The United Nations devotes 7 December to civil aviation. The aim of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation for the social and economic development of States!
As such, we decided to dedicate today’s publication to the history of civil aviation in the Azores! At first many emigrants left on American whaling ships in the 1700’s and 1800’s and then went on to steam. However, did you know that from the Santana aerodrome in São Miguel many migrants left for Santa Maria and from here they went to the various welcoming destinations for emigrants such as the USA, Canada, etc.?
Faial was a pioneer island in civil aviation! In the 1930s several international seaplanes passed by. Terceira soon stood out for military and later civil aviation, and the same happened with São Miguel with the Santana aerodrome, initially with military use, and after World War II for civil use. The equivalent happened with Santa Maria airport, which would become the most important civilian airport in the archipelago until the 70s!
For more informations: RILEY, Carlos Guilherme, coord., 100 Anos de Aviação nos Açores, edição do Instituto Açoriano de Cultura, Angra do Heroísmo, maio de 2019.
Last modified: 3 de January, 2022
