Mombasa Air Services
Encyclopedia
Mombasa Air Services, a Kenya
air charter
firm, was created when John Cleave purchased Rapid Air, a Civil Aviation Board licensed air charter
firm with bases in Nyeri
and Diani Beach
. Flight operations were switched to the coast city of Mombasa
, to serve the newly growing coast tourism
industry and the company name was changed to Mombasa Air Services. During the seventies, eighties and nineties, Mombasa was restricted by existent colonial legislation, from receiving international scheduled services, which were all directed to the capital city of Nairobi
. During the seventies and eighties, the Kenya coast was a recently discovered exotic tourism destination and direct charter flights from Europe grew rapidly and many new beach hotels were built to receive an increasing number of tourist arrivals from Europe.
During the colonial era, a number of large land areas were set aside as wildlife conservancies under the protection of the Kenya Game Department, which, after independence, became the Kenya Wildlife Service
. Kenya is known as the birthplace of the safari
, an expedition or journey into the bush to see and shoot wildlife. These adventures were made famous by the rich and famous that included, in 1909, the former American President Theodore Roosevelt
. Hunting
, however became banned, and the growing global realization of the value of protecting wildlife, coupled with long range jet travel meant that the Kenya coast, with unspoilt tropical beaches close to world famous wildlife parks, generated a steady demand for local tourist flights to visit the game parks.
MAS grew a fleet of piston engined aircraft to handle the local charter demand to game parks and other places of tourist interest. At its peak the charter firm had 12 aircraft, some owned and some leased. All the aircraft were maintained by CMC Aviation
owned by the publicly traded Cooper Motor Corporation
. To provide capital and purchase larger, more reliable turbo-prop aircraft to operate scheduled services, the firm was sold to CMC
who subsequently sold to the Sameer Group
and the operations moved to Nairobi
. The purchase of turbo-prop aircraft did not occur at that time, and the start up of domestic scheduled tourist services from Mombasa to the game parks was delayed until the nineties.
2 X BNT Islander. 10 seats
3 X Cessna 404
. 14 seats
I X Piper Navajo.
4 X Piper Seneca. 6 seats.
2 X Cherokee 6. 6 seats.
is now under the same ownership as the original Mombasa Air Services, and continues to operate from Moi Airport and Ukunda
.
services throughout East Africa
but mainly to Amboseli, Tsavo, Mara, Samburu, Lamu and Lake Nakuru
in Kenya, and in Tanzania Lake Manyara
, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti
plus Zanzibar
.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
air charter
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
firm, was created when John Cleave purchased Rapid Air, a Civil Aviation Board licensed air charter
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
firm with bases in Nyeri
Nyeri
Nyeri is a town in situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya Kenya, which was the administrative headquarters of the country's former Central Province...
and Diani Beach
Diani Beach
Diani Beach is a major beach resort, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, 30 km south of Mombasa.It is located along a beautiful white-sanded beach which is about 25 km long and it merges with the small town of Ukunda which is home to a small airstrip...
. Flight operations were switched to the coast city of Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
, to serve the newly growing coast tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry and the company name was changed to Mombasa Air Services. During the seventies, eighties and nineties, Mombasa was restricted by existent colonial legislation, from receiving international scheduled services, which were all directed to the capital city of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. During the seventies and eighties, the Kenya coast was a recently discovered exotic tourism destination and direct charter flights from Europe grew rapidly and many new beach hotels were built to receive an increasing number of tourist arrivals from Europe.
During the colonial era, a number of large land areas were set aside as wildlife conservancies under the protection of the Kenya Game Department, which, after independence, became the Kenya Wildlife Service
Kenya Wildlife Service
The Kenya Wildlife Service, otherwise known by the initialism KWS, is a Kenyan state corporation that was established in 1990 to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife...
. Kenya is known as the birthplace of the safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
, an expedition or journey into the bush to see and shoot wildlife. These adventures were made famous by the rich and famous that included, in 1909, the former American President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. Hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, however became banned, and the growing global realization of the value of protecting wildlife, coupled with long range jet travel meant that the Kenya coast, with unspoilt tropical beaches close to world famous wildlife parks, generated a steady demand for local tourist flights to visit the game parks.
MAS grew a fleet of piston engined aircraft to handle the local charter demand to game parks and other places of tourist interest. At its peak the charter firm had 12 aircraft, some owned and some leased. All the aircraft were maintained by CMC Aviation
CMC Aviation
-Fleet:The CMC Aviation fleet includes the following aircraft :*7 Bombardier Dash 8-100...
owned by the publicly traded Cooper Motor Corporation
Cooper Motor Corporation
The Cooper Motor Corporation, also known as CMC Motors Group Ltd., is the largest importer of vehicles and largest car-assembly company of Kenya. It was founded in 1912 by Mr. Clement Hirtzel under the company name Nairobi Motor Garage. The firm was founded in the Nairobi of the former protectorate...
. To provide capital and purchase larger, more reliable turbo-prop aircraft to operate scheduled services, the firm was sold to CMC
CMC
- Certifications :* Certified Management Consultant, an international professional certification for professional management consultants* Certified Mortgage Consultant, a professional certification for mortgage professionals...
who subsequently sold to the Sameer Group
Sameer Group
The Sameer Group of Companies, commonly referred to as the Sameer Group, is a large conglomerate, based in Kenya, with operations and subsidiaries in neighboring African countries. The group is involved in a multiple sectors, including: agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, high-tech,...
and the operations moved to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. The purchase of turbo-prop aircraft did not occur at that time, and the start up of domestic scheduled tourist services from Mombasa to the game parks was delayed until the nineties.
Fleet
1 X BNT Trilander 18 seats2 X BNT Islander. 10 seats
3 X Cessna 404
Cessna 404
|-See also:-External links:* *...
. 14 seats
I X Piper Navajo.
4 X Piper Seneca. 6 seats.
2 X Cherokee 6. 6 seats.
Status
At December 2010, this airline is out of service but Mombasa Air SafariMombasa Air Safari
- History :Originally started by Aussie Walker in 1970 as Rapid Air, the company was purchased in 1974 by Captain John Cleave and renamed Mombasa Air Services. Based in Mombasa MAS has, since that date, always served the coast tourism industry. An additional MAS company, Malindi Air Services, was...
is now under the same ownership as the original Mombasa Air Services, and continues to operate from Moi Airport and Ukunda
Ukunda
Ukunda is a town in Kenya, located in Kwale District. It is on the coast of the Indian Ocean next to Diani Beach 30 kilometres south of Mombasa near the border with Tanzania.The Ukunda Airport is located in Ukunda...
.
Destinations
Air CharterAir charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
services throughout East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
but mainly to Amboseli, Tsavo, Mara, Samburu, Lamu and Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes at an elevation of 1754 m above sea level. It lies to the south of Nakuru, in the rift valley of Kenya and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park....
in Kenya, and in Tanzania Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is a shallow lake in the Natron-Manyara-Balangida branch of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania. Said by Ernest Hemingway to be the "loveliest [lake] .....
, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti
Serengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some ....
plus Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
.