TAS (TRANSPORTES AEREOS SURAVIA, S. A.): Chile (19641978). TAS (Transportes Aereos Squella, S. A.) is organized at Santiago de Chile by Transa Chile, S. A. pilot Oscar Squella Espina in 1964 to provide a scheduled all-cargo service between the capital city and Punto Arenas, along with general and beef-haulage charters to destinations in Chile and across the Andes to Argentina. The company also acquires Transa’s Miami authority and revenue flights commence with a Curtiss C-46 Commando.
Two years later, in August 1966, a former Capital Airlines Lockheed L-049 Constellation is purchased. Business thrives during the remainder of the decade, but as the 1970s begin, the Constellation is replaced with two more Commandos. Service to Miami is suspended.
On January 1, 1973, the carrier is reorganized and renamed Transportes Aereos Suravia, S. A. Director General Espina remains in charge of operations; however, his fleet comprises only one Commando.
On December 17, the left elevator of the Curtiss C-46A, with three crew, separates in flight causing the aircraft to lose control and crash near Aysen; there are no survivors.
A replacement Curtiss is acquired in 1974. Unable to retain profitability in an increasingly thin market, TAS closes down in late 1978.
TAS AIRWAYS, S. p.A. (TRANSPORTI AEREI SPECIALI): Italy (1990-1994). TAS is established at Milan’s Linate Airport in 1990 to offer charter flights as well as scheduled services on a route from Parma to Rome. President Enzo Guerrieri and Managing Director Paolo Rizzi acquire a fleet of 4 Grumman G-159 Gulfstream Is and flights are inaugurated to Naples, Parma, and Rome.
Three more Gulfstream Is join the fleet in 1991. Seasonal four-times-per-week Gulfstream I flights are undertaken from Parma to Olbia in June-September while year-round five-times-per-week Parma to Rome roundtrips are also operated.
The first jetliner, a British Aerospace BAe 146-300, is purchased from Sagittair, S. p.A. during the first quarter of 1992 and begins charter flights in mid-April. A second BAe arrives in June. Enplanements for the year total 56,140, only 9,315 of which are on the scheduled frequencies. Another BAe 146-300 is added in early 1993, at which time airline employment stands at 46.
Operations continue only briefly in 1994 after Lorenzo Casgrande becomes president.
TASAIR (PTY.), LTD.: P. O. Box 451E, Hobart, 7000, Australia; Phone (03) 6248-5577; Fax (03) 6248-5507; Http://www. tasair. co. au; Year Founded 1963. Tasair is established at Hobart in 1963 to offer scheduled passenger and cargo services to the North West Coast of Tasmania and to King Island. Flight training is also offered.
Scheduled flights are inaugurated between Devonport and Burnie in March 1998 and continued, along with regional charter flights. Airline employment by this time stands at 10.
Billing itself as “Tasmania’s Regional Airline,” Tasair operates 1 each Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain and Aero Commander 680 at the beginning of 1999. Unable to maintain its economic viability, the company is forced to briefly shut down in July. Flights resume and by 2000, Ta-sair is back, flying aircraft charters, scenic flights, King Island package holidays, flight training, and its regular airline services.
World History
