FS2004 – 1962 Cali Scenery

FS2004 – 1962 Cali Scenery. Cali is the third largest city in Colombia. In addition to being served in 1962 by Avianca, Taxader, SAM and Aerotaxi, it was served internationally by Panagra on the route from New York to Buenos Aires. It was also served by Ecuatorian on the route from Miami to Quito. Following the war with Peru in 1932, President Enrique Olaya Herrera sought the help of SCADTA engineers and pilots to find a suitable site for an airport capable of providing air support to military operations. After evaluating several alternatives, the German pilot Herbert Boy chose an area called “El Guabito” because of its location, proximity to the city and an extension of Juanchito Antioquia Avenue. After leveling the land with bulldozers a fledgling Air Force Base and Air National Guard station were built and operations began on September 21, 1933. Eventually, the number of airlines operating from the airport grew to include TACA de Colombia and VIARCO SAETA along with the already established SCADTA Panagra. However, Panagra began looking for a suitable place for an airport in order to link South America with Panama through Cali, as well as its domestic flights operated by Avianca. To this end they acquired land in the municipality of Candelaria, 18 miles from the center of Cali. On April 17, 1947 the modern facilities at “Calipuerto” were inaugurated. The airport passed to the Colombian state in the 1950s and was subsequently taken over by the Civil Aeronautics Department in 1968. Calipuerto was closed in 1971 when it was replaced by the new airport Palmaseca International Airport at La Esmeralda. Today the remains of Calipuerto can still be seen on Google Earth. The terminal and facilities have been turned into a vegetable processing center. Calipuerto was considered one of the world’s most dangerous airports.

By Mike Stevens

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