Šoštanj Airport (Letališče Šoštanj, Letališče Lajše, Šaleški Aeroklub).Airport type: Public, Operator: Šaleški Aeroklub, Serves: Šoštanj, Velenje, Location: Topolšica (ICAO: LJSO, formerly: LJVE), also known as Lajše, is a public airport located in Topolšica, Slovenia. It serves the cities of Velenje and Šoštanj and is nestled in a valley surrounded by hills. The airport is situated 2 km north of Šoštanj and 6 km northwest of Velenje.
The airport features a one-way runway, allowing takeoffs only in direction 15 and landings solely in direction 33. Due to its short asphalt runway, it accommodates small general aviation aircraft with a maximum takeoff mass of up to 5,670 kg (12,500 lb).
Heavier aircraft can land at the pilot-in-command's discretion if performance is adequate. Some of the heaviest aircraft that have operated at LJSO include the Spanish Air Force CH-47 Chinook, which has a maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of 22,680 kg, the Slovenian Military Cougar at 9,000 kg MTOM, the Solinair Turbolet 410 with 6,600 kg MTOM, and the Gorenje Cessna Citation I at 5,375 kg MTOM. Additionally, aircraft such as the Socata TBM with 3,353 kg MTOM, the Piper Chieftain at 3,175 kg MTOM, and the Piper Seneca with 2,155 kg MTOM can take off without any issues.
The interest in aviation in the Šaleška Valley began with the landing of the first Italian motorized aircraft in 1927. The second aircraft arrived in Šoštanj in 1930, landing near the Marovšek manor house, which is close to the current airport site. This aircraft was a Comper Swift owned by industrialist Tomáš Baťa.
In the 1930s, aviation enthusiasts Maks Medved and Valter Muhovec faced challenges due to a lack of tools and equipment, prompting them to construct a homemade glider. Unfortunately, this aircraft was completely destroyed during a test run in 1937. Seeking assistance, they turned to expert Žarko Majcen, an active pilot and flight instructor at the Naša Krila aero club in Maribor, and together they established their own flying club.
The founding assembly of the club took place on February 19, 1939, where Valter Muhovec was elected as the chairman of the board. That same year, with plans and expert guidance from Žarko Majcen, construction began on a DFS Zögling glider. They also created a basic "flight simulator." After seven months and 1,500 hours of work, the Zögling glider was finally completed. The first test flight was conducted by Maribor instructor Žarko Majcen on September 24, 1939, in Lajše. Following this successful test, they organized an initial glider training course, and by November 22, 1939, several "A" examinations had been completed..
The airport features a single asphalt runway that measures 714x18 meters and is aligned with a true heading of 149° (329°). Due to the surrounding terrain, the runway can only be used in one direction: runway 15 is designated for takeoffs, while runway 33 is reserved for landings. There is a compacted grass area that extends about 150 m (490 ft) beyond the threshold of runway 33, which can be utilized for aircraft maneuvering when weather conditions are favorable.
A paved taxiway, labeled as A, connects the runway to the hangar. Pilots must either backtrack along the runway or taxi on the grass after landing and before taking off. Additionally, on the north side of the airport, there is another taxiway, known as taxiway Y, which provides access for aircraft from a private hangar to the runway.
The airport also has a fuel pump and a restaurant available for visitors. It operates without a control tower and is open solely for VFR flights, with pilots communicating on the frequency of 128.305 MHz.