NAB (Navegacao Aerea Brasileira)

  January 1938 to October 1961

  Brazil

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: -- / ---

HEADQUARTERS: Brazil

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Loide Aereo Nacional (merger)

NAB was founded on 28 January 1938 by Paulo Venancio da Rocha Vianna, in cooperation with TWA. Its first aircraft arrived in 1941, and started scheduled passenger services between Rio de Janeiro and Recife via Belo Horizonte, Bom Jesus da Lapa and Petrolina.

Because of financial difficulties, the Brazilian government granted three successive subventions, which were used to enlarge the fleet and extend the network. The end of World War II brought a boom in the creation of new airlines in Brazil. Facing fierce competition, NAB was granted further two loans in order to survive. Nevertheless, NAB ceased operations in 1948 and the Federal Government decided to take it over. In 1957, entrepreneur Dilvo Peres decided to invest in the airline, re-organizing its administration, buying new aircraft including Commandos, and establishing an operational partnership with Panair do Brasil. The efforts were not successful and in a last attempt to survive, NAB started selling greatly discounted tickets and in-flight service was reduced to a minimum.

On 24 October 1961, NAB's struggle for survival came to an end when it was finally purchased by Loide Aereo Nacional.

June 1957* to February 1962

NAB operated 7 Commandos in the years that preceeded its merger with Loide Aereo Nacional.

• Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando: PP-NMM (never imported, may have been used for spares), PP-NMH
• Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando: PP-NML
• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: PP-NAQ
• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: PP-NMF
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: PP-NMI (NTU), PP-NMJ (NTU), PP-NMG
• Curtiss TC-46A-45-CU Commando: PP-NME
• Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: PP-NMK (NTU)
• Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: PP-NMD (NTU)
• Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando: PP-NAO
• Curtiss R5C-1 Commando: PP-NAP, PP-NMC