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{{Short description|Defunct airline of São Paulo, Brazil (1933–2005)}}
{{About|a Brazilian airline}}
{{Copy edit|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline        = VASP Viação Aérea São Paulo
| logo           = VASP logo.svg
| logo_size      = 250
| IATA           = VP
| ICAO           = VSP
| callsign       = VASP
| parent         = Viação Aérea São Paulo
| founded        = {{start date|1933|11|04|df=yes}}
| commenced      = {{start date|1933|11|12|df=yes}}
| ceased         = {{end date|2005|01|27|df=yes}}
| headquarters   = [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport]], [[São Paulo]], São Paulo, Brazil
| hubs           = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport|São Paulo–Congonhas]]
  | [[São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport|São Paulo–Guarulhos]]}}
| focus_cities   =
| frequent_flyer =
| alliance       =
| subsidiaries   = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | VASPEX (São Paulo Airways Express/cargo)
  | [[Ecuatoriana de Aviación]]
  | Transportes Aéreos Neuquén
  | [[Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano]]}}
| fleet_size     = 
| destinations   = 
| website        = [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.vasp.com.br/ vasp.com.br]
| key_people = Wagner Canhedo
}}

'''Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A''' (São Paulo Airways), better known as '''VASP''', was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport]] in [[São Paulo]], Brazil.<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''Flight International''. 30 March 1985. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200990.html "130"]. Retrieved 17 June 2009. "Edificio VASP, Aeroporto de Congonhas, CEP-04368, Sao Paulo, Brazil"</ref> It had main bases at São Paulo's two major airports, [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport]] (CGH) and [[São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport]] (GRU).

==History==
[[File:NAMC YS-11A PP-SMN VASP SDU 08.05.72 edited-2.jpg|thumb|VASP operated the [[NAMC YS-11]] from 1969. This example is arriving at [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport]] in 1972.]]
[[File:Vickers Viscount 701 PP-SRN VASP S.Paulo Marte 06.04.75.jpg|thumb|VASP [[Vickers Viscount]] turboprop airliner]]
[[File:BAC 1-11 422EQ PP-SRT VASP Galeao 07.05.72 edited-3.jpg|thumb|VASP [[BAC 1-11]] at Rio Galeao in 1972]]

The airline was established on 4 November 1933 by the state government of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]] and started operations on 12 November 1933.<ref>{{cite book| author=Instituto Histórico-Cultural da Aeronáutica | title=História Geral da Aeronáutica Brasileira: de janeiro de 1956 a dezembro de 1966 da posse do Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira até as vésperas da Reforma Administrativa | place=Rio de Janeiro | publisher=INCAER | year=2014 | volume=5 | page=474 | language=pt}}</ref> VASP was the first airline to serve the interior of the state of São Paulo ([[São Paulo]]-[[São Carlos]]-[[São José do Rio Preto]] and [[São Paulo]]-[[Ribeirão Preto]]-[[Uberaba]]), with two [[Monospar ST-4]]. At the start of the 1930s, it was the only carrier to operate with land planes in their service area. At the time this was a real exploit due to the lack of adequate non-coastal airports. Many landing strips were improvised in flat pastures. This insistence on using only land planes led to the building in 1936 of one of the country's most important airports, [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|Congonhas]], located in the city of São Paulo, far from the coast. During its early years, Congonhas Airport was popularly known as ''Campo da VASP'' ("VASP's airfield").<ref>{{cite web | url=http://acervo.estadao.com.br/noticias/acervo,como-era-sao-paulo-sem-o-aeroporto-de-congonhas,8967,0.htm | title=Como era São Paulo sem o aeroporto de Congonhas | publisher=O Estado de S. Paulo (acervo) | language=pt | first=Rose | last=Saconi | date=2 April 2013 | access-date=8 July 2013}}</ref>

In 1939, VASP bought [[Aerolloyd Iguassu]], which included also a license to operate flights to the states of [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]] and [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]. In 1962, VASP became a national airline when it acquired [[Lóide Aéreo Nacional]], and with it its license to operate nationwide.

On 6 July 1959, VASP, [[Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul|Cruzeiro do Sul]] and [[Varig]] initiated the [[Air shuttle|air shuttle services]] between [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] and São Paulo-Congonhas airports, the first of its kind in the world. The three companies coordinated their schedules, operations, and shared revenue. The service was a direct response to the competition imposed by [[Real Transportes Aéreos]]. The idea, baptized as Air Bridge ({{lang|pt|Ponte Aérea}} in Portuguese), was inspired by the [[Berlin Blockade|Berlin Airlift]]. It was so successful that it was abandoned only in 1999.<ref>{{cite book | first1=Gianfranco | last1=Beting | first2=Joelmir | last2=Beting | title = Varig: Eterna Pioneira | place = Porto Alegre and São Paulo | publisher= EDIPUCRS and Beting Books | year=2009 | isbn=978-85-7430-901-9 | language=pt | pages=83–84}}</ref> Flights operated on an hourly basis initially by [[Convair CV-240 family|Convair 240]] (Varig), [[Convair CV-240 family|Convair 340]] (Cruzeiro) and [[Saab 90 Scandia]] (VASP). In a matter of a few months, the shuttle service led by Varig won the battle against Real, which was anyway bought by Varig in 1961. [[Sadia Transportes Aéreos]] joined the service in 1968. Between 1975 and 1992, it was operated exclusively by Varig's [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]], which for sometime and for the sake of neutrality did not have the name Varig on the fuselage.

Although it had been remarkably well-run for most of its life as a state-owned company, by the 1980s VASP was being plagued by inefficiency, losses covered by state capital injections, and a bloated payroll for political reasons. Under the Brazilian government's [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] policies newly introduced at the time, VASP was privatized in 1990. A majority stake was bought by the VOE/Canhedo Group, a company formed by the Canhedo Group of Brasília and VASP employees.

Under the command of its new owner and president, Wagner Canhedo, VASP quickly expanded operations in the country, and created international routes. Until VASP's entry into the international market, Varig had, for all intents and purposes, been Brazil's sole international airline since 1965. However, after many years of mismanagement, financial losses, soaring debt and bad credit, in 2002 it cancelled all of its international operations to concentrate in the domestic market. By that time, VASP had plummeted from the second to the fourth position in the Brazilian airline market, flying an aging fleet of [[Boeing 737]]s (most of them of the obsolete −200 series) and [[Airbus A300]]s.

The company faced its worst crisis in 2004 as new airlines such rise in the country, which led to the suspension of service to many Brazilian cities and the cancellation of flights. As a result, the airline had its domestic market share reduced to 10%. On 27 January 2005, Brazil's then civil aviation regulator, DAC, grounded the airline from operating scheduled services pending a financial investigation. VASP was allowed to operate charter services until April 2005, giving it a chance to prove its financial stability in order to retain its air operator certificate.

By December 2007, the once-proud company had stopped flying altogether, and was reduced to providing maintenance services to other airlines. Even during the worst of VASP's troubles, its maintenance expertise and personnel had always been held in high regard. It had been operating under the new Brazilian bankruptcy law since July 2006, and had its recovery plan approved on 27 August 2006. However, in 2008 it declared bankruptcy.

As of October 2020, nine of the company's planes (seven [[Boeing 737-200]]s and two [[Airbus A300]]s) are still grounded at [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport]] since 2005 and by now badly weathered and dilapidated, began to be dismantled and sold for scrap at auction. Each plane in its current condition was estimated to be worth only 30,000 to 50,000 [[Brazilian real|real]] (approximately $20,000 to 33,000 US dollars), considerably less than even its monthly parking and storage fees. The company's fleet of 27 planes had been also grounded in similar circumstances since 2005 at various Brazilian airports.

==Services==
===Services at time of closure===
[[File:VASP Airbus A300 Aragao.jpg|thumb|[[Airbus A300]] at [[Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport]] in 1984]]

VASP operated services to the following domestic scheduled destinations (as of January 2005): [[Santa Maria Airport (Sergipe)|Aracaju]], [[Belém/Val-de-Cans International Airport|Belém]], [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]], [[Afonso Pena International Airport|Curitiba]], [[Fortaleza Airport|Fortaleza]], [[Foz do Iguaçu International Airport|Foz do Iguaçu]], [[Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport|Maceió]], [[Eduardo Gomes International Airport|Manaus]], [[Greater Natal International Airport|Natal]], [[Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport|Recife]], [[Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport|Rio de Janeiro–Galeão]], [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro–Santos Dumont]], [[Salvador International Airport|Salvador]], [[Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport|São Luís]], [[São Paulo–Congonhas Airport|São Paulo–Congonhas]], [[São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport|São Paulo–Guarulhos]], [[Teresina Airport|Teresina]] and [[Salgado Filho International Airport|Porto Alegre]].

===Services ended before closure===
VASP once had a much more extensive network, which covered virtually every major Brazilian city with an airport and in the 1990s included such international destinations as: [[Ministro Pistarini International Airport|Buenos Aires–Ezeiza]], [[Old Mariscal Sucre International Airport|Quito]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]], [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]], [[Gimpo International Airport|Seoul–Gimpo]], [[Mohammed V International Airport|Casablanca]], [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]], [[Lisbon Airport|Lisbon]], [[Brussels Airport|Brussels]], [[Kansai International Airport|Osaka–Kansai]], [[Ellinikon International Airport|Athens]], [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]] and [[Zurich Airport|Zurich]].

==Fleet==
[[File:VASP MD-11 PP-SOW REC 1998-2-15.png|thumb|A VASP [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]] at [[Recife Airport]] in 1998]]
[[File:DC6Vasp-01.jpg|thumb|DC6, formerly of VASP, at the [[Bebedouro]] Museum, the only one of this model to operate in Brazil]]
[[File:VASP Vickers Viscount 827 Volpati-1.jpg|thumb|A VASP Vickers Viscount 800 at [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport]] in 1973]]
[[File:VASP Boeing 737-200Adv PP-SPI REC 1998-2-15.png|thumb|A VASP [[Boeing 737-200 Advanced]] at [[Recife Airport]] in 1998]]

===Fleet history===
Over the years, the fleet of VASP consisted of the following aircraft:<ref name="Fleet1999">"[https://web.archive.org/web/19990128191150/http://vasp.com.br/ifrota.htm Fleet]." (28 January 1999) VASP. Retrieved 6 September 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/VASP.html|title=VASP fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>

{|class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:1em auto;"
|+ '''VASP fleet'''
|- bgcolor=lightblue
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A300B2]]
|3
|1982
|2005
|
|-
|[[Airbus A310-300]]
|1
|1997
|1997
|Leased from [[Ecuatoriana de Aviación]]
|-
|[[BAC One-Eleven|BAC One-Eleven Series 400]]
|2
|1967
|1974
|
|-
|[[Boeing 707-320C]]
|3
|1992
|1995
|
|-
|[[Boeing 727-100C]]
|2
|1979
|1981
|
|-
|[[Boeing 727-200]]
|13
|1977
|2005
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200]]
|41
|1969
|2005
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-300]]
|26
|1986
|2005
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-400]]
|3
|1991
|1992
|
|-
|[[Curtiss C-46 Commando]]
|14
|1962
|1973
|
|-
|[[de Havilland Dragon]]
|1
|1934
|1941
|
|-
|[[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver]]
|1
|1951
|{{unknown}}
|
|-
|[[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]
|9
|1946
|1981
|
|-
|[[Douglas C-54 Skymaster]]
|8
|1962
|1970
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|3
|1951
|1962
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-6A]]
|4
|1962
|1977
|
|-
|[[Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante]]
|10
|1973
|1992
|
|-
|[[General Aircraft Monospar|GAL ST4 Monospar]]
|2
|1933
|1944
|
|-
|[[Junkers Ju 52]]
|7
|1937
|1957
|
|-
|[[Learjet 35A]]
|1
|1991
|1996
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]]
|6
|1991
|1996
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]]
|9
|1992
|2001
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11|McDonnell Douglas MD-11ER]]
|1
|1998
|1998
|Leased from [[World Airways]]
|-
|[[NAMC YS-11A]]
|8
|1968
|1977
|
|-
|[[Saab 90 Scandia]]
|18
|1950
|1969
|
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount|Vickers Viscount 700]]
|10
|1962
|1975
|
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount|Vickers Viscount 800]]
|6
|1958
|1975
|
|-
|}

===Fleet in 1970===
{|class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:1em auto;"
|+ '''VASP fleet in 1970'''<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200558.html Flight International 26 March 1970]</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightblue
!Aircraft
!Total
!Notes
|-
|[[BAC One-Eleven]] 400
|22
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737]]
|50
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|30
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-6A]]
|4
|
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount]] 700
|32
|
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount]] 800
|24
|
|-
|[[NAMC YS-11]]
|7
|
|-
|''Total''
|124
|
|}

==VASPEX==
[[File:Boeing 727-264-Adv(F), VASPEX AN0198854.jpg|thumb|A VASPEX [[Boeing 727-200F]] at [[Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport]] in 1988]]

VASPEX was the company's subsidiary for immediate dispatch of correspondence, documents and objects. It filed for bankruptcy, but ended up going bankrupt with VASP on September 4, 2008. It operated the Boeing 727 and 737-200 for almost all of Brazil. It was created to operate together with VASP delivering orders of the type.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Vasp brand auction fails|journal=Valor Econômico|date=29 July 2014 |url=http://www.valor.com.br/legislacao/3629604/leilao-de-marcas-da-vasp-fracassa|language=Portuguese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmabrasil.org/pt-br/materias/noticias-na-midia/leilao-de-marcas-da-vasp-fracassa|title=Vasp brand auction fails|date=2015-01-23|access-date=2016-12-30|publisher=TMA Brasil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123040347/http://www.tmabrasil.org/pt-br/materias/noticias-na-midia/leilao-de-marcas-da-vasp-fracassa|archive-date=23 January 2015|language=Portuguese}}</ref>

===VASPEX fleet===
{|class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:1em auto;"
|+ '''VASPEX fleet'''
|- bgcolor=lightblue
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 727-200F]]
|12
|1996
|2005
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200F]]
|8
|1993
|2005
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-63F]]
|1
|1993
|1993
|Leased from [[Arrow Air]]
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-71F]]
|3
|1991
|1993
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF]]
|1
|1997
|1998
|Leased from [[World Airways]]
|}

==Curiosities==
The 3rd ex-VASP B737, the first operator of the legendary Boeing model in Brazil, is today at Auto Shopping Só Marcas, in the city of Contagem, almost on the border with Belo Horizonte. With the old license plate PP-SMC, this B737-200 was manufactured in 1969 and flew exclusively on the former VASP, until the company closed, staying at Congonhas Airport for several years, until it was auctioned and bought by the owner of the shopping center and other enterprises.

This plane has been the scene of several events and was even used during a political propaganda by the Workers' Party - PT in 2022. It was also in evidence because of a girl who filled it with World Cup stickers. Despite the political and football art, and now graffiti, the plane itself was not painted, but gained a cover around it, which receives the art related to the events that take place on the top floor of the used car shopping centre.

The last so-called artistic intervention was by Red Room, a production company that took German DJ Emanuel Satie to the capital of Minas Gerais, as well as Brazilian DJ Jessica Brankka. The B737 was the backdrop for a sunset event on March 18, 2023. The idea was for the jet to make a composition with the DJs, who played until 6 am.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/boeing-737-da-vasp-e-grafitado-de-vermelho-e-vira-palco-de-musica-eletronica-em-minas/|title=Boeing 737 da VASP é grafitado de vermelho e vira palco de música eletrônica em Minas|website=aeroin|date=10 March 2023 |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/garota-mineira-enche-toda-a-lateral-de-um-boeing-737-com-175-mil-figurinhas-da-copa-do-mundo/|title=Garota mineira enche toda a lateral de um Boeing 737 com 175 mil figurinhas da Copa do Mundo|website=aeroin|date=26 November 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/empresario-teria-homenageado-lula-com-aviao-boeing-737-presidencial-personalizado/|title=eria um empresário homenageado Lula com um Boeing 737 personalizado?|website=aeroin|date=12 May 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
===Accidents===
* 8 November 1940: a [[Junkers Ju 52|Junkers Ju 52/3mg3e]] registration PP-SPF taking-off from [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] to [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] collided on mid-air with the [[de Havilland Dragonfly]] registration LV-KAB belonging to the [[Shell-Mex and BP|Anglo Mexican Petroleum Company (Shell-Mex)]], which was preparing for a water-land in front of [[:pt:Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro|Fluminense Yacht Club]], today Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club in [[Botafogo]]. Both aircraft crashed killing all 14 passengers and four crew on the VASP aircraft and the pilot of the Shell-Mex aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/341836 | title=Accident description PP-SPF | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=16 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 | chapter=Vizinhança perigosa | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=33–36 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 27 August 1943: a [[Junkers Ju 52|Junkers Ju 52/3mg3e]] registration PP-SPD flying from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] to [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] struck a building of the [[Brazilian Naval School|Naval Academy]] located close to the airport shortly after the second attempt to land at Rio under fog. The aircraft broke in two and one part fell in the water. Of the 21 passengers and crew, three survived.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/340751 | title=Accident description PP-SPD | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref><!--ASN data is incorrect. Origin was CGH destination SDU--><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Colisão com a Escola Naval | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=54–60 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 13 December 1950: a [[Douglas DC-3|Douglas C-47A]] registration PP-SPT while on initial climb from [[Londrina Airport|Londrina]] lost engine power, crashed and caught fire. There were 3 ground fatalities.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/336006 | title=Accident description PP-SPT | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=28 July 2011}}</ref>
* 18 May 1951: a [[Douglas DC-3|Douglas C-47B]] registration PP-SPL en route from [[Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo]] to [[Presidente Prudente Airport|Presidente Prudente]] hit high ground while flying in bad weather. All 6 passengers and crew died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/335877 | title=Accident description PP-SPL | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>
* 8 September 1951: a [[Douglas DC-3|Douglas C-47B]] registration PP-SPQ struck a house after take-off from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] and crashed. Thirteen passengers and crew and three persons on the ground died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/335793 | title=Accident description PP-SPQ | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref>
* 13 May 1952: a [[Douglas DC-3|Douglas C-47B]] registration PP-SPM operating a flight from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] to [[Bauru Airport|Bauru]] lost control when carrying out an emergency landing following an engine failure. Two crew members and 3 passengers died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/335594 | title=Accident description PP-SPM | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=20 May 2011}}</ref>
* 30 December 1958: a [[Saab 90 Scandia|Saab Scandia 90A]] registration PP-SQE flying from [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] to [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] during climb after take-off had a failure on engine no. 1. The pilot initiated procedures to return to the airport but during the second turn the aircraft stalled and crashed into [[Guanabara Bay]]. Of the 34 passengers and crew aboard, 20 died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/334099 | title=Accident description PP-SQE | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Ponte aérea das doze horas | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=171–173 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 23 September 1959: a [[Saab 90 Scandia|Saab Scandia 90A]] registration PP-SQV en route from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] to [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] during climb after take-off did not gain enough height and crashed {{frac|1|1|2}} minutes out of São Paulo, killing all 20 passengers and crew.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/333940 | title=Accident description PP-SQV | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Falha de motor na decolagem | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=177–181 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 22 December 1959: a [[Vickers Viscount|Vickers Viscount 800]] registration PP-SRG while on approach to land at [[Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Galeão]] was involved in a mid-air collision with the [[Brazilian Air Force]] [[Fokker S-11|Fokker S-11 (T-21)]] serial number FAB0742 in the vicinity of [[Manguinhos Airport]]. All 32 people on board the Viscount were killed, as were a further ten on the ground. The T-21 pilot parachuted to safety. This accident eventually led to the closure of Manguinhos Airport.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/333884 | title=Accident description PP-SRG and FAB0742 | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=2 November 2011}}</ref><!--The ASN data is incorrect--><ref>{{cite book | first=Aldo | last=Pereira | title=Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira | place=Rio de Janeiro | publisher=Europa | year=1987 | pages=205–206 | language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Reportagem derradeira | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=177–181 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 26 November 1962: a [[Saab 90 Scandia|Saab Scandia 90A]] registration PP-SRA en route from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] to [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] collided in the air over the Municipality of Paraibuna, State of São Paulo with a private [[Cessna 310]] registration PT-BRQ en route from [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] to [[Campo de Marte Airport|São Paulo-Campo de Marte]]. Both were flying on the same [[Airway (aviation)|airway]] AB-6 in opposite directions and failed to have visual contact. The aircraft crashed, killing all 23 passengers and crew of the Saab and four occupants of the Cessna.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/333195 | title=Accident description PP-SRA and PT-BRQ | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=No céu de Paraibuna | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=214–216 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 4 September 1964: a [[Vickers Viscount|Vickers Viscount 701C]] registration PP-SRR operating flight 141 from [[Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport|Vitória]] to [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] [[VASP Flight 141|collided with a mountain]] over the location of [[Nova Friburgo]] while flying away from the intended track. All 39 passengers and crew died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/332809 | title=Accident description PP-SRR | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=16 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=A montanha trágica | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=243–248 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 3 March 1965: a [[Vickers Viscount]] registration PP-SRQ was damaged beyond economic repair at [[Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport]] when the aircraft departed the runway during a simulated engine failure on take-off.<ref name=ASN030365>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/332694 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=11 September 2009}}</ref>
* 31 October 1966: a [[Vickers Viscount]] registration PP-SRM was damaged beyond economic repair when it overran the runway at [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport]].<ref name=ASN311066>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/332279 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=11 September 2009}}</ref>
* 15 September 1968: a [[Vickers Viscount]] registration PP-SRE crashed at [[São Paulo]] while on a crew training flight. One of the two crew was killed.<ref name=ASN150968>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/331759 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=11 September 2009}}</ref>
* 11 January 1969: a [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47A]] PP-SPR was damaged beyond economic repair at [[Loanda, Paraná]].<ref name=ASN110169>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/331643 |title=PP-SPR Accident Description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=23 January 2011}}</ref>
* 14 September 1969: a [[Douglas DC-3|Douglas C-47B]] registration PP-SPP operating flight 555 took off from [[Londrina Airport|Londrina]] to [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] but due to a feathered propeller, had to return to the origin. While on approach for landing, the aircraft made a sharp left turn and crashed. All 20 passengers and crew died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/331375 | title=Accident description PP-SPP | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=23 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Arremetida monomotor | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=262–266 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 12 April 1972: a [[NAMC YS-11|NAMC YS-11A]] registration PP-SMI flying from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] to [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] flew into the side of a mountain while on descent 50&nbsp;km north of Rio de Janeiro due to pilot mistake. All 25 passengers and crew died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/330546 | title=Accident description PP-SMI | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=O Samurai desaparecido | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=274–278 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 29 January 1973: a [[Douglas C-47]] PP-SQA crashed on landing at [[Rondonópolis Airport]].<ref name=ASN290173>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/330273 |title=PP-SQA Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
* 15 May 1973: a [[Vickers Viscount]] PP-SRD was damaged beyond economic repair when it departed the runway on landing at [[Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport|Salvador Airport]] and the undercarriage collapsed.<ref name=ASN150573>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/ |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=8 October 2009}}</ref>
* 23 October 1973: a [[NAMC YS-11|NAMC YS-11A]] registration PP-SMJ flying from [[Santos Dumont Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont]] to [[Belo Horizonte/Pampulha - Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport|Belo Horizonte-Pampulha]] during an aborted take-off overrun the runway and slid into [[Guanabara Bay]]. Of the 65 passengers and crew, eight passengers died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/330059 | title=Accident description PP-SMJ | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Dia do aviador | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=291–293 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 27 February 1975: an [[Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante]] registration PP-SBE operating a flight 640 from [[Congonhas-São Paulo Airport|São Paulo-Congonhas]] to [[Bauru Airport|Bauru]] and [[Araçatuba Airport|Araçatuba]] crashed after take-off from Congonhas. All two crew members and 13 passengers died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/329687 | title=Accident description PP-SBE | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=20 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=O primeiro Bandeirante | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=294–301 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 25 May 1982: [[VASP Flight 234]], a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] registered as PP-SMY, on landing procedures at [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]] during rain, made a hard landing with nose gear first. The gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the runway breaking in two. Two passengers out of 118 occupants died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/327864 | title=Accident description PP-SMY | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref>
* 8 June 1982: a [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]] registration PP-SRK operating [[VASP Flight 168|flight 168]] from [[Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Galeão]] to [[Pinto Martins International Airport|Fortaleza]] collided with a mountain while on approach to Fortaleza. The captain descended below a minimum descent altitude. All 137 passengers and crew died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/327850 | title=Accident description PP-SRK | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=12 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=VASP 168 | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=318–326 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 28 January 1986: [[VASP Flight 210]] flying from [[São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport|São Paulo-Guarulhos]] to [[Belo Horizonte]] unknowingly tried to take-off from Guarulhos under foggy conditions from a taxiway. The take-off was aborted, but the aircraft overran, collided with a dyke and broke in two. One passenger died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/327059 | title=Accident description PP-SME | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref>
* 22 June 1992: a cargo [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200C]] registration PP-SND en route from [[Presidente Médici International Airport|Rio Branco]] to [[Cruzeiro do Sul International Airport|Cruzeiro do Sul]] crashed in the jungle while on arrival procedures to Cruzeiro do Sul. The crew of two and one occupant died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/325513 | title=Accident description PP-SND | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref>

===Incidents===
* 25 April 1970: a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-2A1]] en route from [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]] to [[Ponta Pelada Airport|Manaus-Ponta Pelada]] was hijacked by a person who demanded to be flown to [[Cuba]]. The hijack lasted a day.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/331153 | title=Incident description Vasp April 25, 1970 | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref>
* 14 May 1970: a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-2A1]] en route from [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]] to [[Ponta Pelada Airport|Manaus-Ponta Pelada]] was hijacked by a person who demanded to be flown to [[Cuba]]. The hijack lasted a day.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/331132 | title=Incident description Vasp May 14, 1970 | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref>
* 22 February 1975: a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-2A1]] registration PP-SMU en route from [[Santa Genoveva Airport|Goiânia]] to [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]] was hijacked by 1 person who demanded ransom. The hijacker was taken down.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/329693 | title=Incident description PP-SMU | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref>
* 29 September 1988: a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-300]] registration PP-SNT operating [[VASP flight 375|flight 375]] en route from [[Governador Jorge Teixeira de Oliveira International Airport|Porto Velho]] to [[Rio de Janeiro]] via [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]], [[Santa Genoveva Airport|Goiânia]] and [[Tancredo Neves International Airport|Belo Horizonte-Confins]] was hijacked by 1 person on the final leg of the flight. The hijacker wanted to force a crash on the [[Palácio do Planalto]], the official presidential workplace in [[Brasília]]. The pilot convinced the hijacker to divert to Goiânia where an emergency landing was made. The hijack ended with one victim.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/326458 | title=Incident description PP-SNT | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://veja.abril.com.br/acervodigital/home.aspx?cod=JQGQPQOOI8 | title=Sangue no vôo 375 | publisher=Abril: Veja | date=5 October 1988 | access-date=16 May 2011 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 18 August 2000: a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-2A1]] registration PP-SMG en route from [[Foz do Iguaçu International Airport|Foz do Iguaçu]] to [[Afonso Pena International Airport|Curitiba-Afonso Pena]] and on to [[Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport|Rio de Janeiro-Galeão]], [[Brasília International Airport|Brasília]], and [[Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport|São Luís]], was hijacked by five persons with the purpose of robbing BRL 5 million (approximately US$2.75 million) that the aircraft was transporting. The pilot was forced to land at [[Porecatu Airport|Porecatu]] where the hijackers fled with the money. There were no victims.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/323445 | title=Incident description PP-SMG | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=7 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u8102.shtml | title=PF liga sequestro de avião da VASP à rebelião em penitenciária em Roraima | publisher=Folha Online | date=21 August 2000 | access-date=7 May 2011 | language=pt | first=José | last=Maschio}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of defunct airlines of Brazil]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Viação Aérea São Paulo}}
* [https://asn.flightsafety.org/database/operators/4637 VASP accidents as per Aviation Safety Network]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/vasp.com.br/iindex.htm Archive of VASP pages] {{in lang|en}} (1998–2000)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.vasp.com.br/ Archive of VASP pages] {{in lang|pt}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.vaspex.com.br/ VASPEX] (archive) {{in lang|pt}}

{{Portalbar|Brazil|Companies|Aviation|Transport}}
{{Airlines of Brazil}}

[[Category:VASP| ]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Brazil]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1933]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2005]]