SATENA (
acronym
An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...
of ''Servicio Aéreo a Territorios Nacionales'') is a Colombian government-owned
airline
An airline is a company that provides civil aviation, air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or Airline alliance, alliances with other airlines for ...
based in
Bogotá
Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...
,
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
. It operates mostly domestic routes. Its main hub is
El Dorado International Airport
El Dorado International Airport is an international airport serving Bogotá, Colombia and its surrounding areas. The airport is located mostly in the Fontibón district of Bogotá, although it partially extends into the Engativá district and ...
.
History
![ATR42-florencia-caqueta-colombia-jan-2022](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/ATR42-florencia-caqueta-colombia-jan-2022.jpg)
SATENA was first established on April 12, 1962, by the
President of the Republic,
Alberto Lleras Camargo
Alberto Lleras Camargo (3 July 1906 – 4 January 1990) was the 20th President of Colombia (1958–1962), and the 1st Secretary General of the Organization of American States (1948–1954). A journalist and liberal party politician, he also se ...
, who created the
airline
An airline is a company that provides civil aviation, air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or Airline alliance, alliances with other airlines for ...
using Decree 940 in order
''"to form an aerial transport service for the benefit of the underdeveloped regions of the country, with the object of promoting the welfare of educational campaigns, agricultural and pastoral development and the economic and social progress of such territories."''
In order to achieve this under government auspices, the airline was then entrusted to the control of the
Colombian Air Force
, "We are the Force"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = Colombian Air Force Hymn
, mascot = Capitan Paz
, anniversaries = 8 November
, ...
, initiating its first operations with the routes
Bogotá
Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city of Colombia, and one of the larges ...
-
Leticia and
Leticia -
Tarapacá
San Lorenzo de Tarapacá, also known simply as Tarapacá, is a town in the region of the same name in Chile.
History
The town has likely been inhabited since the 12th century, when it formed part of the Inca trail. When Spanish explorer Diego ...
-
El Encanto
El Encanto is a town and municipality in the ''Amazonas Department'', Colombia. It is located in the mouth of the Caraparaná River, tributary of the Putumayo River (Içá).
El Encanto can be reached by air or river. The local navy base has a r ...
-
. The Government equipped the company with one
C-54, two
C-47, two Beaver L-20, and later added two
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served w ...
amphibious, the property of the Rotatory Fund of the
Colombian Air Force
, "We are the Force"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = Colombian Air Force Hymn
, mascot = Capitan Paz
, anniversaries = 8 November
, ...
. Later, in 1964, it added three additional
C-47 and two more
C-54 aircraft, all of them donated by the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
International Development Agency.
In 1965, SATENA, in coordination with the
Bank of Bogotá, began a new service named ''AeroBanco'', which was created to facilitate air travel to other areas largely or completely inaccessible by road. Due to great success in the areas served by the airline, President
Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Carlos Alberto Lleras Restrepo (12 April 1908 – 27 September 1994) was a Colombian politician and lawyer who served the 22nd President of Colombia from 1966 to 1970.
Biographic data
Lleras was born in Bogotá, on 12 April 1908. He was the ...
put into effect Law 80 of December 12, 1968, where it was decreed that SATENA would be treated as a public establishment, with all legal functions controlled by the
Ministry of National Defence
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
.
In 1972, SATENA acquired newer British-Built
AVRO HS-748
The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is a medium-sized turboprop airliner originally designed and initially produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro. It was the last aircraft to be developed by Avro prior to its absorption by Hawker Siddeley ...
turboprop
A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. ...
s capable of carrying 48 passengers. Between 1984 and 1985, the airline incorporated two
Fokker F28
The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a twin-engined, short-range jet airliner designed and built by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.
Following the Fokker F27 Friendship, an early and commercially successful turboprop-powered regional airliner, Fokk ...
jet aircraft with the capacity to transport 65 passengers.
Since its creation, the airline has performed many public services on behalf of the
Colombian people
Colombians ( es, Colombianos) are people identified with the country of Colombia. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Colombians, several (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the sourc ...
, having provided service during crises in the country's history, as was the case of the
Huila and
Cauca earthquake of June 6, 1994, when SATENA performed search and rescue operations, airlifted local residents, as well as transporting needed medicines, foods and aid in general to the site of the tragedy.
In 1996, the largest modernization of the airline began, with the arrival of six
Dornier 328
The Dornier 328 is a turboprop-powered commuter airliner. Initially produced by Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, the firm was acquired in 1996 by Fairchild Aircraft. The resulting firm, named Fairchild-Dornier, manufactured the 328 family in Oberpfaffen ...
s capable of carrying 32 passengers. These aircraft represent the new generation of equipment for regional routes.
In 2002, SATENA incorporated into its fleet one
Embraer ERJ-145
The Embraer ERJ family (for Embraer Regional Jet, model names EMB-135, EMB-140 and EMB-145) are regional jets designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. The family includes the ERJ135 (37 passengers), ERJ140 (44 passenger ...
with capacity for 50 passengers which arrived to replace the departing
Fokker F28
The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a twin-engined, short-range jet airliner designed and built by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.
Following the Fokker F27 Friendship, an early and commercially successful turboprop-powered regional airliner, Fokk ...
, which was reaching its maximum airframe hours. In 2004, SATENA became the airline with the newest and most modern aerial fleet in
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
, when it incorporated two new
Embraer ERJ 145
The Embraer ERJ family (for Embraer Regional Jet, model names EMB-135, EMB-140 and EMB-145) are regional jets designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. The family includes the ERJ135 (37 passengers), ERJ140 (44 passenger ...
aircraft, allowing it to perform faster and more efficient services to its most isolated destinations.
At the end of 2010, SATENA suffered a financial crisis, consisting of bank debts amounting to 120 billion pesos and losses totaling 25 billion pesos. Due to this, the National Government proposes the law that would allow the commercial airline to get out of said crisis and compete in the air transport market in the country. This law consists of capitalizing this company at 98 billion pesos, where 49% of the company's shares will be put up for sale in a democratic process and within a period of two years, while the remaining 51% would continue in hands of the state, something that was never done in the end.
On April 29, 2018, the airline moved all its routes to the Terminal Puente Aéreo belonging to
El Dorado International Airport
El Dorado International Airport is an international airport serving Bogotá, Colombia and its surrounding areas. The airport is located mostly in the Fontibón district of Bogotá, although it partially extends into the Engativá district and ...
, in order to facilitate the service to passengers on regional flights.
Destinations
Fleet
Current fleet
As of March 2022, the SATENA fleet consists of the following aircraft:
Former fleet
SATENA had formerly operated the following aircraft:
*
ATR 72-500
The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop, short-haul regional airliner developed and produced in France and Italy by aircraft manufacturer ATR (french: Avions de transport régional or it, Aerei da Trasporto Regionale), a joint venture formed ...
*
Boeing 727-100
*
Boeing 727-200
The Boeing 727 is an American narrow-body airliner that was developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
After the heavy 707 quad-jet was introduced in 1958, Boeing addressed the demand for shorter flight lengths from smaller airpo ...
*
CASA C-212 Aviocar
*
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined high-wing propeller-driven short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft developed and manufactured by de Havilland Canada. It has been primarily operated as a bush plane and has been used ...
*
Dornier 328
The Dornier 328 is a turboprop-powered commuter airliner. Initially produced by Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, the firm was acquired in 1996 by Fairchild Aircraft. The resulting firm, named Fairchild-Dornier, manufactured the 328 family in Oberpfaffen ...
*
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in ...
*
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster is a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and the Korean War. Like the Douglas C-47 Skytrain derived from the DC-3, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian a ...
*
Douglas DC-9-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is an American five-abreast single-aisle aircraft designed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It was initially produced by the developer company as the Douglas DC-9 until August 1967 and then by McDonnell Douglas.
After ...
*
Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
The Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia is a twin-turboprop 30-passenger commuter airliner designed and manufactured by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.
The EMB 120 began development during 1974. While initially conceived as a modular series of ...
*
Embraer ERJ-170
The Embraer E-Jet family is a series of four-abreast narrow-body short- to medium-range twin-engine jet airliners designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer.
The E-Jet was designed as a complement to the preceding ...
*
Fokker F-28 Fellowship
The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a twin-engined, short-range jet airliner designed and built by Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.
Following the Fokker F27 Friendship, an early and commercially successful turboprop-powered regional airliner, Fokker ...
*
Harbin Y-12E
*
Hawker Siddeley HS 748
The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is a medium-sized turboprop airliner originally designed and initially produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro. It was the last aircraft to be developed by Avro prior to its absorption by Hawker Siddeley ...
*
Let L-410 Turbolet
The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engine short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer Let Kunovice (named Aircraft Industries since 2005), often used as an airliner. The aircraft is capable of landing on short a ...
*
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served w ...
*
Pilatus PC-6 Porter
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter is a single-engined STOL utility aircraft designed by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. First flown in 1959, the PC-6 was produced at Pilatus Flugzeugwerke in Stans, Switzerland. It has been built in both piston engine- a ...
Accidents and incidents
*On September 8, 1969,
Douglas C-47
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (Royal Air Force, RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force, RNZAF, and South African Air Force, SAAF designation) is a airlift, military transport ai ...
FAC-685 crashed near
Apiay Air Force Base killing all 32 people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic scheduled passenger flight from
Monterrey Airport to Apiay.
*On January 21, 1972,
Douglas DC-3 FAC-661 crashed at
San Nicolas whilst operating a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight from
Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport
Olaya Herrera Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera) is an airport located in Medellín, Colombia, that serves regional and domestic flights. Additionally, the airport is used by general aviation and features several hangars for charters.
To ...
,
Medellín
Medellín ( or ), officially the Municipality of Medellín ( es, Municipio de Medellín), is the second-largest city in Colombia, after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia. It is located in the Aburrá Valley, a central re ...
to
Gerardo Tobar López Airport,
Buenaventura.
*On January 9, 1974, HS 748 (FAC 1103) crashed into the Gabinete Peak 50 km north of
Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport
Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes) is a public, domestic Colombian air terminal run by the Civil Aeronautics. It is located southeast of the city of Florencia, the capital of the Caquetá Department ...
Florencia whilst on a flight from Florencia to Bogota. All 31 people on board were killed.
*On January 8, 1975, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-688) crashed shortly after take-off from
Benito Salas Airport
Benito Salas Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Benito Salas, ) is an airport that serves the city of Neiva, the capital of the Huila Department in Colombia. It was named after Benito Salas Vargas, a military and social leader during Colombia's (then know ...
,
Neiva
Neiva () is the capital of the Department of Huila. It is located in the valley of the Magdalena River in south central Colombia with a population of about 357,392 inhabitants. It is one of the most important cities in southern Colombia, mainly ...
on a flight to
Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport
Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes) is a public, domestic Colombian air terminal run by the Civil Aeronautics. It is located southeast of the city of Florencia, the capital of the Caquetá Department ...
,
Florencia. All 30 people on board were killed.
*On May 3, 1975, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-663) crashed at
Sardinata
Sardinata () is a Colombian municipality
The Municipalities of Colombia are decentralized subdivisions of the Republic of Colombia. Municipalities make up most of the departments of Colombia with 1,122 municipalities (''municipios''). Each on ...
. The aircraft was on a domestic scheduled passenger flight from
Aguas Claras Airport,
Ocaña to
Camilo Daza Airport
Camilo Daza International Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Internacional Camilo Daza, ) is an international airport located in Cúcuta, Colombia. It serves the Norte de Santander Department.
The airport is from the center of Cúcuta. It has internation ...
,
Cúcuta
Cúcuta (), officially San José de Cúcuta, is a Colombian municipality, capital of the department of Norte de Santander and nucleus of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta. The city is located in the homonymous valley, at the foot of the Eastern ...
. Three of the six occupants were killed.
*On April 2, 1976, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-676) crashed on approach to
Tres de Mayo Airport
Tres de Mayo Airport is an airport serving the city of Puerto Asís in the Putumayo District of Colombia.
Runway 01 has a displaced threshold. The Puerto Asis non-directional beacon (Ident: SIS) is located on the field.
Airlines and desti ...
,
Puerto Asís
Puerto Asís () is a Colombian city in Putumayo Department. It is located on the west bank of the Putumayo River, downstream from the mouth of the Guamués River, south of (Cardinal) Mocoa. Bordering Ecuador, Puerto Asís is one of the departm ...
. The aircraft was on a flight from
Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport
Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes) is a public, domestic Colombian air terminal run by the Civil Aeronautics. It is located southeast of the city of Florencia, the capital of the Caquetá Department ...
,
Florencia. Five of the 16 people on board were killed.
*On February 17, 1977,
Douglas C-47B
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota ( RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft
A military transport aircraft, military cargo aircraft or airlifter is a military-owned transport aircraft used to su ...
(FAC-1125) was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident at
Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport,
Mitú
Mitú () is the capital town of the department of Vaupés in Colombia. It is a small town located in South eastern Colombia in the Amazon Basin. Founded in 1936, Mitú lies next to the Vaupés River at 180 meters above sea level. It is where th ...
. All 28 people on board survived.
*On November 20, 1977, Douglas C-47B (FAC-1127) crashed in Colombia.
*On November 20, 1977, Douglas C-47A (FAC-1120) crashed at
Llanos del Yori, Colombia.
*On February 21, 1978, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-668) crashed at
Serranía los Cobardes in Colombia.
*On June 25, 1981, Douglas C-47 (FAC-1129) was damaged beyond repair in an accident. The aircraft was subsequently withdrawn from use and stored at
La Vanguardia Airport
La Vanguardia Airport is an airport serving the city of Villavicencio in the Meta Department of Colombia. It serves regular passenger, charter and cargo airlines as well as private sectors. The airport is just north of the city.
Airlines and ...
,
Villavicencio
Villavicencio () is a city and municipality in Colombia. Capital of Meta Department, it was founded on April 6, 1840. The city had an urban population of approximately 531,275 inhabitants in 2018.https://www.dane.gov.co/files/varios/informacio ...
.
*On May 3, 1983, Douglas C-47B (FAC-1126) was damaged beyond repair in an accident at
Palmaseca Airport,
Cali
Santiago de Cali (), or Cali, is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia, with 2,227,642 residents according to the 2018 census. The city spans with of urban area, making Cali the second ...
.
*On May 5, 2010, an
Embraer ERJ-145
The Embraer ERJ family (for Embraer Regional Jet, model names EMB-135, EMB-140 and EMB-145) are regional jets designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. The family includes the ERJ135 (37 passengers), ERJ140 (44 passenger ...
overran the runway at
Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport,
Mitú
Mitú () is the capital town of the department of Vaupés in Colombia. It is a small town located in South eastern Colombia in the Amazon Basin. Founded in 1936, Mitú lies next to the Vaupés River at 180 meters above sea level. It is where th ...
,
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
. The aircraft crashed through the airport fence and then came to rest in a field, suffering substantial damage. None of the 37 passengers and 4 crew was injured.
The runway at the time of the accident was wet as it had recently rained in the area.
See also
*
List of airlines of Colombia
This is a list of airlines which have an air operator's certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia.
See also
*List of defunct airlines of Colombia
*List of airlines
References
{{Americas topic, List of airlines of
...
References
External links
SATENASATENA route mapSatena photos by MyAviation.netVideo Tribute
{{authority control
Airlines of Colombia
Airlines established in 1962
Government-owned companies of Colombia
Military airlines
Transport in Bogotá
Colombian companies established in 1962