no longer the primary international airport. Its role shifted but its importance didn’t diminish.
The airport covers a large area of 439 hectares. That’s over 1000 acres. The runway is substantial even today. It includes a displaced threshold on Runway 20.
From 1951 to 1988 Aeropuerto de Morón was home to the VII Air Brigade. This was a significant military presence. Various aircraft were stationed here. These included Gloster Meteors and Bell UH-1Ds.
Aeropuerto de Morón has a rich civil aviation history too. It became a civil aerodrome under the control of the Administración Nacional de Aviación Civil in 2009. This was by order of the Argentine National Government.
Also based here is the Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica. It’s an aircraft museum exhibiting historical aircraft. The Instituto Nacional de Aviación Civil is here as well. This government organization trains civilian pilots.
The Aero Club Argentino operates a flying school at Aeropuerto de Morón. Several private flying schools also call this place home. This makes it a hub for aviation training.
In 2019 the airport registered 67835 total annual movements. This placed it as the third busiest airport in Argentina. It was behind Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and Ezeiza International Airport.
The Aeródromo Central Bernardino Rivadavia was established here. The president authorized the lease of land in Morón to build an aerodrome for civil aviation.
Over the years several flying clubs were established. These include the Aero Club Argentino and the Centro Universitario de Aviación. These clubs supported the sport of aviation.
The central terminal building inaugurated in 1948. It was used only briefly as an international airport. In 1949 Ezeiza began operating. Morón was then designated for mixed use by civil and military aircraft.
So Aeropuerto de Morón stands as a testament to Argentina’s aviation journey. From international gateway to military base to training center it has played many roles. It remains a vital part of Morón and the surrounding region.