TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica
Encyclopedia
TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica was a Brazilian
airline founded in 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.
, Amazonas, Amapá
, Rondônia
, Roraima
, and parts of Pará
and Mato Grosso
.
The history of TABA can be traced to the 1960s, when Marcílio Jacques Gibson who, decades earlier had been one of the share-holders of Lóide Aéreo Nacional
before it was sold to VASP
, bought Nota – Norte Táxi Aéreo based in Belém
. This air taxi
operator belonged to the son of the owner of Paraense Transportes Aéreos
. When, in 1970, Paraense ceased operations, Gibson used his air taxi operator to fill the void left by Paraense, particularly in the states of Pará
and Amapá
, offering flights to locations that ceased to be served by air services. During this time, flights were operated by Beechcraft D-18S/H-18S
aircraft configured for 9 passengers. After the closure of Paraense, Nota added to its fleet the Curtiss C-46 Commando
and Fairchild Hiller FH-227B
that previously belonged to Paraense. It was on the foundations of Nota that TABA was created. The former fleet of Nota was further enlarged by the addition of a few Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
.
In November 1980 TABA had services to 34 cities with a fleet of 10 Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante and 4 Fairchild Hiller FH-227B
. Between 1983 and 1985 TABA operated 2 British Aerospace BAe 146
on the trunk-route Belém-Val de Cães
/Itaituba/Alta Floresta
/Cuiabá
/Vilhena
/Ji-Paraná
/Porto Velho
. However high operating and maintenance costs led TABA to end the leasing contract.
When in 1991 the Federal Government lifted the geographic restrictions for the operations of regional airlines, TABA inaugurated services to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Belo Horizonte-Pampulha, linking those two cities to its already established network in the Amazon Basin. During this time TABA also initiated the renovation of its fleet replacing the Fairchild Hiller FH-227B for Bombardier Dash 8-300. In 1992 TABA started services to Georgetown, Guyana
, being the first regional airline to establish international flights.
TABA operated 2 Fokker 100 between 1993 and 1995 but increasing economic difficulties led to the end of their lease contract. In an attempt to replace services operated by those aircraft, TABA chartered a Boeing 727-200
belonging to the Brazilian charter operator Air Vias
on weekdays. Their contract ended in November 1995 when Air Vias ceased to fly. Operations with the Dash 8-300 were also canceled in 1996 and aircraft were returned to the lessor.
In 1997 TABA was already in serious economic trouble and finally in 1999 it ceased operations.
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 1976. It ceased operations in 1999.
History
On November 11, 1975 the Brazilian Federal Government created the Brazilian Integrated System of Regional Air Transportation and divided the country in five different regions, for which five newly-created regional airlines received a concession to operate air services. TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica S/A was the first of those regional airlines to be made operational. Its services started on April 29, 1976 and its operational area comprised roughly the North and parts of the Central-West regions of Brazil, specifically the states of AcreAcre (state)
Acre is one of the 27 states of Brazil. It is situated in the southwest of the Northern Region, bordering Amazonas to the north, Rondônia to the east, Bolivia to the southeast and the Ucayali Region of Peru to the south and west. It occupies an area of 152,581.4 km2, being slightly smaller...
, Amazonas, Amapá
Amapá
Amapá is one of the states of Brazil, located in the extreme north, bordering French Guiana and Suriname to the north. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south and west is the Brazilian state of Pará. Perhaps one of the main features of the state is the River Oiapoque, as it was once...
, Rondônia
Rondônia
Rondônia is a state in Brazil, located in the north-western part of the country. To the west is a short border with the state of Acre, to the north is the state of Amazonas, in the east is Mato Grosso, and in the south is Bolivia. Its capital is Porto Velho. The state was named after Candido Rondon...
, Roraima
Roraima
Roraima is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It borders the states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as the nations of Venezuela and Guyana. The population is 400,000 and the capital is Boa Vista...
, and parts of Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
and Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso is one of the states of Brazil, the third largest in area, located in the western part of the country.Neighboring states are Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul. It also borders Bolivia to the southwest...
.
The history of TABA can be traced to the 1960s, when Marcílio Jacques Gibson who, decades earlier had been one of the share-holders of Lóide Aéreo Nacional
Lóide Aéreo Nacional
Lóide Aéreo Nacional S/A was a Brazilian airline founded in 1947. In 1962 it was incorporated by VASP.-History:On December 22, 1947, Ruy Vacani founded the airline TCA – Transportes Carga Aérea S.A. in Anápolis, State of Goiás, Brazil, an airline specialized in transportation of cargo...
before it was sold to VASP
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
, bought Nota – Norte Táxi Aéreo based in Belém
Belém
Belém is a Brazilian city, the capital and largest city of state of Pará, in the country's north region. It is the entrance gate to the Amazon with a busy port, airport and bus/coach station...
. This air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
operator belonged to the son of the owner of Paraense Transportes Aéreos
Paraense Transportes Aéreos
Paraense Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1952. It ceased operations in 1970.-History:Paraense Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded on February 18, 1952 by Antônio Alves Affonso Ramos Junior and made its maiden flight on March 30 of the same year, using a...
. When, in 1970, Paraense ceased operations, Gibson used his air taxi operator to fill the void left by Paraense, particularly in the states of Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
and Amapá
Amapá
Amapá is one of the states of Brazil, located in the extreme north, bordering French Guiana and Suriname to the north. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south and west is the Brazilian state of Pará. Perhaps one of the main features of the state is the River Oiapoque, as it was once...
, offering flights to locations that ceased to be served by air services. During this time, flights were operated by Beechcraft D-18S/H-18S
Beechcraft Model 18
The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas...
aircraft configured for 9 passengers. After the closure of Paraense, Nota added to its fleet the Curtiss C-46 Commando
C-46 Commando
The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
and Fairchild Hiller FH-227B
Fairchild Hiller FH-227
The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States...
that previously belonged to Paraense. It was on the foundations of Nota that TABA was created. The former fleet of Nota was further enlarged by the addition of a few Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
.
In November 1980 TABA had services to 34 cities with a fleet of 10 Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante and 4 Fairchild Hiller FH-227B
Fairchild Hiller FH-227
The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States...
. Between 1983 and 1985 TABA operated 2 British Aerospace BAe 146
BAe 146
The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
on the trunk-route Belém-Val de Cães
Val de Cães International Airport
Belém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
/Itaituba/Alta Floresta
Alta Floresta
Alta Floresta is a city in Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is located at around .The city is served by Dep. Benedito Santiago Airport.-External links:*...
/Cuiabá
Marechal Rondon International Airport
Marechal Rondon International Airport is the airport serving Cuiabá, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of Várzea Grande. It is named after Marshall Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon , a Brazilian explorer.It is operated by Infraero....
/Vilhena
Vilhena
Vilhena is the easternmost municipality in the Brazilian state of Rondônia. Its population was 68,405 and its area is 11,519 km². It is the fifth-largest city in Rondônia state.-History:...
/Ji-Paraná
Ji-Paraná
Ji-Paraná is the second most populous city in the Brazilian state of Rondônia. Its population was 116.587 and its area is 6,897 km².Located in central Rondônia, the city attracted many settlers from the 1970s onward...
/Porto Velho
Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport
Porto Velho-Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport also called Belmonte Airport referring to the neighborhood where it is located, is the airport serving Porto Velho, Brazil...
. However high operating and maintenance costs led TABA to end the leasing contract.
When in 1991 the Federal Government lifted the geographic restrictions for the operations of regional airlines, TABA inaugurated services to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Belo Horizonte-Pampulha, linking those two cities to its already established network in the Amazon Basin. During this time TABA also initiated the renovation of its fleet replacing the Fairchild Hiller FH-227B for Bombardier Dash 8-300. In 1992 TABA started services to Georgetown, Guyana
Cheddi Jagan International Airport
Cheddi Jagan International Airport , formerly Timehri International Airport, is the national airport of Guyana. The airport is located on the right bank of the Demerara River in the city of Timehri, south of Guyana's capital, Georgetown.-History:...
, being the first regional airline to establish international flights.
TABA operated 2 Fokker 100 between 1993 and 1995 but increasing economic difficulties led to the end of their lease contract. In an attempt to replace services operated by those aircraft, TABA chartered a Boeing 727-200
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
belonging to the Brazilian charter operator Air Vias
Air Vias
Air Vias was the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively for charter flights. It operated between 1993 and 1995.-History:Air Vias was founded on December 25, 1993 as the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively to charter flights. Flights started in January 1994.The airline started with...
on weekdays. Their contract ended in November 1995 when Air Vias ceased to fly. Operations with the Dash 8-300 were also canceled in 1996 and aircraft were returned to the lessor.
In 1997 TABA was already in serious economic trouble and finally in 1999 it ceased operations.
Destinations
TABA operated an extensive network in the Northern and Central-West regions of Brazil.Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Years of operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft D-18S/H-18S Beechcraft Model 18 The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it is better known, is a 6-11 seat, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas... |
7 | 1976–1979 | - |
| Curtiss C-46 Commando C-46 Commando The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C... |
1 | 1976–1981 | - |
| Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties... |
11 | 1976–1999 | - |
| Fairchild Hiller FH-227B Fairchild Hiller FH-227 The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States... |
8 | 1976–1999 | - |
| British Aerospace BAe 146 BAe 146 The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992... |
2 | 1983–1985 | - |
| Bombardier Dash 8-300 | 6 | 1991–1996 | - |
| Fokker 100 | 2 | 1993–1995 | - |
| Boeing 727-200 Boeing 727 The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced... |
1 | 1995–1995 | chartered from Air Vias Air Vias Air Vias was the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively for charter flights. It operated between 1993 and 1995.-History:Air Vias was founded on December 25, 1993 as the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively to charter flights. Flights started in January 1994.The airline started with... |
Accidents
- 31 January 1978: a Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
registration PT-GKW crashed upon take-off from EirunepéEirunepé AirportAmaury Feitosa Tomaz Airport is the airport serving Eirunepé, Brazil.-Accidents and incidents:*31 January 1978: a TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante registration PT-GKW crashed upon take-off from Eirunepé...
. The crew of 2 died but all 14 passengers survived. - 12 June 1982: a Fairchild Hiller FH-227Fairchild Hiller FH-227The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States...
registration PT-LBV en route from EirunepéEirunepé AirportAmaury Feitosa Tomaz Airport is the airport serving Eirunepé, Brazil.-Accidents and incidents:*31 January 1978: a TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante registration PT-GKW crashed upon take-off from Eirunepé...
to TabatingaTabatinga International AirportTabatinga International Airport is the airport serving Tabatinga, Brazil, located by the border with Colombia and Peru.It is operated by Infraero.-Accidents and incidents:...
on approach to Tabatinga collided with a pole in poor visibility and crashed onto a parking lot. All 40 passengers and 4 crew died. - 23 June 1985: an Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
registration PT-GJN flying from JuaraJuaraJuara is a town and municipality in the state of Mato Grosso in the Central-West Region of Brazil.-References:...
to CuiabáMarechal Rondon International AirportMarechal Rondon International Airport is the airport serving Cuiabá, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of Várzea Grande. It is named after Marshall Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon , a Brazilian explorer.It is operated by Infraero....
while on approach to land at Cuiabá had technical problems on engine number 1. An emergency landing was attempted but the aircraft stalled and crashed 1 km short of the runway. All 17 occupants died. - 6 June 1990: a Fairchild Hiller FH-227Fairchild Hiller FH-227The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States...
registration PT-ICA flying from Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
to CuiabáMarechal Rondon International AirportMarechal Rondon International Airport is the airport serving Cuiabá, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of Várzea Grande. It is named after Marshall Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon , a Brazilian explorer.It is operated by Infraero....
via AltamiraAltamira AirportAltamira Airport is the airport serving Altamira, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, SantarémSantarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca AirportSantarém–Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport is the airport serving Santarém, Brazil. It is named after the composer Wilson Dias da Fonseca , who was born in Santarém.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, ItaitubaItaituba AirportItaituba Airport is the airport serving Itaituba, Brazil.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:*26 April 1994: a Penta Cessna 208A Caravan registration PP-OGI flying from Itaituba to Jacareacanga under poor visibility and below minimums crashed shortly before touch-down at...
and Alta FlorestaAlta Floresta AirportPiloto Oswaldo Marques Dias Airport is the airport serving Alta Floresta, Brazil.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:...
, while on approach to land at Altamira, descended below the approach path, collided with trees and crashed 850m short of the runway. Of the 43 passengers and crew, 22 died. - 25 January 1993: a Fairchild Hiller FH-227Fairchild Hiller FH-227The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States...
registration PT-LCS operating a cargo flight from Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
to AltamiraAltamira AirportAltamira Airport is the airport serving Altamira, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
crashed into the jungle near Altamira during night-time approach procedures. The crew of 3 died. - 28 November 1995: a Fairchild Hiller FH-227Fairchild Hiller FH-227The Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 were versions of the Fokker F27 Friendship twin-engined turboprop passenger aircraft manufactured under license by Fairchild Hiller in the United States...
registration PP-BUJ operating a cargo flight from Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
to SantarémSantarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca AirportSantarém–Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport is the airport serving Santarém, Brazil. It is named after the composer Wilson Dias da Fonseca , who was born in Santarém.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
crashed on its second attempt to approach Santarém. The crew of 2 and 1 of the 2 occupants died.
Incidents
- 6 March 1991: an Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
flying to ManausEduardo Gomes International AirportBrigadeiro Eduardo Gomes-Manaus International Airport , is the main airport serving Manaus, Brazil. It is named after the Brazilian politician and military figure Air Marshall Eduardo Gomes ....
was hijacked near São Gabriel da CachoeiraSão Gabriel da Cachoeira AirportSão Gabriel da Cachoeira Airport is the airport serving São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil.-Accidents and incidents:*6 March 1991: a TABA Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante flying to Manaus was hijacked near São Gabriel da Cachoeira by 3 persons.-Access:...
by 3 persons. - 15 December 1994: an Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
en route from CarauariCarauari AirportCarauari Airport is the airport serving Carauari, Brazil.-Airlines and destinations:a. Airline operating regular charter flights.-Accidents and incidents:...
and TeféTefé AirportTefé Airport is the airport serving Tefé, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-Airlines and destinations:-Accident:*14 May 2004: Rico Linhas Aéreas flight 4815 operated by the Embraer EMB 120ER Brasília registration PT-WRO, en route from Tefé to Manaus crashed in the forest at about 18 nm from...
to ManausEduardo Gomes International AirportBrigadeiro Eduardo Gomes-Manaus International Airport , is the main airport serving Manaus, Brazil. It is named after the Brazilian politician and military figure Air Marshall Eduardo Gomes ....
was hijacked by two Colombian citizens. The passengers were released in the proximity of TabatingaTabatingaTabatinga is a municipality in the Três Fronteiras area of Northwestern Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Its population was 45,293...
and the aircraft flown to ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. The crew was released at the Brazilian Embassy in BogotáBogotáBogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
.