SCADTA
Encyclopedia
The Colombian-German Air Transport Society , or SCADTA, was the world's second airline, and the first airline
of the American continent, operating from 1919 until World War II. After the war, SCADTA merged with Colombian regional carrier Colombian Air Service , or SACO. Together, SCADTA and SACO formed Avianca
- Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia, the Colombian flag-carrier. After Avianca was purchased by Brazilian entrepreneur German Efromovich's company Sinergy
in 2004, the name of the company was changed to Airline of the American Continent (Aerovías del Continente Americano) - Avianca
). Avianca still operates to this day.
SCADTA started out as a small airmail carrier using Junkers seaplanes capable of landing on Colombia's Magdalena River
, mostly since there were very few suitable landing strips in Colombia at the time. The German
nationality of SCADTA's ownership motivated the U.S. government to subsidize Pan American World Airways
' expansion in Latin America under the Hoover administration
. SCADTA was barred from operating flights to the U.S. and the Panama Canal
, although it continued to maintain a broad route network throughout the Andean
region. The formation of Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra) in the 1930s further eroded SCADTA's position in the market. Prior to World War II, principal shareholder and Austria
n industrialist Peter Paul Von Bauer secretly sold his shares to the United States
in an attempt to protect the airline from acquisition by the Nazi government. Following the Japan
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
in late 1941 SCADTA was forced to cease operations and its assets were merged by the Colombia
n government into the state-owned airline, SACO
, forming the modern Colombian national carrier: Avianca
.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
of the American continent, operating from 1919 until World War II. After the war, SCADTA merged with Colombian regional carrier Colombian Air Service , or SACO. Together, SCADTA and SACO formed Avianca
Avianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
- Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia, the Colombian flag-carrier. After Avianca was purchased by Brazilian entrepreneur German Efromovich's company Sinergy
Sinergy
Sinergy was a Finnish power metal band started in 1998 by American musician, Kimberly Goss. Aside from Sinergy, the most notable bands Goss has been involved with are Dimmu Borgir; as keyboardist, and Children of Bodom; where she filled in live for Janne Wirman and also contributed lyrics...
in 2004, the name of the company was changed to Airline of the American Continent (Aerovías del Continente Americano) - Avianca
Avianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
). Avianca still operates to this day.
SCADTA started out as a small airmail carrier using Junkers seaplanes capable of landing on Colombia's Magdalena River
Magdalena River
The Magdalena River is the principal river of Colombia, flowing northward about through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. It is navigable through much of its lower reaches, in spite of the shifting sand bars at the mouth of its delta, as...
, mostly since there were very few suitable landing strips in Colombia at the time. The German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
nationality of SCADTA's ownership motivated the U.S. government to subsidize Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
' expansion in Latin America under the Hoover administration
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
. SCADTA was barred from operating flights to the U.S. and the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, although it continued to maintain a broad route network throughout the Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
region. The formation of Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra) in the 1930s further eroded SCADTA's position in the market. Prior to World War II, principal shareholder and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n industrialist Peter Paul Von Bauer secretly sold his shares to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in an attempt to protect the airline from acquisition by the Nazi government. Following the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
in late 1941 SCADTA was forced to cease operations and its assets were merged by the Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, 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...
n government into the state-owned airline, SACO
SACO
The Colombian Air Service , or SACO, was an early Colombian airline. Founded in 1933, in 1940 SACO merged with the Colombo-German Air Transport Society ; the new company was named Airline of the American Continent...
, forming the modern Colombian national carrier: Avianca
Avianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
.