Coeroenie Airstrip

Coeroeni Airstrip (ICAO: SMCI) is an airstrip located near Kuruni (variant spellings: Coeroeni, Coeroenie, or Curuni) in Suriname.^[3] It was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper.^[4] The Airstrip is in the vicinity of the disputed border area between Guyana and Suriname called the Tigri Area.

Coeroeni Airstrip
IATA: none ICAO: SMCI
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Luchtvaartdienst Suriname
Location	Coeroeni, Suriname
Elevation AMSL	479 ft / 146 m
Coordinates	3°22′15″N 57°20′45″W
Map
SMCI Location in Suriname
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 11/29 1,230 4,035 Grass
Sources: GCM[1] Google Maps[2]

History

In 1959, the Coeroenie Airstrip was constructed as part of operation Grasshopper, to access the interior, and to map mineral resources.^[5] In 1965,^[6] a camp was constructed near the airstrip to house workers for a planned weir.

Charters and destinations

Charter airlines serving this airport are:

Airlines	Destinations
Blue Wing Airlines	Charter: Paramaribo–Zorg en Hoop[7]
Gum Air	Charter: Paramaribo–Zorg en Hoop[8]
Hi-Jet Helicopter Services	Charter: Paramaribo–Zorg en Hoop
United Air Services	Charter: Paramaribo–Zorg en Hoop
Vortex Aviation Suriname	Charter: Paramaribo–Zorg en Hoop

Accidents and incidents

• On 2 September 1960 a Cessna Bobcat UC-78C Bobcat, registration PZ-TAE from the Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij crashed at Curuni. There were no fatalities or injuries, the pilot was M. Wybenga.^[9][10]

See also

• List of airports in Suriname
• Transport in Suriname