10 -THE CAROLINA TIMES SAT.. MARCH 12. 1977
Dlacfr-0 rncd Frni
Tieeler Airlines
Area,
.f-.-
Serves Four State
By Warren D. Blackshear
"Wheeler Airlines . . . now
with Jet-Prop Service to
Augusta" reads the red, white
and blue flight schedule pub
lished by the nation's only
black-owned airline with re
gultrly scheduled flights. This
statement is a good indication
of the latest development of
the busiest commuter air
line at Raleigh-Durham Air
port.. From its inception in
1969, the relatively new air
, line has growr to where it
employs ten pilots and has
eighl flying machines. The
latest additionas to its air
force includes two, 15-paggen-ger
Beach 99 prop-jet air
craft. It provides regular ser
vice between seven air
ports in Georgia, North
Carolina, Virginia and West
Virginia.
Last month, a slow month
for air carriers, Wheeler Air
lines transported 2000 passen
gers to their destinations. Al
though this hardly compares
with the rrajor carriers, it
represents tremendous growth
from the 208 'passengers
carried the first month it start
ed carrying them in 1973. It
also marks a major accom
plishment for the airline's
33 year old president, Warren
H. Wheeler, a native of
Durham.
While the public hears a
lot about supersonic jets and
huge passenger carrying capa
city aircraft, the future looks
bright for the commuter air
lines such as Wheeler's. "There
will be an increasing need for
commuter airlines," says James
Weaver, RDU Airport Manager,
as the major ar.d local airlines
get more sophisticated, .i
Rather than competing,
the commuter is in tune with
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SPONTANEOUS CONFERENCE -r- Wheeler Airlines
President Warren H. Wheeler holds a Spontaneous con
ference with Wayne Watson, general manager while
awaiting the arrivaj of Flight 303 from Charlotte, N. Ci
inbound and outbound flights
of the major airlines and can
pick up or deliver passengers
to outlying areas with a mini
mum uf delay. Weaver said hat
in such areas the major air
craft careers cannot provide
egular service on an ij'.onomi
cal basis.
Tlie commuter also pro
vides rapid transportation for
business persons where time is
at a premium. This is the case
of Burroughs-Wellcome Com
pany, a large Wheeler customer
''ith home offices and. labora
tories in Research Triangle
Park and a manufacturing
, facility in Greenville. .
The Airport Manager said
that the new airline, fits a
image and has good growth
potential. The public, Weaver
continued, "has" confidence in
Wheeler Airlines."
Headquartered in a 1 1 ,500
square foot, two-story office
building and hanger at RDU,
Wheeler employs 29 persons to
conduct the airlines diversified
operations. In addition to the
passenger, service which used
,lhe largest , number of persons
as pilots, ticket agents a id. re
servationists. Wheeler offers air
freight, charter flight and main
tenance services.
Under a contract with the
Financial Courier Corporation,
the airline transports cancelled
checks for banks in a tri-state
area. This operation uses the
smaller aircraft and accounts
for about 30 of their over
all business.
Groups or V firms can
charter Wheeler's planes to
any airport in the nation.
A five-man aircraft main
tenance department headed by
Linzie Farmer, supervisor,
maintains the fleet of aircraft
and the planes ofther clients.
Having undergone a rapid
growth, Wheeler indicated that
the future emphasis will be
placed on consolidating the
commuter passenger serviced
Together with. 31 year old
Wayne Watson, general mana
ger, the airline has taken steps
to improve the quality of ser
vice on . the scheduled flights.
"The new Beech 99 prop
jets will affordyus wore unK
fbrrnrschethilingrnogreater
capacity on the ' , regular
flights,". Watson said,; "and it
will help maintain passenger
confidence in our service."
Admitting that confidence
was a major factor with a
smaller airline, Watson said
that he was proud of Wheeler
Airlines' "no accident" safety
record. While they must adhere
to certain minimum require
ments, the genera manager
reported that they subject
themselves to more stringent
standards than those set by
the Federal -Aviation
Authority.
When thinking in terms of
the major carriers, a , trip with
Wheeler " Airlines is very de
ceptive because the same effi
cient services are provided by a
much smaller group of workers
who are seen hustling about
doing a variety of chores. Pilots
are seen loading luggage and
checking tickets; the general
manager helps coordinate re
servations, works with the
ticket agent and ' transports
luggage to the gate; and. the
president , himself .. is at the
terminal, to check with pilots
on incoming flights. . All' are
going about their tasks in a
cheerful, professional manner.
Wheeler is not spared the
normal problems of the major
carriers, but the solutions can
come much quicker.; When a
passenger's baggage: 'didn't
get to the right location: a
quickly called conference
identified the cause as the
major carrier which booked
the flight didn't have the
proper markers. The next
flight out had an adequate
supply of luggage markers to
eliminate any .future mishaps.
The fledgling airlines also
has had its share of training
for the major airlines. Last
year it reported having a crew
of four black pilots. Since then
.. the number has. been reduced
with one going to American
and another , to Piedmont.
The longest run for the
commuter . airline is from
Asheville to Norfolk, Va.
, Wheeler's planes fly the 365
mile trip in three hours which
; includes stops in Charlotte,
Greenville and ) Raleigh-Dur-hanrThe
cost is $58. The rfbn-t
stop flight from Raleigh . to
Augusta, Ga (260 miles) takes
on hour and 55 minutes for
$40.- The - .140 miles
non-stop trip from Raleigh to
Charlotte takes 45 minutes
for $27. ......
' Warren; Wheeler first be
came acquainted with airplanes
as a youth when he was given
a ride with his sister who was
taking flying lessons : at the
time. He began his own lessons
at 14 and had his private
license when he' reached 17.
v After graduating from Hill
side High .School, he entered :
A&T State University.. A year
later he left to pursue a career .
m. flying , his first kwe.
Wheeler entered the American -Flyers-School
tin Oklahoma
where he obtained his multi
engine ratings and commer
cial license, v 1
Back in North Carolina.
Wheeler began a small flight
school in Chapel Hill training
college -students to fly. He
became the first black pilot
and one of the youngest
pilots to, be hired fyf Pied
mom ' Airline's at the ago of
22. He still flys for Pied
mont as Senior Co-Pilot.
His entry into the air
lines business came about
when another private pilot
disclosed plans to .begin a
commuter -. airlines but
later backed out. The Coastal
Plains Regional Commission,
a federal agency, was interested .
in the plan and decided to
subsidize the service in an
attempt to stimulate commerce
and industry, in the . smaller
eastern shore communities. '
The CPRC backed Wheeler
Airlines with $ 1 50 JDO0 which
was used to offset the carrier's
operating losses. The business,
was also aided by a loan front
the Small Business Ad minis-
tration. The CPRC subsidies
ended after three years and
now the fledgling airlines is.
making a go of it on its own.
lnteres.ingly e n, o u g h.
Warren, son of John H.
Wheeler,-: . v president ? - of
Mechanics and Farmers Bank,
was introduced tp the air by
his sister, Julia who followed
in her father's footsteps with a1
career in . banking and his rnurmMC nrcrnvATinN IhHv I iieac recordi
mother is nc w handling a necessary information to Confirm passenger reservation
variety -of chores-at -Wheeler uii.Min, ,n..n.iM o,uih - n..rhm Almort.
- terminal. , ..".
Airlines.
CHECK OUT (Above) After chech'ng details of last flight, Wheeler and pilot
Bob Brady leave aircraft. (Below) Passengers enter Wheeler Airlines 15 passenger
Beech 99 jet prop on way to Charlotte while co-pilot Sidney Clark Assists at left.
(The Carolina Times Photos by Blackshear).
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