Airline Name
TAF Linhas Aereas (TAF Linhas Aereas S.A.)IATA: R9 / ICAO: TSD / CALLSIGN: TAFI
Founded in 1957 (as an air taxi service; Taxi Aereo Fortaleza), commenced operations in 1995 (Mar. 1st, as an airline), ceased operations in 2010 (Jun. 15th)
(Operating license suspended, later revoked)
Country of Origin
Brazil / Federative Republic of Brazil ()
Main Hub(s): Fortaleza - Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR)
Aircraft Types Used (from those available in WoA)
(For this airline, there are a limited number of aircraft types available, yet it can still be added.)Aircraft operated (already in-game/planned):
Boeing 737-200 (-200C, -200 Adv) - 5 former.
(2/3 for both variants, respectively.)
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200C PT-MTB - preserved)I’d like to point out that this aircraft was the very same aircraft that was involved in Lufthansa Flight 181, a 1977 hijacking - hence why this aircraft in specific is preserved. This photo was taken just a day before the 30th anniversary of the event, as well.
This type has more liveries beyond just that though, such as ‘early’ liveries, which will be displayed across the next few images:
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200C PT-MTA - later scrapped)This livery appears to have been a very early livery for the type, dated in 2000. At the date of this photo (Sep. 19th), the aircraft had only been acquired by the airline two days before (Sep. 17th), hence the relative lack of details or many markings.
As for the next livery, this one was dated later, circa 2004:
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200C PT-MTB - again)This final livery appears to have been documented around 2006, likely the second-to-final livery of the airline:
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200C PT-MTA - again)With the -200Cs covered, we’re now moving to the Advs:
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200 Adv PR-MTG - stored)Here’s that same airframe, but with “Agora Fala” text:
(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)Now, I’m not sure why, but there appeared to have been an alternative color scheme derived from this airline’s later livery - such as the one above - where the typical red is replaced or mixed with some sort of orange-brown color - not sure if it’s just the lighting of some shots, or the red paint fading a bit, but here:
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200 Adv PR-MTG - again)Anyways, here’s the aforementioned 2004 livery again:
(Pictured below: Boeing 737-200 Adv PT-MTF - stored)And here’s another derivative of that livery on that airframe - this was apparently a special livery meant to celebrate flights to a certain airport (FEN/SBFN) for another airline, TRIP:
(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)(Pictured below: A closer shot of the “TRIP” decal on the aforementioned livery)
Here’s one final shot of that aircraft, showing the 2006 livery:
(Pictured below: I think you get the idea by now)And I believe that should cover the 737s. Moving on to their next aircraft:
Aircraft operated (not in-game):
Boeing 727 (-200F, -200F Adv, B722F) - 5 former.
(Exact details of variants not available/not clear.)
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200F PT-MTC - stored)(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200F Adv PR-MTD - stored)
Now, here’s the 2006 livery on the -200F (not the Adv, because I couldn’t find any examples of the livery on that type):
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200F PT-MTC - again)Here’s an all-white livery example (besides operator titles) on the 727-200F Adv:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200F Adv PR-MTL - stored)Now, onto the next aircraft:
Cessna 208 Caravan (208A, 208B, C208) - 4 former.
(3/1 for both variants, respectively.)
(Pictured below: Cessna 208A Caravan PT-OGG)Here’s the 2004 livery example once more:
(Pictured below: Cessna 208A Caravan PT-OGL)Before we get to the 208B, I figured that I should show this rather interesting pink and blue livery for the 208A:
(Pictured below: Cessna 208A Caravan PT-OGG - again)Now, as for the 208B:
(Pictured below: Cessna 208B Caravan PT-OQT)I am aware that there are no markings to truly identify this as a TAF aircraft, but records do show that PT-OQT once did serve the airline, so I decided to include it here for the record.
Now, onto the final type:
Embraer EMB-110 Banderiante (-110C, -110E, E110) - 2 former.
(1 of each variant.)
(Pictured below: Embraer EMB-110C Banderiante PT-TAF - later written off in fatal accident)If you recall the pink and blue livery for the C208A above, here it is again on the EMB-110E:
(Pictured below: Embraer EMB-110E Banderiante PT-GJD - status unknown)
Why should this airline be added?
I’d say that this airline should be added because it provides some more content for the upcoming 737 family (737-200 in specific), and also has quite a unique, notable fleet and livery history, with several liveries used over the years, making for great events whenever the 737s (or if other types they operated) are added.
Given it operated into 2010, I also imagine it’d be possible to see it as a normal map contract operator, too, making for a nice bonus for those who’d like to see this airline at their airports. More specifically, the only aircraft listed as operating into the 2010s is PT-MTF, the Boeing 737-200 Adv from above.Speaking of where this airline operated to; given it was based in Brazil, one might naturally assume that they operated to Sao Paulo, and you’d be right - Wikipedia lists that around 2003, this airline operated cargo-configured 737-200s to the airport (likely the 737-200Cs). I’m unsure when service terminated there, or if it ever did, at least before the airline ceased operating.
They could potentially appear at Santiago as well, but there’s no record of them operating there, or even Chile in general, so not sure about it.But, in summary, I believe this airline should be added because of their unique livery variants, notable aircraft and fleet history, potential accessibility as a map contract operator, and finally, it works as great event material for South America.