The Development of Commercial Aviation in Argentina The Way to Aerolineas Argentinas, Argentine's World Airline by Horst Guddat
Argentina - a young and demanding country Looking at a map it doesn't need very much imagination to figure out that this country with 3.761.274 km 2 of continental, island and Antarctic territories is requiring an efficient communication and transportation system. Apart from Greater Buenos Aires, where over 12 million people live, the 28 million total inhabitants of Argentina are widely spread. Among the few other commercial centres are Cordoba and Mendoza. The country could easily afford 500 million people, but this is still in the stars and a long way to go. Argentina hasn't exceeded the youth age as yet and offers a wide spectrum of possibilities. It is still developing and you would be surprised to see some of the promising talents and prospects currently in the process of materializing. The beautifully presented Aerolineas Argentinas Flight Magazine VOLANDO ARGENTINA is a fine introduction to the country, its artists, attractions and achievements. A country that has always had a certain "faible" for aviation and, of course, a vital interest in and need for this means of transportation. Surface travel, as everywhere else in South America, was and will always be a very difficult, costly and time consuming venture. Hence the natural interest in aviation, which was first documented in 1809 when the Argentine government received a proposal of a watchmaker from the Province of Mendoza to build a dirigible. Detailed plans for this project are preserved in the National Archives as are documents about the first successful balloon flights of an Argentine citizen from 1842 to 1844. Balloon flights became very popular at the turn of the century and on 13th January 1908 its pioneers founded the Aeroclub Argentina which in December 1910 affiliated with the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI), seated in France, thus documenting the start of impressive aeronautical activities that brought forward many officially recognized record flights and remarkable aviation firsts.
The first airplane In 1909 the first airplane was imported to Argentina by the "Sindicato Aerea Argentina" for exposition in Buenos Aires. One year later, on occasion of the "Centenario Patrio", the Century of Independence, the Italian Ricardo Ponzelli made the first flight in a French Voisin airplane, but unfortunately crashed during landing. One week later, on 6 February 1910, the first successful flight according to FAI regulations by the Frenchman Henri Bregui was recorded. This was the beginning of a remarkable development where initially known and unknown pilots of the European countries became involved but where later on many sons and daughters of the country climbed up into the sky of the famed flyers to become the idols of an enthusiastic air minded nation.
The first air transport company - the first airport the first flying school As the "Sindicato" grew bigger the "Compania Aeres Argentina" was established, which built up an own aerodrome at "El Palomar" and opened an own flying school, the first in Argentina, on 20July 1910. Some French pilots were hired for flying and instructing, the first passenger flights conducted and the first night flights performed over distances up to 4 kilometers.
Florencio Parravicini, the first Argentine June 1910 in Buenos Aires.
pilot,
in his flying
machine on 17
During 1910 already ten international pilots licences "Brevets" were issued according to FAI regulations to Belgian, French, Italian and also Argentine pilots.
Across the national boundaries and the start of commercial aviation The same year saw flights to the neigbouring countries. Steps were initiated to build up the national airplane industry, and one year later, in 1911, the first Argentine built airplane, a Castaibert, was exported to Uruguay, starting with it the history of military aviation of that neigbouring country. Also in 1911 the first airmail was carried. Commercial aviation was born. A rapid development was to follow. Already on 16 January 1913, the first FAI recognized world record flight with passengers was noted for the German pilot Lube for his return flight to Montevideo on that very date. Worth to note also the first pilots lincence issued to an Argentine woman. Amalia Figeredo got her "Brevet" on 1 October 1914, but she was not destined for a great flying career, possibly because kitchen work and raising children still were the prime tasks of women in those days. As of 1917 regular air mail services between Argentina and Uruguay began and in the interior of the country several pilots started aero taxi enterprises between various points of commercial interest. 19