Las Palmas Air Base, located in the district of Surco, Lima, has been the subject of debate following statements by Mayor Carlos Bruce, who proposed its closure due to safety concerns over low altitude flights and the noise generated, which, according to him, affects local residents. This is not the first time this possibility has been raised; in previous years, similar proposals have been presented but failed.

The Peruvian Air Force (FAP) has responded by highlighting the strategic importance of the base. Founded in 1922, Las Palmas is home to key facilities such as the Officers and NCO Schools, the Operations Command andthe National Emergency Operations Center (COEN). It also has a 2,825-meter runway equipped with advanced navigation systems acquired in 2019, making it a focal point for defense operations and emergency response.

The base has been instrumental in several national emergency situations. For example, during the Pisco earthquake in 2007, the El Niño Costero phenomenon in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Las Palmas served as an operations center for the transport of humanitarian aid and medical evacuations. In addition, studies by the Peruvian-Japanese Center for Seismic Research and Disaster Mitigation (CISMID) indicate that, in the event of a major earthquake that renders Jorge Chavez International Airport useless, Las Palmas would be the only airway for international assistance.

In response to residents’ concerns, the FAP has proposed to implement an informative protocol to explain the relevance of the base and its operations. While acknowledging the need to mitigate the noise impact, it is emphasized that closing Las Palmas is not feasible due to its essential role in national security and emergency management.