SATENA

File:Satena-Do328-BOG.jpg at El Dorado International Airport in 2009]]

File:HK-4528 - FAC-1180 Embraer 170 SATENA (7496799876).jpg at La Vanguardia Airport in 2012]]

SATENA was first established on April 12, 1962, by the President of the Republic, Alberto Lleras Camargo, who created the airline 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."

To achieve this under government auspices, the airline was then entrusted to the control of the Colombian Air Force, initiating its first operations with the routes Bogotá - Leticia and Leticia – Tarapacá – El Encanto – Puerto Leguízamo. The Government equipped the company with one C-54, two C-47, two Beaver L-20, and later added two PBY Catalina amphibious, the property of the Rotary Fund of the Colombian Air Force. Later, in 1964, it added three additional C-47 and two more C-54 aircraft, all of them donated by the United States 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 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.

In 1972, SATENA acquired newer British-Built AVRO HS-748 turboprops capable of carrying 48 passengers. Between 1984 and 1985, the airline incorporated two Fokker F28 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, 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 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 328s 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 with a capacity for 50 passengers which arrived to replace the departing Fokker F28, which was reaching its maximum airframe hours. In 2004, SATENA became the airline with the newest and most modern aerial fleet in Colombia, when it incorporated two new Embraer ERJ 145 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 proposed a 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 two years, while the remaining 51% would continue in the hands of the state, something that was never done in the end.

On April 29, 2018, the airline moved all its routes to Terminal Puente Aéreo belonging to El Dorado International Airport, to facilitate the service to passengers on regional flights.{{Cite web|last=Pattara|first=Laura|date=2018-04-03|title=Bogota International Airport Guide|url=https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2018/04/bogota-international-airport-guide/|access-date=2023-01-25|website=Chimu Adventures Blog|language=en-AU}}

SATENA operates to the following airports (as of December 2024):{{cite web|url=https://www.satena.com/comercial/rutas-destinos/|title=Conoce nuestros destinos|website=Satena.com}}

File:Colombia - Satena Embraer ERJ-145LR (EMB-145LR) HK-4535 (20869642404).jpg at El Dorado International Airport in 2014]]

File:ATR42-florencia-caqueta-colombia-jan-2022.jpg seen at Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport in Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia]]

As of December 2024, the SATENA fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{cite journal|title=Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)|journal=Airliner World|issue=October 2019|page=12}}

SATENA had formerly operated the following aircraft:

• ATR 72-500
• Boeing 727-100
• Boeing 727-200
• CASA C-212 Aviocar
• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
• Dornier 328
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster
• Douglas DC-9-10
• Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
• Embraer ERJ-170{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2020/10/colombia-satena-deja-de-volar-con-los-embraer-e170/|title=Colombia: SATENA deja de volar con los Embraer E170|website=Aviacionline.com|date=20 October 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020}}
• Fokker F-28 Fellowship
• Harbin Y-12E
• Hawker Siddeley HS 748
• Let L-410 Turbolet
• PBY Catalina
• Pilatus PC-6 Porter

• On September 8, 1969, Douglas C-47 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.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690908-0 |title=FAC-685 Accident Description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=14 February 2011}}
• 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, Medellín to Gerardo Tobar López Airport, Buenaventura.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19720121-1|title=FAC-661 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=5 September 2010}}
• On January 9, 1974, HS 748 (FAC 1103) crashed into the Gabinete Peak 50 km north of Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport Florencia whilst on a flight from Florencia to Bogota. All 31 people on board were killed.{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19740109-0|title=FAC-1103 Accident description|author=|website=AviationSafetyNetwork|publisher=AVS|access-date=May 5, 2017 }}
• On January 8, 1975, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-688) crashed shortly after take-off from Benito Salas Airport, Neiva on a flight to Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, Florencia. All 30 people on board were killed.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19750000-0 |title= Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=17 August 2010}}
• On May 3, 1975, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-663) crashed at Sardinata. The aircraft was on a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Aguas Claras Airport, Ocaña to Camilo Daza Airport, Cúcuta. Three of the six occupants were killed.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19750503-0 |title=FAC-663 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=21 August 2010}}
• On April 2, 1976, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-676) crashed on approach to Tres de Mayo Airport, Puerto Asís. The aircraft was on a flight from Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, Florencia. Five of the 16 people on board were killed.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19760402-2 |title=FAC-676 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=15 August 2010}}
• On February 17, 1977, Douglas C-47B (FAC-1125) was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident at Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport, Mitú. All 28 people on board survived.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770217-1|title=FAC-1125 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=4 August 2010}}
• On November 20, 1977, Douglas C-47B (FAC-1127) crashed in Colombia.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19771120-2|title=FAC-1127 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=5 August 2010}}
• On November 20, 1977, Douglas C-47A (FAC-1120) crashed at Llanos del Yori, Colombia.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19771120-3 |title=FAC-1120 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=5 August 2010}}
• On February 21, 1978, Douglas DC-3 (FAC-668) crashed at Serranía los Cobardes in Colombia.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19780221-0 |title=FAC-668 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=1 August 2010}}
• 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, Villavicencio.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19810625-0|title=FAC-1129 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=24 July 2010}}
• On May 3, 1983, Douglas C-47B (FAC-1126) was damaged beyond repair in an accident at Palmaseca Airport, Cali.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830503-0|title=FAC-1126 Accident report|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=27 July 2010}}
• On May 5, 2010, an Embraer ERJ-145 overran the runway at Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport, Mitú, Colombia. 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 were injured.{{cite web|url=http://www.aerocivil.gov.co/AAeronautica/InvAccidentes/LAccidentes/Accidentes/HK4536.pdf|title=Official accident investigation report|publisher=Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil|access-date=8 October 2014}} The runway at the time of the accident was wet as it had recently rained in the area.

• List of airlines of Colombia

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Satena}}

• [http://www.satena.com SATENA] {{in lang|es}}
• [http://www.satena.gov.co/informacion-comercial/rutas/56 SATENA route map]
• [http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&airline=Colombia%20-%20Satena Satena photos by MyAviation.net]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Y7yxzmbdE Video Tribute]

{{Portalbar|Colombia|Aviation}}

{{Airlines of Colombia}}

{{Military of Colombia}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airlines of Colombia

Category:Airlines established in 1962

Category:Government-owned companies of Colombia

Category:Military airlines

Category:Transport in Bogotá

Category:Colombian companies established in 1962