Charter operator Transniger Aviation is established at Niamey, Niger’s capital city, in 1968. Revenue flights, including passenger and cargo contract services and air taxi work begin with a pair of Cessna 185s.
Over the next 12 years, airline employment grows to 30 and the fleet is increased by the addition of 2 Piper PA-23 Aztecs, 2 Cessna 402s and 2 C-404s. Enplanements in 1982 total 2,800.
Flights continue with little change over the next 7 years, as Abdou M. Goge becomes president and the workforce is increased to 40.
A scheduled airline division of the air taxi and charter operator is established in early spring 1989. Scheduled flights are inaugurated in April with the Cessnas to regional destinations, including Agadez, Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder. The routes operated were originally flown by Air Niger, S. A. before its liquidation in 1986.
Flights continue during the remainder of the decade and into the 1990s, with the fleet increased by the addition of one each Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander and a Fokker F.27-200 Friendship. In 1994, the carrier is renamed Nigeravia, S. A.
TRANSOCEAN AIR LINES (TAL): United States (1948-1960). Organized by Orvis M. Nelson and associates at Oakland, California, in the spring of 1946, Orvis Nelson Air Transport accepts a USAAF Air Transport Command subcontract from United Air Lines. Employing the first of 12 leased Douglas C-54s (military DC-4s), Nelson begins Honolulu to California contract military personnel flights on March 18.
On March 28, Nelson marries UAL stewardess Edith Frohboese, who will become Transocean’s first flight attendant. Having made a profit of $70,000 with no extraordinary expenses on his inaugural flight, Nelson elects to incorporate his large irregular on June 1, changing its name, at the suggestion of dispatcher Ray Foster, to Transocean Air Lines (TAL); $200,000 in capitalization is realized through a public stock offering.
Although the Honolulu to Oakland flights continue with government aircraft, two war-surplus C-54s are now purchased and modified to civil DC-4 standard as the large irregular prepares to specialize in unusual air transport (some say “tramp”) operations around the globe.
The first commercial contracts undertaken are a series of charter flights flown under subcontract to Philippine Air Lines. Nelson, flying the DC-4 Taloa-Manila Bay, undertakes the inaugural flight to Manila via Wake Island and Guam, on July 22. With Pan American Airways (PAA) employing only male flight attendants, Edith Nelson now has the distinction of becoming the first stewardess to complete a transpacific crossing for a commercial airline. Flights on behalf of PAL continue throughout the fall and at this time, TAL, due to a shipping strike and Pan Am’s withdrawal from the route, becomes the only U. S. commercial link to the former colony. Meanwhile, Taloa Academy of Aeronautics is established at the Oakland base to meet GI and civilian requirements for flight and mechanical education. Flights to Shanghai begin in September.
The second company DC-4 enters service in October and allows the initiation of service to Bangkok in November. At the request of Thai officials, some $6.2-million gold bullion taken by the Japanese from Thailand during the war is transported to the U. S. for safekeeping. Five of the company’s owned and leased aircraft transport the cargo from Osaka to the U. S. in nine days. The initial ATC contract is completed in December, with two trips per day having been flown since spring. Profits for the year total $500,000.
TAL’s third DC-4 becomes available in January 1947 and a DC-4B joins the fleet in April. During the year, the company begins a three-year contract for the USN and CAA to operate the Landing Aids Experimental Station at Arcata, California. In addition, the carrier transports 750 military dependents from Seattle to Tokyo and 25,000-30,000 civilian workers to Pacific bases; both of these contracts are undertaken for the U. S. Army.
The company establishes an operations and maintenance base at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, to supply the Oakland base and provide for supplementary operations to Europe and, on behalf of the government, the carrier makes emergency relief missions from Oakland to London and Paris transporting food and clothing.
During the summer, in the first transatlantic coach service, the carrier flies 600 vacationing U. S. college students under charter to Europe. Upwards of 7,000 immigrant craftsmen are transported from London to Toronto beginning on June 26. From Seattle, 800 fishermen are flown to Naknek in Alaska. As a footnote, the carrier also converts a Boeing B-17G into a personal transport for Philippine Air Lines President Col. Andreas Soriano.
In 1948, two more Army contracts are accepted: to transport 2,700 dependents between the U. S. and Germany and to fly another 700 dependents from Seattle to Tokyo. One hundred transatlantic flights are made, under contract to the USAF, in support of the Berlin Airlift. Meanwhile, 146 Curtiss C-46 Commandos, with outsized fuel tanks, are ferried from the U. S. to China for use by the Nationalist air force. TAL is the first airline to book group tours from California to Honolulu and to inaugurate them as air tourist common carrier service.
Twice-weekly DC-4 refugee flights are undertaken between Rome and Caracas while operations and maintenance bases are established at Wake Island and Guam. The mass air transportation of pilgrims participating in the Muslim Hadj to Jeddah is pioneered. On behalf of the International Refugee Organization, the carrier, beginning on August 5, transports 25,000 war refugees from Munich to Caracas and beginning on December 8, 13,000 evacuees from Shanghai to the Philippine Islands, including the city’s entire 5,000-member strong colony of White Russians and Jews.
TAL in 1949 undertakes a two-year Navy contract to fly cargo from Seattle to Adak. In March, a C-54 piloted by Orvis Nelson with a crew of 11 circles the world from Bradley Field to Oakland via Gander, Shannon, Frankfurt, Rome, Damascus, Karachi, Calcutta, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Tokyo, Guam, Wake, and Honolulu. A Middle East division is established to assist with the development of aviation in the region.
A contract is undertaken on behalf of Pak-Air, Ltd. to establish domestic and international services. A one-year arrangement is made with the MATS to make weekly cargo flights from California to Oriental destinations. Commercial operations over the Pacific and Atlantic now account for 72% of all business.
On June 18, Nelson shares a contract with Seaboard & Western Airlines from the IRO and Youth Argosy to fly U. S. students to Europe and European displaced persons to America. On August 14-15 during one of the latter flights, a C-54A with 9 crew and 49 passengers en route from Rome to Caracas via Shannon and Gander overflies Ireland by 150 miles due to radio interference. Although the four-engine transport comes about, it runs out of fuel and crashes into the sea five mi. W of Kilkee, County Clare (nine dead). The plane floats for 20 minutes, allowing a trawler to rescue the survivors, including famed aviatrix Ruth Nichols.
The USN Alaskan contract continues in 1950. Bush flights are also made in that territory in support of the Petroleum No. 4 (PET 4) Project. On April 17, Youth Argosy seeks CAB backing for cut-rate charter flights to Europe for U. S. students. The regulators weigh bids from TAL, Seaboard & Western Air Lines, and The Flying Tiger Line; a month later, the government grants summer student routes to Europe to all three applicants.
On June 3, a TAL/Icelandic Airways H. F. U. S. to U. K. charter flight with British war brides and children must be rerouted via Cuba and France when the British refuse landing permission to this attempt to circumvent the CAB’s student charter certificate. At Havana, the charter passengers are shifted to Cubana (Compania Cubana de Aviacion, S. A.), which is allowed to complete the flight to London on June 7.
Meanwhile, the previous day, the CAB orders TAL to end its passenger services and places a permanent ban on charter flights for war brides at month’s end. A new and open-ended contract is now made with the USAF to mount 25-30 flights per month from California to Tokyo as part of the Korean Airlift. Commercial operations are now limited to emergencies as the carrier dedicates seven DC-4s to the airlift and undertakes upwards of 47 California to Japan flights per month, representing 11% of the total lift provided by commercial and irregular carriers.
In 1951, Nelson accepts a six-year contract from the U. S. Army to fly soldiers to domestic destinations. He also agrees to provide en route service to MATS transport aircraft at Wake Island. Although the Korean Airlift represents most of the carrier’s business this year, other opportunities are accepted. For example, 1,500 fishermen are transported from the West Coast to Alaska. Air Jordan is established for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Interline traffic exchange and ticketing agreements are begun with several U. S. trunk lines and foreign flag carriers, most especially Northwest Airlines. Company officials meet with their colleagues from Minneapolis and reach several agreements. TAL leases three DC-4s to NWA for two years for use on the Korean Airlift while NWA makes several of its new Martin 2-0-2s available to the nonscheduled carrier. Retaining the basic Northwest livery, the aircraft are given TAL titles.
Under joint contract to Japan Air Lines Company, Ltd. (2) and Northwest Airlines, TAL, employing Martins, inaugurates Japan’s domestic air service, as Japanese pilots are forbidden to fly commercial aircraft. Several other chartered 2-0-2s are employed on domestic military charters.
In July, the carrier wins a CAB contract to provide airmail service in Micronesia, which flights it begins during the fall with four USN-supplied, 10-passenger Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats. Operated on behalf of the Interior Department, this service also includes scheduled passenger and cargo flights.
The year ends in tragedy. On November 5, a Martin 2-0-2 with 3 crew and 26 passengers on a domestic military flight, crashes near Tucumcari, New Mexico, while on approach (1 dead). A Curtiss C-46F with two crew and two passengers on approach to Fairbanks, Alaska, crashes on December 30; there are no survivors.
A DC-4 and its 4-man crew disappears between Point Barrow and Fairbanks, Alaska, on January 1, 1952. Commercial flights are limited during the year as the Korean Airlift continues. On April 9, an aircraft is lost when it crashes into Miharayama Mountain.
In 673 Korean flights since 1950, the company has transported 4,900 tons of freight, 20,000 military passengers, and 7,112 patients. A contract is signed to provide modifications for R5C-1s (USN-designated C-46s). Simultaneously, a fleet of five C-54s are modified to civil DC-4 standard and delivered to Saudi Arabia; one aircraft is for the exclusive use of King Ibn Saud.
In July, the carrier receives a DC-6A; christened The Royal Hawaiian, it is placed in transpacific service. Late in the year, a U. S.-Europe allcargo service is launched under contract to SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System).
Demands of the Korean Airlift begin to lessen in 1953, allowing greater opportunity for commercial services. Low-cost passenger tours are inaugurated from California to Honolulu. The first 12 Japanese commercial pilots trained at Taloa Academy of Aeronautics are graduated. On March 20,35 are killed, including 30 airmen en route to the Far East, when a C-54G, leased to MATS and inbound from Roswell AFB, New Mexico, crashes at Alvarado, near Oakland, California.
An Army contract for the transport of 360 military dependents across the Pacific is completed and seven DC-4s are dedicated to the transport of $6.2 million in gold bars from Japan to New York City.
While on a July 12 Guam-Oakland flight, the chartered DC-6A The Royal Hawaiian with 8 crew and 50 passengers, crashes 300 mi. E of the former point in the vicinity of Wake Island; there are no survivors.
Aircraft and crews are leased to major Hollywood studios, which use them in the John Wayne films The High and the Mighty and Island in the Sky, both based on the novels of former TAL pilot Ernest K. Gann.
A management and support contract is signed with the government of Iran to operate Iranian Air Lines. A two-month Army contract sees 3,400 military dependents flown from Europe to the U. S. A government of Pakistan contract is initialed on December 22, leading to the establishment and operation of commercial flights from Kabul to Cairo.
Three more Army contracts are accepted in 1954. The first is completed in January and February and entails the transport of 3,000 military dependents from Europe to the U. S. The second provides for the carriage of 360 more dependents over the same routes during the next 6 months.
The company in February completes 43 months on the Korean Airlift, during which time it has flown 17.75 million miles. Taloa Academy of Aeronautics is expanded to provide training opportunities for returning veterans. Pilots are trained and certified there for the reborn Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. and Tokyo to San Francisco service is inaugurated on behalf of Japan Air Lines Company, Ltd. (2).
The first simulator to be constructed by an airline is built by Taloa Academy of Aeronautics personnel to train DC-4 pilots. To aid in support of Dr. Salk’s anti-Polio research, the company transports thousands of monkeys to the U. S. from India and the Philippines.
Under contract to a church group determined to help rebuild war torn South Korea, TAL, in Operation Noah’s Ark, flies a DC-4 loaded with 30 goats, 550 rabbits, and 2 million bees to Seoul. An 18-month contract for the modification of United Air Lines’ entire DC-3 fleet is accepted. Late in the year, in 206 flights (then believed a record for commercial airlines), TAL carries 30,000 soldiers and dependents across the Atlantic in a single month.
Airline employment in 1955 stands at 3,000. The largest U. S. irregular carrier owns a fleet of 114 aircraft and operates them from 28 offices around the globe. TAL agrees to service and maintain all MATS aircraft landing at the company’s Wake Island facility. Taloa Academy of Aeronautics begins training Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G.’s transatlantic navigators.
A DOD contract is accepted in 1956 for the overhaul of Hawaiian Air National Guard F-86 fighter planes. The tenth anniversary is celebrated, at which time it is noted that over a billion revenue passenger miles have been flown since 1946, together with 85 million cargo ton-miles.
Taloa Academy of Aeronautic’s handbuilt DC-4 simulator, along with company aircraft, are used as props in the Doris Day and Louis Jordan movie Julie. The Trust Territory contract with the Interior Department is renewed and by August, 21 United DC-3s have been overhauled. Overhauls are also undertaken on the DC-4s flown by Thai Airways Company, Ltd. and Braathens SAFE, A. S. Calling itself a “supplemental air carrier,” a term later taken over by the CAB, TAL commences group tour charters from Honolulu to the Pacific islands.
A six-month contract is received from the MATS in 1957 to fly 190 tons of supplies per month between Travis Air Force Base and Tokyo. The company participates in the transatlantic delivery of Hungarian refugees to the U. S. and group tour charters are opened to the Orient. Capacity for these operations is provided by four Lockheed L-749 and L-749A Constellations acquired from British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
The first of two L-1049H Super Constellations is delivered during the summer and are the first aircraft leased from Air Finance Corporation, formed by hotel owners Joseph Drown and Conrad and Barron Hilton. The aircraft fly from Oakland to Okinawa on behalf of the U. S. military via Honolulu, Wake Island, and Guam.
In significant financial difficulty, Chairman Nelson agrees to sell 40% shareholding to the New York-based Atlas Corporation, an investment group.
TAL in 1958 agrees to participate in Operation Quick/Trans, a one-year DC-4 cargo shuttle between USAF bases in the continental U. S. Employing leased Boeing B-377 Stratocruisers, the company opens scheduled airline service from Honolulu to Guam. It also starts scheduled flying from Oakland to Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. One Super H Constellation is leased to Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. for a year.
In 1959, the fleet includes 6 DC-4s, 4 Lockheed L-749/L-749A Constellations, 2 L-1049G and 2 L-1049H Super Constellations, and 3 Boeing B-377s. The Stratocruisers, the number of which is increased throughout the year, fly scheduled frequencies from Oakland to Okinawa via Honolulu, Wake Island, and Guam as TAL finally becomes a scheduled transpacific carrier.
Financially drained by the costs of its aspirations and the Atlas sale of most of the carrier’s aviation support subsidiaries, TOA must sell off its older Connies. One is passed to Korean National Airlines on July 31, while the Austrian charter concern Aero Transport Flugbetriebsge-sellschaft, GmbH. soon thereafter purchases a second.
Having served the company for three years as a flight attendant, Sherry Waterman retires to write her memoirs, From Another Island: Adventures and Misadventures of an Airline Stewardess (Philadelphia: Chilton, 1962).
TOA completes its final transpacific flight on January 6, 1960; the company goes bankrupt on July 11 and its Micronesian service is taken over by Pan American World Airways (1). On September 2, the exairline’s 14 Stratocruisers, originally valued at $14 million, are purchased at a scrap auction by the Airline Equipment Company for $105,000.
TRANSOCEAN AIRWAYS: United States (1989-1990). Having moved to Philadelphia and planned to initiate overseas charter operations, Gulf Air finds that it must have a new name to avoid confusion with that already worn by the Gulf states consortium carrier. After several false starts, the name adopted honors the pioneer carrier of Orvis Nelson and becomes official in May 1989.
The fleet of the 600-employee large regional now includes 5 Boeing 727-200s, 7 B-727-100s, and 2 Convair CV-580s and an agreement is signed with the ILFC for the charter of 2 Douglas DC-8-71s.
Throughout the year, the company seeks new capitalization, but all avenues fail, forcing it to file for Chapter XI bankruptcy protection in December. During the year, TransOcean’s passenger boardings decline 8.2% to 591,060. Unable to continue, the airline ceases operations in February 1990 and is liquidated the following month.
TRANSOCEANIC AIRWAYS (PTY.), LTD.: P. O. Box 22860, Helderkruin, Gauteng, 1733, South Africa; Phone 27 (11) 467-0326; Fax 27 (11) 465-2754; Http://www. transoceanic. net; Year Founded 1998. The Isle of Man-based international holding company Odyssey Group, Ltd. establishes Transocean near Johannesburg in 1998 to provide ACMI leases and all-cargo charters. Under this arrangement, Transoceanic will provide wet - or dry-leased aircraft, together with maintenance and insurance support or operate on-demand freight services for others, including humanitarian organizations. While flying the latter, the company will employ the marketing title Africargo Airlines (Pty.), Ltd.
Neil Robertson is named CEO and offices are established at Accra, Entebbe, Gaborone, Johannesburg, and Port Louis. Plans are made to establish an international and operations office in Le Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis, Mauritius, toward the end of the year or early in the next.
There, global sales operations for all Odyssey Group operations will be set up, as well as a state of the art operations center to keep track of airline activities.
A large fleet of aircraft is acquired, including 1 Boeing 707-320C jet freighter, 5 Canadair CL-44D Swing-tails, 3 (later 5) NAMC YS-11Fs, 1 Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules, and 1 BAC 1-11-400. Africargo charters and other revenue activities commence with the Boeing and two Canadairs during the summer.
The company accepts delivery of two refurbished Canadairs, the three YS-11Fs, and the Hercules at Entebbe in September. The BAC is delivered in December.
Service is maintained in 1999.
In April, Transoceanic, still operating as Africargo Airlines (Pty.), Ltd., is taken over by Congo Commercial Airlines, S. P.R. L., based at Kinshasa. Initially, the South African carrier is allowed to retain its previous identity. Congo Commercial, to escape continuing hostilities in the Congo, is now relocated to Bujumbura, Burundi, and is renamed City Connexion Airlines, S. A. Operations continue much as before, employing the 2 Africargo Canadair CL-44Ds, 3 Lets, and 1 Piper Aztec. Medical and evacuation flights become a specialty.
During the summer, the cargo division is renamed CCA Africargo. Africargo Airlines CEO Neil D. Robertson remains in charge. Plans are made to acquire two CL-44Ds that are currently out of service at Greensboro, North Carolina. One will be operated and the other employed for backup.
TRANSPAC AIRLINES. See SOCIETE CALEDONIENNE DE TRANSPORTS AERIENS (TRANSPAC)
TRANSPERUANA (COMPANIA DE AVIACION TRANSPERU-ANA, S. A.) (1): Peru (1961-1970). Originally established as an air taxi at Lima on October 1, 1961, this concern begins lightplane ad hoc flights to the Montana and Selva districts.
In 1964, the company is reorganized into a charter airline. The fleet is upgraded by the addition of five Curtiss C-46s, two Douglas DC-3s, and a Fairchild C-82 Packet freighter. Flights are undertaken from Lima to Trujillo and Chiclayo.
In early 1965, one more Curtiss freighter and a Douglas DC-3 are purchased and are employed to inaugurate scheduled multistop cargo flights to the coast from Iquitos. Within four years, the fleet has been increased by one more C-46 and the future appears bright. This view proves erroneous, however.
Ultimately unprofitable, the company allows its permits to expire in July 1969 and declares bankruptcy on September 25, 1970.
TRANSPERUANA (COMPANIA DE AVIACION TRANSPERU-ANA, S. A.) (2): Peru (1997-1998). The second TransPeru is established as a domestic carrier at Lima late in 1997. The company is equipped with a single former American Airlines B-727-23 and several Convair CV-580s and Nihon YS-11A turboprops.
Revenue operations commence to Cuzco, Arequipa, Juanjui, Iquitos, Huanuco, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tingo Maria, and Pucallpa.
It is believed that the carrier ceased operations in late 1998.
TRANSPORT AEREO COSTA ATLANTICA, S. A. See TACA (TRANSPORT AEREO COSTAATLANTICA, S. A.)
TRANSPORT AEREO MILITAR URUGUAYANO, S. A. See TAMU (TRANSPORT AEREO MILITAR URUGUAYANO, S. A.)
TRANSPORT AEREO RIOPLATENSE, S. A. See TAR (TRANSPORT AEREO RIOPLATENSE, S. A.)
TRANSPORTAERIEN TRANSREGIONAL, S. A. See TAT EUROPEAN AIRLINES, S. A.
TRANSPORT AVEREO DE LA AMAZONIA, S. A. See TRANS-AMAZONICA COLOMBIA, S. A.
TRANSPORT ET TRAVAUX AERIENS DE MADAGASCAR, S. A. See TAM (TRANSPORT ET TRAVAUX AERIENS DE MADAGASCAR, S. A.)
TRANSPORT FLUGGESELLSCHAFT, GmbH.: Germany (19651970). The West German all-cargo carrier Transport Flug is established at Frankfurt in the spring of 1965 to operate freight charters to European destinations on behalf of Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. Revenue flights commence in July employing a single Douglas DC-4 that wears a simple black and white livery.
Two more DC-4s are acquired in 1967 and in March 1969 competing All-Air (Allegemeine Lufttransport, GmbH.) is purchased and merged. That concern’s DC-4s are added to the Transport Flug fleet. Later in the year, two DC-6As are purchased from Germanair Fluggesellschaft, mbH.; neither is repainted, but are flown with Transport Flug titles over the Germanair’s basic red color scheme.
Transport Flug goes out of business in 1970.
TRANSPORT INTERNATIONAL AERIENNE, S. A.: Belgium (1992-1993) . TIA is established at Brussels in 1992 to offer domestic and regional express and cargo flights. Revenue operations commence with a pair of Cessna 406 Caravan IIs. The company is unable to achieve viability in a year of recession and ceases operations before its first birthday.
TRANSPORTES AEREO TRANSANDINO, S. A.: Venezuela (1947-1949). TAT is set up at Caracas in 1947 to provide domestic and regional passenger and cargo services. Revenue operations commence with a fleet of 4 Curtiss C-46 Commandos and continue until the carrier goes bankrupt in 1949.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS, C. A.: Venezuela (1962-1968). TA is established at Maiquetia in 1962 to take over the 3 Curtiss C-46 Commandos and an operating certificate of bankrupt Aquilas Venezolanas,
C. A. The new concern operates to its predecessor’s markets until it, too, fails, in 1968.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS BANDEIRANTES, S. A. See TABA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS BANDEIRANTES, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS BENIANOS, S. A. See TABSA (TRANS-PORTES AEREOS BENIANOS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS BOLIVIANOS, S. A.: Casilla Correo 132, Cochabamba, Bolivia; Phone 591 (42) 50743; Fax 591 (42) 50766; Code BOL; Year Founded 1977. TAB is set up at Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 1977 to offer all-cargo services to regional and domestic destinations. Operations commence with a pair of Curtiss C-46 Commandos.
Operations continue apace over the next two decades, during which years the fleet comes to comprise 1 each Lockheed L-100 Hercules turboprop and Douglas DC-8-54F jet freighter.
Destinations visited by General Manager Luis Guereca Padilla’s aircraft in 1997-1999 include Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, Chos Malal, Comodoro Rivadavia, Cordoba, Cutral Co., Malarque, Mar del Plata, Medellin, Neuquen, Puerto Deseado, Puerto Montt, Rincon de los Sauces, Rio Gallegos, Rio Grande, San Carlos de Bariloche, San Martin de Los Andes, Temuco, and Trelew.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS BUENOS AIRES, S. A. See TABA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS BUENOS AIRES, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS CENTRO AMERICANOS, S. A. See TACA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS CENTRO AMERICANOS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS COMERCIAL, S. A.: Mozambique (1966-1971). TAC is established at Nampula in 1966 to provide smallplane domestic and regional charters. Employing a fleet of 1 each Piper PA-23 Aztec, PA-24 Comanche, and PA-30 Twin Comanche, non-scheduled flights are made on demand throughout the country and to the Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rhodesia, and South Africa. In addition, a Monday-only scheduled roundtrip service is provided linking the carrier’s base with Vila Cabral.
A Cessna 206 is acquired in 1967 and is employed to make weekly shellfish flights from Nampula to Blantyre and Salisbury. Revenue operations continue as described into 1971.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DA INDIA PORTUGUESA (TAIP): India (Goa) (1955-1961). TAIP is formed in the Portuguese enclave of Goa on August 15, 1955. Equipped with de Havilland DH 114 Herons, the company provides a link to two other small colonies on the Indian subcontinent, Damao and Diu. During the next four years, the fleet is increased, first by the addition of Vickers Vikings and then by Douglas DC-4s. The British-made transports allow establishment of a route to Karachi while the American-made aircraft allow a link with Lisbon itself via Karachi and Bahrain.
Finally, DC-4 service is started from Goa to Lourenco Marques via Aden, Dar es Salaam, and Beira. When the government of India ends Portugal’s Indian empire in late 1961, TAIP ceases operation.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE BACIA AMAZONICA, S. A. See TABA CTRANSPORTES AEREOS DE BACIAAMAZONICA, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CARGA, S. A. See TACSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CARGA, S. A.); TRANSCARGA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CARGA, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CHIAPAS, S. A. de C. V. See TACH (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CHIAPAS, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CHILE, LTDA. See TRANSA CHILE (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE CHILE, LTDA.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DA GUINE PORTUGUSA, S. A. (TAGP). See TAGP (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DA GUINE POR-TUGUSA, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE JALISCO, S. A. de C. V. See MEXI-CANA AIRLINES, S. A. de C. V.; TAJ (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE JALISCO, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE NAYARIT, S. A. de C. V. See TANSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE NAYARIT, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE TAMPICO, S. A. de C. V. See TAT (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DE TAMPICO, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS DEL PACIFICO, S. A. de C. V. See TAP (TRANSPORTES AEREOS DEL PACIFICO, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS EJECUTIVES, S. A. de C. V. See TAESA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS EJECUTIVES, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS HONDURENOS, S. A. See TAH (TRANSPORTES AEREOS HONDURENOS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS INTER, S. A.: Ave. Hincapie 12-22 Zona, Guatemala City 13, Guatemala; Phone 331-8222; Fax 3318768; Http://www. grupotaca. com; Code TSP; Year Founded 1998.
As Guatemala has no scheduled, permanent and efficient domestic air transport for passengers, cargo or documents, TACA Group decides at the end of April to remedy that situation. The subsidiary TAI is established at Guatemala City to provide frequencies.
Equipped with a fleet of Cessna 208B Grand Caravans operated by Costa Rican pilots of SANSA (Servicios Aereos Nacionales, S. A.) under contract, the new entity begins regular flights to Puerto Barrios, Coate-peque, Retalhuleu, Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, and El Quiche. Service is maintaned without incident or headline in 1999-2000.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERCANTILES PANAMERICNOS, S. A. See TAMPA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERCANTILES PANAMERICNOS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERCOSUR, S. A. See TAM-MERCO-SUR (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERCOSUR, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERIDIONAIS, S. A. See TAM-MERIDIONAIS (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERIDIONAIS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS MEXICANOS, S. A. de C. V. See MEXI-CANA AIRLINES, S. A. de C. V.; TAMSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MEXICANOS, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS MILITAR. See TAM (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MILITAR)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS MILITARES ECUATORIANOS. See TAME (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MILITARES ECUATORI-ANOS)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS NACIONAL, S. A. See TAN (TRANS-PORTES AEREOS NACIONAL, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS NACIONALES, S. A. See TAME (TRANSPORTES AEREOS NACIONALES, S. A.); TAN (TRANSPORTES AEREOS NACIONALES, S. A.); TANA (TRANS-PORTES AEREOS NACIONALES, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS NEUQUEN, S. A. See TAN (TRANSPORTES AEREOS NEUQUEN, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS NEUQUEN DEL ESTADO, S. A. See TAN (TRANSPORTES AEREOS NEUQUEN, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS PERUANOS, S. A. See TAPSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS PERUANOS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS PROFESSIONALAES, S. A. See TAPSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS PROFESSIONALAES, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS RANQUELES, S. A. See TARSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS RANQUELES, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS REDES ESTADUALS AEREAS, S. A. See REAL, S. A.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS REGIONAIS, S. A. See TAM (TRANS-PORTES AEREOS REGIONAIS, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS REGIONAIS DA BACIA AMAZON-ICA, S. A. See TABA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS REGIONAIS DA BACIAAMAZONICA, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS REGULARES, S. A. See TAVAJ (TRANSPORTES AEREOS REGULARES, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS SALVADOR, S. A. See TAS (TRANSPORTES AEREOS SALVADOR, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS SAMUEL SELUM, LTDA.: Bolivia (1984-1990). The nonscheduled all-cargo operator TASS is set up at La Paz in 1984 to fly freight to various points around the country. Ad hoc flights begin with a single Convair CV-440 and continue until the plane is lost in a takeoff accident on April 7, 1990.
TRANSPORTES AEREOS SURAVIA, S. A. See TAS (TRANSPORTES AEREOS SURAVIA, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS TERRESTRES, S. A. de C. V. See TAT (TRANSPORTES AEREOS TERRESTRES, S. A. de C. V.)
TRANSPORTES AEREOS YASALON, S. A. See TAYSA (TRANSPORTES AEREOS YASALON, S. A.)
TRANSPORTES AEROMAR, S. A. de C. V. See AEROMAR AIRLINES, S. A. de C. V.
TRANSPORTES CARGA AEREA, S. A. See TCA (TRANSPORTES CARGAAEREA, S. A.)
TRANSPORTS AERIENS ASTORIA, LTD. See TITAN CHARTER AVIATION (ASTORIA), LTD.
TRANSPORTS AERIENS INTERCONTINENTAUX, S. A. (TAI). See COMPAGNIE DE TRANSPORTS AERIENS INTERCONTIN-TAUX, S. A.
TRANSPORTES AERIENS SEPT-ILES, INC. See TRANSFAIR, INC.
TRANSPORTURILE AERIENNE ROMANE, S. A. See TAROM (TRANSPORTURILE AERIENNE ROMANE, S. A.)
TRANSTAR: United States (1986-1987). On June 25, 1985, Southwest Airlines (2) purchases Houston (HOU)-based Muse Air for $60 million in stock and cash. In addition to the changes made at the end of the purchase year, CEO Lamar Muse, who will soon retire, plans additional changes.
Before these can be made, the carrier is renamed TranStar in February 1986 and its livery is changed to a deep blue (“Empyrean”), with green, pink, and light blue accents. Service is inaugurated to Miami in March, but halted to McAllen, Texas. Frequencies on the company’s increasingly longer route segments are upscaled so as not to compete with Southwest Airlines (2)’s deep-discount fare structure. The fleet remains comprised of 8 Douglas DC-9-51s, with 4, later 6 McDonnell Douglas MD-83s on order.
In April, headquarters are transferred to Houston and Empyrean Clubs are established at the Hobby Field hub, as well as the carrier’s other two centers at New Orleans and Los Angeles. Flights to San Francisco commence in June.
Although traffic figures are consolidated with those of Southwest Airlines (2), company officials report that for the year, the subsidiary has revenues of $149 million and costs low enough to allow a $7.7-million operating profit and net gain of $1.67 million.
Unable to make a profit in its new guise, the first big nonsmoking airline is forced to quit. On July 29, 1987, President/CEO W. W. Franklin announces that the company will cease operations on August 9. Thereafter, its assets are liquidated.
During the year’s first half, the company transports 1,190,128 passengers and earns revenues of $79.7 million. Expenses multiply, however, to $90.4 million and “unacceptable losses” of $10.7 are suffered.
TRANSTAR AIRLINES: United States (1993-1994). Transtar is established at Orlando, Florida, in the spring of 1993 to offer holiday and inclusive-tour flights on behalf of the public charter company Wings of the World. Revenue flights commence on May 30 with a leased Douglas DC-10-10. A leased B-737-247 joins the fleet later in the year; however, the airline does not survive long enough to see its first birthday.
TRANSTATE AIRLINES (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1996-2000).
Transtate is established at Cairns as the airline subsidiary of Transjet Corporation (Pty.), Ltd., owners of Jetcraft Aviation (Pty.), Ltd., in the fall of 1996. The new unit is needed to offer scheduled commuter services over routes acquired from Flight West Airlines (Pty.), Ltd. Revenue flights, under the direction of Transjet Managing Director Randal McFarlane, commence in November with 6 Embraer EMB-110P1 Ban-deirantes and 1 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
Flights continue without incident or headline in 1997. A Pilatus Brit-ten-Norman PBN-2 Islander is added to the fleet in 1998 as a number of additional routes are taken over from Sunstate Airlines (Pty.), Ltd. En-planements for the year total 12,810.
Destinations visited in western and northern Queensland in 1999 include Cooktown, Normanton, Karumba, Mornington Island, and Mount Isa. Also, under a long-term contract with P&O Australian Resorts, flights are also offered regularly to Dunk, Brampton, and Lizard Islands. Passenger boardings for the year skyrocket 79% to 61,000.
The workforce totals 45 at the beginning of 2000. AsiaPulse News reports on May 12 that the company will soon be merged with McKinlay Air Charter (Pty.), Ltd. (Macair), with the new partner’s name surviving. When the event occurs a month later, the passenger activities of Transtate are passed to Macair, while Jetcraft Aviation (Pty.), Ltd. continues to provide express freight services. Although the Transtate homepage on the World Wide Web will remain up in early 2001, visitors to it are deflected to the Macair site.
TRANSTATE AIRWAYS: United States (1980). Transtate is set up at
Oxford, Connecticut, in 1980 to provide daily roundtrip air taxi flights to Atlantic City via New York (LGA). Although Britten-Norman BN-2 revenue frequencies are duly inaugurated, in the face of soaring energy costs, they can only be maintained for the summer months.
TRANSUPER (TRANSSUPER GLAVNOE TRANSPORTNEO UPRAVLENIE): Russia (1993-1994). Transuper is established at Moscow in 1993 to provide domestic all-cargo ad hoc charter flights.
V. I. Prikhodko is general director and revenue service is initiated with a single Ilyushin Il-76. The company’s operating license is not renewed when due in 1994.
TRANSVALAIR, LTD.: Switzerland (1973-1983). Established at Sion Airport in September 1973, this charter operator is originally known as Valair. As the result of Trans World Leasing investment, the company title is changed prior to the inauguration of flight services in April 1974. Capt.
J. Claude Rudaz is appointed managing director and the fleet comprises two Canadair CL-44Ds. Unable to continue in the face of recession, the company, after a decade of quiet operations, disappears in 1983.
TRANSVALAIR, S. A.: France (1986-1990). The second company to carry the Transvalair moniker is established under General Manager Yves Tardiel at Cherbourg in early 1986. Outfitted with a single Beech 99, it inaugurates scheduled passenger service to Southampton in April.
The company also acquires a pair of newly certified, but 37-year-old, ex-French military Nord 2501 transports. A contract is won from the French Railways subsidiary Service National de Messageries (SER-NAM) and the updated Nords begin nightly roundtrip small parcels service between Paris and Toulouse.
In 1987, Transvalair establishes a sister company, ACE (Air Charter Express, S. A.), which operates a pair of Douglas DC-3s between Paris and Brussels on behalf of DHL Corporation. Operations cease in 1990.
World History
