AEROCESAR (AEROVIAS DEL CESAR, S. A.): Colombia (19681985). Dr. Alfonso Sanchez Lopez founds the air taxi TAC (Trans-portes Aereos del Cesar, S. A.) at Valledupar, in El Cesar Province, in 1968 to provide nonscheduled passenger and cargo flights to small surrounding towns.
In 1970, the company purchases a Fokker F-27A license built in Maryland by Fairchild, from Aloha Airlines and also inaugurates scheduled service from Valledupar to Bogota.
Operations continue apace in 1971. Flight 772, the F-27A with 4 crew and 15 passengers, disappears on February 5, 1972 while on a service from Bogota to Valledupar. The wreckage is found three days later and there are no survivors.
Douglas DC-3s take over the service in 1973-1974. During the latter year, 3 more F-27As join the fleet.
Following reorganization in 1975, the major stockholders are Lopez, Gustavo de Greiff, Orlando Cote, and Alvaro Araujo. The carrier’s name is changed and new livery is adopted. In addition, two Vickers Viscount 837s, purchased from Austrian Airlines, A. G., are placed in service as scheduled flights are inaugurated to Barranquilla and Medellin.
Having come on the market, 3 Sud-Est Caravelle VIRs previously operated by Aviacion y Comercio, S. A. (AVIACO) are ordered, the first of which arrives in October 1976. By 1977-1979, airline employment totals 144 and the fleet includes 3 Caravelles, 2 Viscounts, and 3 F-27As. A stop at Maicao has also been added to the route network.
Just after takeoff from Riohacha, Guajira, on December 21, 1980, on the continuation of a service from Rio Hacha to Medellin, a Caravelle VIR, with 7 crew and 63 passengers, crashes 25 km. S of its point of origin; there are no survivors. The crash investigation will reveal the explosion of a substance, believed to be nitroglycerine, in the plane’s rear lavatory and the loss of hydraulic control. No person or group is ever charged with a crime.
In 1981-1982, the route network is increased by the addition of services to Armenia, Cali, Cucuta, El Banco, and Villavicencio. Simultaneously, increased fuel prices and the world economic recession conspire, along with heavy domestic competition, to lower traffic and bring financial loss. Flight operations are suspended in the spring of 1983.
The carrier is reorganized in 1984. The fleet is altered to comprise only 3 Fokker F-27As and services are restarted; however, the comeback is unsuccessful and the airline declares final bankruptcy in 1985.
World History
