SAVAG – Sociedade Anônima Viação Aérea Gaúcha
Encyclopedia
SAVAG – Sociedade Anônima Viação Aérea Gaúcha was a Brazilian
airline founded in 1946 that operated mainly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
. It was absorbed by Cruzeiro do Sul
in 1966.
, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
, by Augusto Otero and Gustavo Kraemer, with a concession to fly within the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Later, the concession was expanded to include the state of Santa Catarina
.
In 1947 SAVAG purchased 3 Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar from Panair do Brasil
and initiated services between Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, and Bagé. In 1948 SAVAG started flying to the north of the state was well.
SAVAG faced fierce competition from Varig
and, for this reason, it had strong support from Varig's competitor in the region, Cruzeiro do Sul
. It was from Cruzeiro do Sul that SAVAG purchased 2 Douglas DC-3
and it was with Cruzeiro that SAVAG established an operational partnership.
Varig, a politically more powerful player, pressured the Air Force Ministry to gradually cancel the route concessions of SAVAG, alleging excessive competition. On January 1, 1966, SAVAG was bought and merged into Cruzeiro do Sul.
In 1953 Bagé International Airport
was named in honor of Gustavo Kraemer, founder of SAVAG. Moreover, Salgado Filho International Airport
in Porto Alegre
was named in honor of the senator and minister Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, who was killed in the 1950 accident with a SAVAG aircraft.
, Santa Catarina
, and Rio Grande do Sul
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
airline founded in 1946 that operated mainly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
. It was absorbed by Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
in 1966.
History
SAVAG was founded in on November 25, 1946 in the city of Rio GrandeRio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande is the oldest city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and also the former state capital from 1835 to 1845...
, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
, by Augusto Otero and Gustavo Kraemer, with a concession to fly within the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Later, the concession was expanded to include the state of Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
.
In 1947 SAVAG purchased 3 Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar from Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
and initiated services between Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Pelotas, and Bagé. In 1948 SAVAG started flying to the north of the state was well.
SAVAG faced fierce competition from Varig
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
and, for this reason, it had strong support from Varig's competitor in the region, Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
. It was from Cruzeiro do Sul that SAVAG purchased 2 Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and it was with Cruzeiro that SAVAG established an operational partnership.
Varig, a politically more powerful player, pressured the Air Force Ministry to gradually cancel the route concessions of SAVAG, alleging excessive competition. On January 1, 1966, SAVAG was bought and merged into Cruzeiro do Sul.
In 1953 Bagé International Airport
Comandante Gustavo Kraemer Airport
Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport is the airport serving Bagé, Brazil. It is named after Captain Gustavo Kraemer, founder and pilot of the airline SAVAG, killed on an air-crash in 1950.It is operated by Infraero.-History:...
was named in honor of Gustavo Kraemer, founder of SAVAG. Moreover, Salgado Filho International Airport
Salgado Filho International Airport
Salgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
in Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
was named in honor of the senator and minister Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, who was killed in the 1950 accident with a SAVAG aircraft.
Destinations
In 1960 SAVAG operated in the following locations in the states of ParanáParaná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
, and Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
- AlegreteAlegreteAlegrete is a town and a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul located in southern Brazil. Its medium altitude is 102 m. Its estimated population in 2008 was 78,984 inhabitants and the total area is 7,803.967 km² . Its inhabitants are called Alegretenses.Alegrete was settled in 1816 and became a...
- BagéBagéBagé is a city and a municipality in the south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In 2007 its population was 112,550 in a total area of 4,096 km2. It was the tenth largest city in the state in 2007 -Location:...
– Comte. Gustavo Kraemer AirportComandante Gustavo Kraemer AirportComandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport is the airport serving Bagé, Brazil. It is named after Captain Gustavo Kraemer, founder and pilot of the airline SAVAG, killed on an air-crash in 1950.It is operated by Infraero.-History:... - CarazinhoCarazinhoCarazinho is a city located 246 km from Porto Alegre, in the northwest portion of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Carazinho-RS was founded on 1931 and today has a population of 59,857. Carazinho's primary economy is focused on agriculture...
- CascavelCascavelCascavel is a city and municipality in western Paraná state, Brazil. The population is 296.975 inhabitants.The city is on a plateau 781 meters above sea level...
– Cascavel AirportCascavel AirportAdalberto Mendes da Silva Airport is the airport serving Cascavel, Brazil.It is operated by CETTRANS, the semi-independent Transportation Authority of Cascavel, indirectly related to the Municipality of Cascavel, and under the supervision of Aeroportos do Paraná .-History:The airport was... - ErechimErechimErechim is a Brazilian city located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. A regional center in the northern portion of the state, it is the second most populous city in the region with 97,916 inhabitants, second only to the city of Passo Fundo...
– Erechim AirportErechim AirportErechim Airport is the airport serving Erechim, Brazil.It is operated by DAP.-History:In 2010 the whole airport complex received major investments, including renovation of the runway and of the terminal building.-Airlines and destinations:... - JoaçabaJoaçabaJoaçaba is a city situated in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with approximately 27,500 inhabitants. Located in 27º10'22" S and 51º30'03" W and 516.74 m above sea level, the city was colonized in the early 20th century by German and Italian immigrants...
– Joaçaba AirportJoaçaba AirportSanta Terezinha Municipal Airport is the airport serving Joaçaba, Brazil.It is operated by the Municipality of Joaçaba.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:... - Passo FundoPasso FundoPasso Fundo - RS is a city in the north of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is named after its river. It's the twelfth largest city in the state with an estimated population of 188,302 inhabitants living in a total municipal area of 780 km2.-Communications:The following...
– Lauro Kurtz AirportLauro Kurtz AirportLauro Kurtz Airport is the airport serving Passo Fundo, Brazil.It is operated by DAP.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:... - PelotasPelotasPelotas is a Brazilian city and municipality , the third most populous in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Pelotas is located 270 km from Porto Alegre, the capital city of the state, and 130 km from the Uruguayan border...
– Pelotas International AirportPelotas International AirportPelotas International Airport is the airport serving Pelotas, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-History:On June 22, 1927 the city of Pelotas received the first official commercial passenger flight operated by the first Brazilian airline, Varig, founded only a month earlier... - Porto AlegrePorto AlegrePorto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
– Salgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport... - Rio GrandeRio Grande, Rio Grande do SulRio Grande is the oldest city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and also the former state capital from 1835 to 1845...
– Rio Grande AirportRio Grande AirportRio Grande Airport , also known as Gustavo Cramer Airport is the airport serving Rio Grande, Brazil.It is operated by DAP.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:... - Santana do LivramentoSantana do LivramentoSantana do Livramento is a city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is located along the border with the city of Rivera, Uruguay, which helps form an international city of 200,000 inhabitants.- Overview :...
- ToledoToledo, ParanáThe city of Toledo is located in the Western region of Paraná state, a state located in the south of Brazil.The city is bordered by the following towns/cities:* North: Maripá e Nova Santa Rosa;* South: Santa Tereza do Oeste e São Pedro do Iguaçu;...
- UruguaianaUruguaianaUruguaiana is a municipality in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is located on the left-hand shore of the Uruguay River that forms the border with Argentina. Opposite Uruguaiana, and joined to it by a road/railway bridge, lies the Argentine city of Paso de los Libres, Corrientes...
– Ruben Berta International AirportRuben Berta International AirportRuben Berta International Airport is the airport serving Uruguaiana, Brazil. It is named after Ruben Martin Berta , the 3rd Manager-Director of Varig...
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Years of operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar | 3 | 1947–1951 | |
| Douglas DC-3 Douglas DC-3 The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made... |
2 | 1949–1966 | |
Accidents and incidents
- 11 January 1949: a Lockheed Model 18-10-01 Lodestar registration PP-SAC flying from Pelotas International AirportPelotas International AirportPelotas International Airport is the airport serving Pelotas, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-History:On June 22, 1927 the city of Pelotas received the first official commercial passenger flight operated by the first Brazilian airline, Varig, founded only a month earlier...
to Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
crashed just after take-off from Pelotas killing all 8 occupants. Causes are likely to have been fuel contamination. - 30 June 1950: a Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar registration PP-SAA, flying between Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
and São BorjaSão BorjaSão Borja is a city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. São Borja is the oldest municipality in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and was founded in 1682 by the Jesuits as the first of the Seven Points of the Missions, and named São Francisco de Borja, in honor of Saint Francis...
, while flying in bad weather collided against a hill, caught fire and crashed near the location of São Francisco de Assis. All 12 occupants died, including the founder of SAVAG and pilot, Gustavo Kraemer, and Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho, senator and first Minister of Air Force in Brazil.
