Paraense Transportes Aereos

  February 1952 to May 1970

  Brazil

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: QR / ---

HEADQUARTERS: Belem, Brazil

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Paraense Transportes Aereos was founded on 18 February 1952 by Antonio Alves Affonso Ramos Junior, and made its maiden flight on 30 March of the same year. It initially used PBY Catalina amphibians.

Scheduled passenger and cargo flights started in 1957 using a Commando to fly from Belem to Rio de Janeiro via Pedro Afonso, Cristalandia and Brasília. In fact, Paraense was one of the first airlines to operate scheduled services to Brasília, the new Brazilian capital inaugurated in 1960. Paraense started a route Sao Paulo to Rio Branco route via Cuiaba and Porto Velho in 1960.

Paraense had serious maintenance problems. After a series of accidents, particularly the one on 14 March 1970, all aircraft were grounded. On 29 May 1970, Paraense ceased operations.

November 1956* to 1970

Paraense operated 19 Commandos, many of which were purchased from Transair Sweden. In the late 1960's, Paraense traded its remaining Commandos in with Fairchild Hiller for brand new FH-227 turboprops.

• Riddle C-46R Commando: PP-BUE
• Smith CW-20T Commando: PP-BUA
• Smith Super 46C Commando: PP-BUC, PP-BUD
• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: PP-BTZ (leased), PP-BTJ, PT-BEE (leased),
• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: PP-ASL, PP-BTA, PP-BTF, PP-LDG (NTU)
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: PP-BTE, PP-LEG / PT-AYA (probably leased), PP-LDH / PP-BTG
• Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: PP-BTH, PP-BTI
• Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: PP-ITJ (NTU)
• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: PP-BTN, PP-BTO, PP-BTP
• Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando: PP-BTL, PP-BTM, PP-BUB, PP-BTB