Airports / Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha / HLE
Saint Helena International Airport.
Jamestown, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha · 1,017 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FHSH
IATA HLE
0
Operators based
1,017
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
702 nm
To the nearest alternate
RAF Ascension Island (ASI).
Overview
Saint Helena International Airport, listed as FHSH / HLE, is a mid-sized airport in Jamestown, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The airport sits 1,017 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into HLE for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are RAF Ascension Island (ASI, 702 nm), Welwitschia Mirabilis International Airport (MSZ, 1029 nm), and Lubango Mukanka International Airport (SDD, 1114 nm). With a single 6,398-foot paved runway, HLE can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from HLE depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Jamestown.
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Field capability
ICAO
FHSH
IATA
HLE
FAA / Local
FHSH
Elevation
1,017 ft
Coordinates
15.9589° S · 5.6461° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 6,398 ft
- 01/196,398 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,398 ft
HLE's 6,398 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 702nmASIRAF Ascension IslandCat Hill
- 1029nmMSZWelwitschia Mirabilis International AirportMoçâmedes
- 1114nmSDDLubango Mukanka International AirportLubango
- 1126nmBUGBenguela AirportBenguela
- 1132nmCBTCatumbela AirportCatumbela
- 1172nmFYTFTwyfelfontein AirportTwyfelfontein
Location
Open the full mapFHSH · Saint Helena International Airport · Jamestown, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from HLE on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 5,026 nm | 12h 5m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 5,035 nm | 12h 7m |
| Boston (BED) | 5,035 nm | 12h 7m |
| New York (TEB) | 5,102 nm | 12h 16m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 5,195 nm | 12h 29m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 5,545 nm | 13h 18m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 5,705 nm | 13h 40m |
| Houston (HOU) | 5,854 nm | 14h 1m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use HLE?
- Saint Helena International Airport's longest paved runway is 6,398 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at HLE?
- Saint Helena International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 6,398 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to HLE?
- The closest alternate is RAF Ascension Island (ASI), about 702 nm away, followed by Welwitschia Mirabilis International Airport (MSZ) at 1029 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from HLE to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 12h 5m (5,026 nm), Palm Beach about 12h 7m (5,035 nm), Boston about 12h 7m (5,035 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.