Aigle Azur

[[File:Aigle Azur Douglas DC-3 Volpati.jpg|thumb|left|DC-3 in Aigle Azur's 1950s colours at the company's 60th anniversary]]

[[File:Aigle Azur Douglas DC-3 Volpati.jpg|thumb|left|DC-3 in Aigle Azur's 1950s colours at the company's 60th anniversary]]

'''Societé Aigle Azur S.A.''' was founded in April 1946 by Sylvain Floirat, becoming the first post-war privately estabilished air carrier in France. It began operating in the following month of September with a few [[Junkers Ju 52]]s with an increased accommodation up to 32 seats. The founder was also able to secure transport contracts with the government authorities, such as flighs for overseas teachers during the school holidays, the first destinations being Tunisia and Lebanon. Purchasing more modern equipment from American surplus allowed the company to extend its activities, mainly into [[Indochina]] and Algeria, where an important market was the repatriation of French citizens. By the end of the decade the first scheduled connections had been launched, which soon extended to the most distant destinations. By September 1951 routes to Dakar (Senegal) and Brazzaville (Congo) were operated and in early 1952 a route to Saigon-Hanoi (today in Vietnam) was opened.

'''Societé Aigle Azur S.A.''' was founded in April 1946 by Sylvain Floirat, becoming the first post-war privately estabilished air carrier in France. It began operating in the following month of September with a few [[Junkers Ju 52]]s with an increased accommodation up to 32 seats. The founder was also able to secure transport contracts with the government authorities, such as flighs for overseas teachers during the school holidays, the first destinations being Tunisia and Lebanon. Purchasing more modern equipment from American surplus allowed the company to extend its activities, mainly into [[Indochina]] and Algeria, where an important market was the repatriation of French citizens. By the end of the decade the first scheduled connections had been launched, which soon extended to the most distant destinations. By September 1951 routes to Dakar (Senegal) and Brazzaville (Congo) were operated and in early 1952 a route to Saigon-Hanoi (today in Vietnam) was opened."World Aviation Annual", Aviation Research Institute, Washington (D.C.), 1948"Lloyd's Confidential Record of Civil Aviation", The Lloyd's Corporation of Lloyd's, London (U.K.), years 1952 to 1954

Instrumental to the growth of the company were aircraft such as Airspeed AS.65, Boeing 307, Bristol 170, Curtiss C-46, DC 3, DC 4, DC 6, SO.30 Bretagne. To better manage the fleet, local subsidiaries were created such as '''Aigle Azur Maroc''', '''Aigle Azur Indochine''' (later '''Aigle Azur Extreme Orient'''). The C-46s were initially assigned to the Morocco market but later to the whole North Africa and to Indochina. DC 3s were bought in 1947/1948 and acquisitions went on until 1954 but some of them were lost during the war between French armed forces and Vietminh fighting units. Essentially to meet military requirements, between 1952 and 1954 seven SO.30Ps were purchased for Aigle Azur Extreme Orient. All were equipped with a large cargo door and powered by Turbomeca "Palas" jet engines. Almost all of them were also used by Air Laos. Aigle Azur Maroc, which started operations with DC 3s, was merged into a local airline. After 1954 Aigle Azur Extreme Orient went on until 1960 with a completely different task.

Instrumental to the growth of the company were aircraft such as Airspeed AS.65, Boeing 307, Bristol 170, Curtiss C-46J.M. Davis-H.G. Martin-J. Whittle, "Curtiss C-46 Commando", Air-Britain (Historians) ltd., Tonbridge (Kent), U.K., 1978, ISBN 0 85130 065 0, Douglas DC 3J-M.G. Gradidge, "The Douglas DC 3 and its predecessors", Air Britain (Historians), Tonbridge (Kent), U.K., 1984, ISBN 0 85130119 3, Douglas DC 4, Douglas DC 6, SO.30 BretagneJ. Chillon-J.-P. Dubois-J. Wegg, "French postwar transport aircraft", Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., Tonbridge (Kent), U.k., 1980, ISBN 0 85130 078 2. To better manage the fleet, local subsidiaries were created such as '''Aigle Azur Maroc''', '''Aigle Azur Indochine''' (later '''Aigle Azur Extreme Orient'''). The C-46s were initially assigned to the Morocco market but later to the whole North Africa and to Indochina. DC 3s were bought in 1947/1948 and acquisitions went on until 1954 but some of them were lost during the war between French armed forces and Vietminh fighting units.J-M.G. Gradidge, "The Douglas DC 3 and its predecessors", Air Britain (Historians), Tonbridge (Kent), U.K., 1984, ISBN 0 85130119 3 Essentially to meet military requirements, between 1952 and 1954 seven SO.30Ps were purchased for Aigle Azur Extreme Orient. All were equipped with a large cargo door and powered by Turbomeca "Palas" jet engines. Almost all of them were also used by Air Laos. Aigle Azur Maroc, which started operations with DC 3s"Lloyd's Confidential Record of Civil Aviation", The Lloyd's Corporation of Lloyd's, London (U.K.), years 1952 to 1954, was merged into a local airline. After 1954 Aigle Azur Extreme Orient went on until 1960 with a completely different task."World Aviation Annual", Aviation Research Institute, Washington (D.C.), 1948"Lloyd's Confidential Record of Civil Aviation", The Lloyd's Corporation of Lloyd's, London (U.K.), years 1952 to 1954

On 1 May 1955, Sylvain Floirat transferred the entire fleet to the [[Union Aéromaritime de Transport]] (UAT), along with 54 of the company's crew members and its hotel staff.

On 1 May 1955, Sylvain Floirat transferred the entire fleet to the [[Union Aéromaritime de Transport]] (UAT), along with 54 of the company's crew members and its hotel staff.