Overview
Key airport information may also be found at: http://worldaerodata.com/
The Kingdom of Lesotho has only one international airport, the King Moshoeshoe I International Airport ( the IATA: MSU, ICAO: FXMM) .The airport is situated in the town of Mazenod, 18 km (11 mi) southeast of downtown Maseru. 23 Department of Civil Aviation Lesotho 2013 LCA (Lesotho Kingdom Version 1.05 19/33). The runway length includes a 200 metres (660 ft) displaced threshold on Runway 04. The airport does not operate at night and no flights can therefore access Lesotho country after 6 pm. The Mazenod VOR-DME (Ident: MZV) is 2.0 nautical miles (3.7 km) off the approach threshold of Runway 04. The Beria non-directional beacon (Ident: ME) is 1.35 nautical miles (2.5 km) off the approach threshold of Runway 22.
The Aviation sector in Lesotho is regulated by the Department of Civil Aviation under the Public Works and Transport Ministry. The Department is tasked to provide for Control, Regulation and Development of Aviation in Lesotho and for other matters incidental in accordance to the Chicago Convention and the Transit Agreement – as enacted by the Country Aviation Act, 1975. ACT No 32 of 1975 p. 85 (Department of Civil Aviation, Lesotho, 2013). Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) operates as the service provider for airport operations. There are 19 Aerodromes / Airstrips owned by government and private entities in different parts of the country.
The Country observes all protocols and standards as per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or the Chicago Convention and Transit Agreement. The capacity of Lesotho’s Aviation industry remains limited, due to its size, available funding and its position/location as it is entirely encompassed by South Africa.
The defunct Lesotho Airways was a wholly owned government airline that operated out of the Maseru Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU). In 1997, Lesotho Airways was privatised but has since gone moribund and ceased to operate. There is currently no domestic airline in Lesotho. The aviation industry is dominated by South African based companies, which control most of the flights that operate in Lesotho. There are very few Lesotho based companies, most which will rely on the South African market.
Maluti Sky owned by MGC Aviation Matekane Group of Companies went under in 2016 due to financial issues and limited market in Lesotho. Halsted’s Aviation Corporation, provides charter services, the company is based in Zimbabwe. SA Airlink – Airlink, dominates commercial flights in Lesotho, operating daily flights between Maseru and South Africa daily.
The Lesotho Defence Force has a limited capacity through its Airwings unit owns two fixed wing and one Helicopter Bell 412 model.
Aviation public entities include:
Public Aviation Entities |
Website |
Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) |
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Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) |
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South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) |
For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.
Passenger information
2017
Month
|
Domestic Flights |
International Scheduled Flights |
International Non-scheduled Flights |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Flights
|
Passengers |
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
Number of Flights |
Passengers | ||||
Departures |
Arrivals |
Departures |
Arrivals |
Departures |
Arrivals |
||||
January |
16 |
9 |
10 |
205 |
2154 |
1923 |
12 |
8 |
13 |
February |
14 |
2 |
3 |
202 |
2294 |
2447 |
16 |
27 |
25 |
March |
7 |
18 |
9 |
203 |
2724 |
2787 |
21 |
26 |
24 |
April |
23 |
1 |
3 |
188 |
2283 |
2447 |
3 |
8 |
15 |
May |
2 |
0 |
0 |
182 |
2444 |
2671 |
22 |
40 |
50 |
June |
10 |
3 |
5 |
173 |
2272 |
2028 |
15 |
34 |
36 |
July |
5 |
7 |
7 |
178 |
2158 |
2554 |
15 |
24 |
26 |
August |
10 |
9 |
9 |
179 |
2352 |
2537 |
25 |
35 |
45 |
September |
10 |
11 |
6 |
177 |
2426 |
2649 |
11 |
22 |
22 |
October |
6 |
5 |
0 |
185 |
2328 |
2567 |
28 |
64 |
54 |
November |
10 |
7 |
5 |
178 |
2719 |
2864 |
31 |
44 |
49 |
December |
16 |
27 |
25 |
149 |
2004 |
1918 |
31 |
42 |
77 |
Total |
129 |
99 |
82 |
2199 |
28158 |
29392 |
230 |
374 |
436 |
2018
Month |
Domestic Flights |
International Scheduled Flights |
International Non-Scheduled Flights |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
||||
Departures |
Arrivals |
Departures |
Arrivals |
Departures |
Arrivals |
||||
January |
6 |
8 |
4 |
176 |
2027 |
2132 |
10 |
9 |
13 |
February |
11 |
10 |
12 |
168 |
2474 |
2168 |
19 |
34 |
50 |
March |
13 |
7 |
4 |
177 |
2459 |
2648 |
14 |
19 |
14 |
April |
6 |
13 |
9 |
174 |
2012 |
204 |
6 |
7 |
23 |
May |
10 |
10 |
20 |
172 |
2191 |
2334 |
18 |
20 |
45 |
June |
9 |
6 |
6 |
180 |
2365 |
2351 |
20 |
24 |
20 |
July |
4 |
0 |
0 |
178 |
2329 |
2637 |
18 |
59 |
45 |
August |
12 |
9 |
5 |
177 |
2568 |
2400 |
20 |
39 |
34 |
September |
3 |
4 |
4 |
178 |
2690 |
2813 |
24 |
33 |
34 |
October |
8 |
7 |
0 |
188 |
2606 |
2911 |
44 |
140 |
153 |
November |
29 |
27 |
21 |
177 |
2609 |
2868 |
56 |
224 |
51 |
December |
24 |
49 |
58 |
148 |
2248 |
2171 |
41 |
52 |
52 |
Total |
135 |
150 |
143 |
2093 |
28578 |
27637 |
290 |
660 |
534 |
2019
Month |
Domestic Flights |
International Flights |
International Non-Scheduled Flights |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
Number of Flights |
Passengers |
||||
Departures |
Arrivals |
Departures |
Arrivals |
Departures |
Arrivals |
||||
January |
11 |
6 |
8 |
176 |
2010 |
2072 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
February |
14 |
27 |
21 |
168 |
2208 |
2267 |
9 |
18 |
34 |
March |
30 |
22 |
11 |
184 |
2601 |
2838 |
15 |
35 |
14 |
April |
9 |
8 |
7 |
171 |
2238 |
2485 |
8 |
21 |
11 |
May |
19 |
9 |
41 |
184 |
2377 |
2414 |
7 |
11 |
2 |
June |
45 |
39 |
40 |
180 |
2308 |
2354 |
11 |
10 |
20 |
July |
22 |
23 |
5 |
185 |
2181 |
2419 |
15 |
23 |
19 |
August |
9 |
8 |
4 |
186 |
2477 |
2429 |
22 |
35 |
36 |
September |
2 |
0 |
9 |
179 |
2552 |
2777 |
6 |
17 |
16 |
October |
7 |
5 |
47 |
186 |
2430 |
2581 |
14 |
18 |
22 |
November |
17 |
26 |
19 |
178 |
2654 |
2856 |
27 |
161 |
177 |
December |
15 |
27 |
28 |
162 |
2107 |
2076 |
15 |
22 |
14 |
TOTAL |
200 |
200 |
240 |
2139 |
28143 |
29568 |
164 |
388 |
384 |
Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft
Airworthiness and Engineering Inspectorate
Airworthiness Inspectorate is a subdivision of Flight Safety Division responsible for the airworthiness of all aircraft within Lesotho airspace and Lesotho registered aircraft wherever they may be. The Department of Civil Aviation is responsible for registration of aircraft, certification of aircraft and maintenance organizations. Scheduled and unscheduled audits are conducted to ensure that all maintenance activities and aircraft are compliant with all airworthiness requirements. The airworthiness section also maintains an airworthiness library/records, where every manuals and documents for every type of aircraft registered in Lesotho are available. (http://www.civilair.org.ls/indexcabc.html?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=114)
Airworthiness requirements
Aircraft Inspections
Services provided by the Airworthiness Section with regards to aircraft inspection are as follows: Carrying out aircraft inspections for the purposes of issuing Certificate of Registration. Carrying out aircraft inspections for the purposes of issuing Certificate of Airworthiness (initial issue and renewal). Aircraft inspections can be carried out locally and internationally. Issuance of Export Certificate of Airworthiness, Issuance of Flight Permits to certificated aircraft, Aircraft Maintenance Organizations: The Airworthiness Section carries out technical audits (inspections) on Aircraft Maintenance Organizations (AMO's), as stipulated in The Air Navigation Regulations 1980 as amended, that organizations working on Lesotho registered aircraft be approved by the Director of Civil Aviation.
Detailed procedures for licensing of AMOs are laid down in Safety Directive number 23 (Licensing of Aircraft Maintenance and Overhaul Organizations). The purposes of carrying out such inspections are: For initial issuance of maintenance approvals, For the renewal of such approvals, Ad hoc inspections to ensure that these organizations their work, capability and quality control comply with the requirements. Surveillance on the Aircraft Operator: As part of their mandate, the Airworthiness Section and Flight Operations Section have a surveillance programme in place to ensure that aircraft operators comply with the applicable Civil Aviation Requirements.
The above is accomplished through: Carrying out both scheduled and unscheduled surveillance inspections Assisting Aircraft Operators with advice on how they can comply with provisions of Civil Aviation Requirements. Flight Safety Division: Airworthiness and Flight Operations whose main task is to ensure aviation safety in respect of personnel licensing, operations of aircraft and airworthiness of aircraft.
Airworthiness Records/library: Statutory Instruments concerning all aspects of documentations and manuals. The library/records also keeps various airworthiness directives from the manufacturers, the aircraft operators and the Civil Aviation Authorities.
- Airworthiness Directives
- Civil Aircraft Register
- Fees
- Forms and applications
- Manual of Procedures
- Licensing and Examinations
- Certificate of Airworthiness
- Appendix to the Issuance of a Certificate of Airworthiness
- Certificate of Airworthiness
- Export Certificate of Airworthiness
- Special Flight Permit
- Noise Certification
- Aircraft Registration