Transporte Aéreo Militar

For other uses, see TAM (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with TAM Linhas Aéreas.
Transporte Aéreo Militar
IATA ICAO Call sign
- EPT TAMEP
Founded1945 (1945) (original)
Commenced operationsJune 15, 1945 (June 15, 1945) (original)
May 31, 2024 (May 31, 2024) (as TAMep)[1]
HubsEl Alto International Airport
Viru Viru International Airport
Fleet size3 (as of December 2025)
Destinations4 (as of December 2025)
Parent companyBolivian Air Force
HeadquartersLa Paz, Bolivia
Key peopleRené Saravia
Websitewww.tamep.bo

TAMep (Transporte Aéreo Militar Empresa Pública) is a Bolivian military-owned regional airline based in La Paz, Bolivia. Affiliated with the Bolivian Air Force, it was created as a logistical branch for passenger transport to serve rural communities where commercial airlines could not operate profitably. In 2019, it temporarily suspended operations and became a public enterprise, resuming flights in 2024 after a restructuring process.[2][1]

History

Creation

The Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM) was created in 1945 as an air transport unit of the Bolivian Air Force (FAB), with the primary mission of providing air connectivity to remote and isolated regions of Bolivia where commercial aviation services were limited or nonexistent. Its origins date back to 1944, when the Escuadrón de Transporte Aéreo (ETA) was established to support military logistics and national integration. TAM formally began operations on 15 June 1945 with Douglas C-47 aircraft, which were used for passenger transport, cargo carriage and logistical missions, playing a significant role in connecting isolated communities and strengthening state presence across the country.[3][4]

Expansion and early commercial operations

In 1953, the organization adopted the name Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM), consolidating its institutional identity within the Bolivian Air Force. During the mid-1950s, TAM expanded its scope beyond exclusively military transport and began operating regular commercial passenger services on domestic routes. Over the following decades, the airline became an important component of Bolivia’s internal air transport system, serving departmental capitals and smaller cities, often in regions with limited infrastructure or low commercial demand, where private airlines were unwilling or unable to operate sustainably.[5]

Over the decades, Transporte Aéreo Militar operated a varied fleet of aircraft reflecting its dual role as a military transport service and a provider of passenger and cargo services across Bolivia. Throughout its history, the organization flew piston and turboprop types such as the Douglas C‑47, Fokker F27 Friendship, CASA C-212 Aviocar and Convair CV‑440/580, alongside jet airliners including the Boeing 727, Boeing 737‑200, Boeing 737-300 and British Aerospace 146; many of these aircraft served both remote regional routes and higher‑capacity trunk services, illustrating the evolution of TAM’s operational capabilities over time.[6][7][8]

In 2008, Transporte Aéreo Militar integrated Xi'an MA60 aircraft into its fleet as part of a broader effort to modernize the Bolivian Air Force’s transport capabilities. The incorporation of the Chinese‑built turboprop MA60 aimed to enhance the institutional air transport service by supporting passenger and cargo operations across domestic routes and logistical missions, contributing to greater mobility and operational efficiency for TAM.[9][10]

Restructuring and suspension of operations

As part of broader reforms in the state aviation sector, the Bolivian government initiated a process to transform TAM into a civil public airline. This transformation was formalized by Supreme Decree No. 3444 of 2017, which established the restructuring of TAM as a public enterprise separate from direct military administration. The transition required significant organizational and regulatory adjustments, including compliance with civil aviation standards and oversight by national aviation authorities. During this period of institutional change, TAM suspended its regular flight operations in July 2018.[11]

Although authorization was later granted to temporarily resume services in 2019, TAM continued to face financial, administrative and regulatory challenges, including outstanding tax obligations and difficulties in obtaining full operational certification. As a result, all flight operations were again suspended on 23 September 2019, initiating a prolonged period of inactivity while the government assessed alternatives for the airline’s future and potential restructuring.[12]

Present years

After several years without commercial activity, the airline was reestablished as Transporte Aéreos Militares – Empresa Pública (TAMep) and officially resumed operations on 31 May 2024. The relaunch marked a rebranding from TAM to TAMep and was carried out with a limited operational structure. At the time, the airline operated a single aircraft, an Avro RJ70 registered CP-3106, which served initial domestic routes connecting La Paz with Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cochabamba and Cobija. Government authorities stated that administrative and technical procedures were underway to allow for a gradual expansion of services to additional destinations within Bolivia.[13][1]

In October 2025, TAMep temporarily suspended operations due to scheduled maintenance on its only operational aircraft, underscoring the operational constraints associated with a single-aircraft fleet. The airline indicated that services would resume following the completion of the maintenance work, characterizing the interruption as temporary rather than structural.[14]

Later that year, amid broader challenges in Bolivia’s aviation sector and increased passenger demand during the year-end holiday season, the government announced solidarity flights to mitigate disruptions affecting domestic air services.[15] These flights were to be operated by the Bolivian Air Force, which made two aircraft available to the airline: a British Aerospace 146 and a Boeing 737-200, reflecting the continued role of state and military resources in supporting civil aviation during periods of operational strain.[16][17][18]

Destinations

As of December 2025, TAMep operates flights to the following destinations:

Base
Future
Focus city
Terminated
TAMep Destinations
Department City Airport Notes
Guayaramerín Capitán Av. Emilio Beltrán Airport Suspended
Riberalta Capitán Av. Selin Zeitun Lopez Airport [19]
Rurrenabaque Rurrenabaque Airport [19]
Trinidad Teniente Jorge Henrich Arauz Airport Suspended
Sucre Alcantarí International Airport Suspended
Cochabamba Jorge Wilstermann International Airport [20][21][16][17]
La Paz El Alto International Airport Hub[20][21]
Cobija Captain Aníbal Arab Airport [20][21][16][17]
Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru International Airport Temporarily suspended[20]
El Trompillo Airport Operating temporarily[21][16][17]
Tarija Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza Airport Suspended

Fleet

Current fleet

As of December 2025, TAMep operates the following aircraft:[22]

TAMep Fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Note
1
—
79
Reg. CP-3106
1
—
88
Reg. FAB-106 opby Bolivian Air Force[16][17]
1
—
125
Reg. FAB-117 opby Bolivian Air Force[16][17]
TOTAL 3 —

Historic fleet

Throughout its history, TAMep operated a highly diverse fleet composed of piston, turboprop, and turbojet aircraft, which over the years played a key role in providing air connectivity to remote cities across Bolivia. Some of these aircraft have been preserved and can now be seen at places such as the Bolivian Air Force Museum, located next to El Alto International Airport in La Paz, and the Aircraft Plaza at the Colegio Militar de Aviación (COLMILAV), adjacent to El Trompillo Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Retired TAMep Fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Basler BT-67 2 1991 1997 Reg. TAM-38 preserved in COLMILAV at SRZ[23]
Beechcraft 1900C 1 1998 2011 Reg. FAB-043 trf to the Bolivian Air Force
Crashed near El Alto in 2011
Boeing 727-200 1 2011 2013 Reg. FAB-111 wfu and std at CBB
Boeing 737-200 6 2012 2015 Reg. FAB-117 trf to the Bolivian Air Force
Five aircraft wfu and std at CBB
Boeing 737-300 1 2013 2015 Reg. FAB-115 std at CBB after engine disappearance[24]
BAe Jetstream 31 2 2013 2014 All two trf to the Bolivian Air Force
British Aerospace 146 7 2007 2017 Reg. FAB-106 trf to the Bolivian Air Force
Five aircraft wfu and std at LPB
Reg. FAB-103 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force Museum[23]
CASA C212 6 1975 2017 All six trf to the Bolivian Air Force
Convair CV-440 13 1972 1990 Reg. TAM-44 crashed near Caranavi in 1975[25]
Convair CV-580 Metropolitan 8 1971 1997 Reg. FAB-72 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force Museum[23]
Curtiss C-46 Commando 4 1964 1987 All four trf to the Bolivian Air Force
Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota 34 1945 1997 Reg. TAM-16 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force Museum[23]
Douglas DC-4/C-54 Skymaster 4 1945 1980 Reg. TAM-52 disappeared on January 10, 1974[26]
Debris located in 2000 on Mount Mik'aya near La Paz[27][28]
Fokker F27 6 1979 2019 Reg. FAB-90 trf to the Bolivian Air Force
Reg. FAB-95 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force Museum[23]
IAI 201 Arava 6 1975 2018 Reg. TAM-75 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force Museum[23]
Lockheed L-188 Electra 1 1973 1995 Reg. TAM-69 preserved in the Bolivian Air Force Museum[23]
Xi'an MA60 2 2008 2012 All two aircraft wfu and std at CBB

Accidents and incidents

  • On 11 September 1962 Captain Walter Arze Rojas's aircraft crashed after the plane was given standard gasoline instead of aviation fuel.
  • On 12 February 1970, Douglas DC-3 TAM-11 crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Laja Airport. The aircraft was operating a non-scheduled passenger flight. All five people on board survived.[29]
  • On 14 July 1970, Douglas DC-3 TAM-17 was damaged beyond repair in an accident at El Alto International Airport, La Paz.[30]
  • On 4 May 1971, Douglas C-47 TAM-22 crashed shortly after take-off from El Alto Airport, La Paz on a cargo flight to El Jovi Airport.[31]
  • On 25 September 1972, Douglas C-47A TAM-24 was reported to have been damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at Caranavi Airport.[32]
  • On 19 January 1974, Douglas DC-3 TAM-30 was damaged beyond economic repair in a wheels-up landing at Laia.[33]
  • On 11 November 1974, Douglas DC-3 TAM-34 crashed near the Sorata Mountain shortly after take-off from El Alto Airport.[34]
  • On 27 October 1975, a CV-440 crashed into the Cerro Colorado volcano during takeoff, killing all 4 crew and 63 passengers on board. The aircraft was carrying military officers and their families.
  • On 18 March 2011, a Xian MA60 (with Bolivian registration FAB-96) with 33 passengers and crew aboard, performed an emergency landing without locked nose landing gear in the airport of the touristic Amazonian village of Rurrenabaque, on arrival from La Paz. No injuries were reported.[35][36]
  • On 9 January 2012 a Xian MA60 (with Bolivian registration FAB-96) with 16 passengers and 5 crew aboard performed an emergency landing without landing gear lowered at Guayaramerin on arrival from Riberalta. No injuries occurred, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.[37]

References

  1. ^ a b c "TAMep inicia operaciones tras ocho años de suspensión de vuelos". El Deber. 31 May 2024.
  2. ^ Schmitz, Sebastian (February 2014). Airliner World. Key Publishing. pp. 32–37.
  3. ^ Rivas, Jorge (2003). Historia de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (in Spanish). Editorial Aeronáutica.
  4. ^ "Empresa Pública Transporte Aéreo Militar". gob.bo. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  5. ^ "El transporte aéreo y la integración territorial de Bolivia". Revista de Estudios Bolivianos (in Spanish). 2010.
  6. ^ "Transporte Aéreo Militar historic fleet list". Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  7. ^ "El Transporte Aéreo Militar recibe Boeing 737‑200 y C212". Infodefensa. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  8. ^ "TAM fleet included Fokker F‑27 and CASA 212". Zona Militar forum. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Aviones MA-60 llegan al país el 15 de febrero". Opinión. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Bolivia receives Chinese MA-60 aircraft for Air Force modernization". Infodefensa. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  11. ^ "El Gobierno autoriza reanudación de operaciones del TAM por seis meses" (in Spanish). Oficina de Fortalecimiento de Empresas Públicas. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  12. ^ "TAM vuelve a suspender operaciones". Los Tiempos (in Spanish). 24 September 2019.
  13. ^ "TAMep inicia operaciones comerciales" (in Spanish). Agencia Boliviana de Información. 31 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Comunicado oficial TAMep sobre suspensión temporal de operaciones" (in Spanish). Transporte Aéreos Militares – Empresa Pública. 4 October 2025.
  15. ^ "State airline of Bolivia suspends flights on Dec. 4, 2025 amid operational issues". El Nacional (via EFE) (in Spanish). 4 December 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Ibáñez, Erika (2025-12-26). "Vuelos solidarios de la FAB arrancan el lunes en cuatro rutas". La Razón (La Paz) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  17. ^ a b c d e f "La FAB habilitará dos aviones para vuelos solidarios ante saturación de BoA". El Día (in Spanish). 2025-12-24. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  18. ^ "BoA accumulates fines and operational issues amid delays and cancellations". Los Tiempos (via Oxígeno) (in Spanish). 10 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  19. ^ a b "Próximas Rutas". TAMep – Transporte Aéreo Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  20. ^ a b c d "Itinerario". TAMep – Transporte Aéreo Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  21. ^ a b c d "La Fuerza Aérea realizará vuelos solidarios para cuatro ciudades del país". Visión 360 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  22. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - TAM". Airliner World: 52. September 2025.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g ""LIBRO DEL CENTENARIO FAB" (en español)" (PDF). Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (in Spanish). Fuerza Aérea Boliviana. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  24. ^ Desconocido (12 November 2015). "Desconocen ubicación de turbina del FAB‑115". El Diario (in Spanish). EL DIARIO, La Paz. Retrieved 27 December 2025. Al momento del informe, se desconoce la ubicación de una turbina CFM56‑3C1, número de serie 857785, destinada a un contrato de arrendamiento con opción de compra para el Boeing 737 registrado FAB‑115. La aeronave fue observada en el hangar SMA 2 en Cochabamba, pero no se confirmó la ubicación de la turbina. No se obtuvo respuesta oficial de Transporte Aéreo Boliviano (TAM) ni de la Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB).
  25. ^ ""Aviation Safety Network Wikibase Occurrence #329510"". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  26. ^ ""ASN Aviation Safety WikiBase Occurrence: Accident Douglas DC-4 TAM-52, 10 January 1974"". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  27. ^ ""FAB verifica hallazgo de avión siniestrado en 1974 con 25 ocupantes" (en español)". Noticias Fides (in Spanish). ANF Agencia de Noticias Fides. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  28. ^ ""CONFIRMADO: HALLARON AVION MILITAR SINIESTRADO HACE 26 AÑOS" (en español)". Noticias Fides (in Spanish). ANF Agencia de Noticias Fides. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  29. ^ "TAM-11 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  30. ^ "TAM-17 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  31. ^ "TAM-22 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  32. ^ "TAM-24 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  33. ^ "TAM-30 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  34. ^ "TAM-34 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  35. ^ Avión aterriza de panza sin causar daños, Periódico Los Tiempos, retrieved on March 18, 2011, archived from the original on March 21, 2011
  36. ^ "TAM Bolivia MA60 at Rurrenabaque on Mar 18th 2011, could not extend nose gear, rests on belly". Air Crash Observer, retrieved on March 20, 2011. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011.
  37. ^ "TAM Bolivia MA60 at Guayaramerin on Jan 9th 2012, gear up landing". Aviation Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2012.

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