Southdowns Airport (FLSO)
Medium airport · Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
Airport data
| Name | Southdowns Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | FLSO |
| IATA | KIW |
| Elevation | 4,145 ft (1263 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 12°54'2" E 28°8'60" -12.90050, 28.14990 |
| Location | Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/29 | 6,562 ft (2000 m) | 100 ft | ASP | No |
Southdowns Airport at a glance
Southdowns Airport is a medium airport in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia, known to airline systems as KIW. The field elevation of 4,145 ft (1263 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at FLSO are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 11/29, offers 6,562 ft (2000 m) of asp surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 11 points roughly 110° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for FLSO shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Southdowns Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport | FLSK | 40 km (22 NM) |
| Kasompe Airport | FLKE | 46 km (25 NM) |
| Peter Zuze Air Force Base | FLND | 57 km (31 NM) |
| Lubumbashi International Airport | FZQA | 160 km (86 NM) |
| Kenneth Kaunda International Airport | FLKK | 272 km (147 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Southdowns Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 4,145 ft field elevation of Southdowns Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 10 airports and airfields we list for Zambia — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Southdowns Airport
What is the ICAO code of Southdowns Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Southdowns Airport is FLSO, and its IATA code is KIW. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Southdowns Airport above sea level?
Southdowns Airport sits at an elevation of 4,145 feet (1263 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Southdowns Airport located?
The airport lies at -12.9005, 28.1499 — in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, about 40 km away.
Does FLSO publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for FLSO appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Southdowns Airport?
Southdowns Airport has one runway. The longest, 11/29, measures 6,562 ft (2000 m) with a ASP surface.