In the summer of 1987, I was attending UC-Irvice earning my MBA and just completed my first year in the programme.

As a 23 year old enthusiast aviation fan with a solid interest in the Lockheed Electra, I established contact VARIG’s North American Vice President Mr. Werner Leghein at his office in downtown Los Angeles. I asked if he would assist me in sending my request to the airline’s head office in Rio asking if they would support my efforts to visit them with the purpose of preparing an in-depth article on VARG’s Ponte Aerea Electra operation.

VARIG responded positively, and it was the start of many trips and numerous friendships made with the airline. On my first trip down to Rio in early July, 1987, VARIG provided first class tickets from LAX. As a student I couldn’t believe my luck!

Those were the days when airlines would graciously help aviation journalists, a great rarity in this day and age! VARIG is no more, and times have changed, but the article below takes us back to a time when it seemed anything was possible for budding aviation fan and journalist.

In the summer of 1988, I had the life-influencing opportunity to make a series of visits to VARIG Airlines in Rio to document their amazing Lockheed Electra Ponte Aerea (Air Bridge) operation which then connected Rio’s Santos Dumont Airport with Sao Paulo’s Congonhas airport.

During these visits I made several flights on VARIG’s Electras and met with senior VARIG management including Manoel Torres, Schedules Manager, and Harro Fouquet, Planning Director.

As a 24 year old university student, my VARIG scoop was an accomplishment I was proud of. During these visits I made many friends at VARIG, but have lost contact over the many decades that have since passed.

In 1992, the VARIG Electra operation came to an end after three decades of glorious service, as the reliable Lockheed classics were replaced by Boeing 737-300s. The article below was prepared for Airline Executive magazine, and details the history and business case challenges of the day for the Ponte Aerea.