Transporte Aéreo Militar
It was owned by the Bolivian Air Force, and was established to offer flights to rural communities where commercial airlines could not operate profitably.It also operated in competition with commercial airlines on many of Bolivia's trunk domestic routes.In 1955, the squadron of the Bolivian Air Transport decided for TAM to begin commercial operations."El Grupo Aéreo "71" (the Air group "71") known by the civil populace as Transporte Aéreo Militar (TAM), is an essential part of the structure of the Bolivian Air Force and the fundamental element for the development and integration of the populations in the distant parts of the national territory."This heritage is reflected in the words "Grupo Aéreo 71" appearing as part of the TAM logo.