Voo da amizade
Encyclopedia
Voo da amizade was the name of a dedicated air service between Brazil
and Portugal
operated between 1960 and 1967. It was an operational partnership between the Portuguese TAP-Transportes Aéreos Portugueses
and the Brazilian Panair do Brasil
(1960–1965) and Varig
(1965–1967).
and TAP-Transportes Aéreos Portugueses
established a jointly-operated air service with very specific characteristics:
The first flight took-off from Brazil on November 30, 1960 and remained as originally planned until the closure of Panair do Brasil on February 10, 1965. After a brief interruption, on November 22, 1965 Varig
succeeded Panair in the Brazilian half of the operation, using one of its Lockheed L-188 Electra II
. In this phase, TAP also decided to start using its own aircraft, a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
, for its share of the services. Thus, each airline had one weekly frequency and operated its own equipment. Flights ended in 1967.
It is worth noting that Panair, TAP and Varig also operated nonstop flights between Brazil and Portugal without the restrictions imposed by the Voo da amizade. For these, from 1960 to 1965 Panair used its Douglas DC-8-33
, and from 1965 onwards TAP used its Boeing 707
and Varig either a Boeing 707 or a Douglas DC-8-33.
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...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
operated between 1960 and 1967. It was an operational partnership between the Portuguese TAP-Transportes Aéreos Portugueses
TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal, commonly known as TAP, is the national airline of Portugal. It has its head office in Building 25 on the grounds of Portela Airport in Lisbon, and has been a member of the Star Alliance since 14 March 2005, the same day on which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary...
and the Brazilian 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 :...
(1960–1965) and 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...
(1965–1967).
History
In order to promote the already close cultural and economic ties between Brazil and Portugal, Panair do BrasilPanair 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 TAP-Transportes Aéreos Portugueses
TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal, commonly known as TAP, is the national airline of Portugal. It has its head office in Building 25 on the grounds of Portela Airport in Lisbon, and has been a member of the Star Alliance since 14 March 2005, the same day on which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary...
established a jointly-operated air service with very specific characteristics:
- Tickets for this flight were much cheaper than normal tickets but could be purchased only by Brazilian and Portuguese citizens or foreigners with permanent residence in one of those countries.
- Flights were initially operated once a week by a dedicated Panair do Brasil Douglas DC-7CDouglas DC-7The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
with the titles Panair and TAP on the fuselage, with crew of both airlines, and with TAP flight numbers. By August 1961 frequencies had increased to 2 flights a week, one for each airline, and by August 1962 there were three weekly frequencies, with two for Panair and one for TAP. However, on May 1964 frequencies returned to the 1961 arrangement. During all this time the service was operated by a Panair aircraft configured in all-economy class.
- The routing was Rio de Janeiro-Galeão / Recife / SalAmilcar Cabral International AirportAmílcar Cabral International Airport , also known as Sal International Airport or Amílcar Cabral Airport, is the principal international airport of Cape Verde. The airport is named after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral....
/ Lisbon. Some flights also stopped at São Paulo-Congonhas. Since at the time Cape VerdeCape VerdeThe Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
, where the island of SalSal, Cape VerdeSal is an island in Cape Verde. It belongs to the northern group of islands, called Barlavento. The island is composed by a single administrative division, the Sal municipality. The island is home to Amílcar Cabral International Airport, the main airport of Cape Verde.- Geography :The island is...
is located, was a Portuguese Overseas ProvincePortuguese EmpireThe Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
, the whole flight was operated within the territories of Brazil and Portugal.
- Meals were served on airport restaurants during the refueling stops. Each passenger had a baggage allowance of 20 kg.
The first flight took-off from Brazil on November 30, 1960 and remained as originally planned until the closure of Panair do Brasil on February 10, 1965. After a brief interruption, on November 22, 1965 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...
succeeded Panair in the Brazilian half of the operation, using one of its Lockheed L-188 Electra II
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
. In this phase, TAP also decided to start using its own aircraft, a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
, for its share of the services. Thus, each airline had one weekly frequency and operated its own equipment. Flights ended in 1967.
It is worth noting that Panair, TAP and Varig also operated nonstop flights between Brazil and Portugal without the restrictions imposed by the Voo da amizade. For these, from 1960 to 1965 Panair used its Douglas DC-8-33
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
, and from 1965 onwards TAP used its Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
and Varig either a Boeing 707 or a Douglas DC-8-33.
Accident
- 1 November 1961: the Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair 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 :...
Douglas DC-7CDouglas DC-7The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
registration PP-PDO flying southbound from SalAmilcar Cabral International AirportAmílcar Cabral International Airport , also known as Sal International Airport or Amílcar Cabral Airport, is the principal international airport of Cape Verde. The airport is named after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral....
to Recife during its final approach at Recife, struck an 84m hill 2.7 km from the runway and broke-up. The aircraft was doing a night approach too low and outside the regular traffic pattern. From a total of 88 passengers and crew, 45 died.