: A B APPROVES C M H
On January 17, the long-awaited word
was out- The Civil Aeronautics Board
approved Piedmont's Columbus applica
tion. In doing so, the Board followed
the Examiner's report precisely, grant
ing Piedmont the routes between Colum
bus and Charleston direct and between
Columbus and Charleston via Parkersburg-
Marietta.
In the same decision, the Board granted
Eastern Airlines request to serve Colum
bus, but disallowed Eastern's request to
include Charleston on their Charlotte-
Columbus route. The Board's order thus
gives the residents of Columbus excellent
service, both short and long haul, and
the order must be considered equitable
for all concerned.
The Board order becomes effective March
18 and it is anticipated that service will
begin about that date. Present plans call
for the initial addition of four round trips
per day, two Columbus-Charleston direct
and two via Parkersburg-Marietta. To
handle this increase, an additional C-47
has been purchased from Meteor Air Trans
port, and will be delivered to Winston-
Salem for modification on January 20.
It will probably be released for service
about April 1.
One of the major problems confronting
our Columbus operation is the severe
shortage of space in the Terminal Building.
Several solutions have been proposed,
among them a combined TWA-Piedmont
Operation similar to that in Cincinnati,
or utilization of a separate building. At
this writing, no decision has been reached.
The field at Columbus has undergone re
markable development in the last few
years. North American Aviation has a
large operation there as has the Air Force.
Added to the extensive commercial opera
tions, this makes Columbus an extremely
heavily used field. Columbus itself has
developed into a major manufacturing
center, and has grown by leaps and bounds
It is the Capitol of the State of Ohio, and
the home of the famous Ohio State Uni
versity "Buckeyes", Big Ten Contender in
this year's Rose Bowl. During the foot
ball season, Saturday traffic to and from
Columbus should be terrific, since this is
one city which takes its football seriously.
Parkersburg, W. Va. is in the heart of
the district known as the "American Ruhr".
Coal, gas, inexhaustible water supply,
and cheap electric power are on hand,
and steel, cement and oil are nearby.
Wood County Airport which serves both
Parkersburg and Marietta has three run
ways 4000 feet or more and is 1 ighted. It
is served by American Airlines and by Alle
gheny, connecting Parkersburg with Cin
cinnati, Washington, Wheeling, Pittsburgh,
Indianapolis and Chicago.
Marietta, Ohio, sister city to Parkersburg,
is also fast becoming an industrial center.
It is the home of Marietta College, and
the site of a major intercollegiate sports
event, The Marietta Regatta, the "World's
Series" of rowing.
The Company looks forward with pleasure
to the opportunity of serving these three
fine cities for we feel that we can provide
a much needed service. May our associ -
ation be both long and pleasant.
BEST DECEMBER IN HISTORY
Piedmont rang the bell in December, show
ing the best passenger loads for that month
in our history. 24,036 people flewthe Route
of the Pacemakers in December, for a load
factor of 51%. (Load factor is the ratio of
passengers carried to available seats). This
is a fine showing, and all employees are
to be congratulated.
Figures for 1954 are in, and they speak
volumes. Piedmont carried 308,189 pas
sengers in 1954, and forecasts for 1955
indicate we will carry some 345,000 peo
ple. Passenger revenue was up 10% over
1954. Passenger revenue goal for '55 is
set at $4,350,000. Also predicted for
1955 is a 50% average system load factor.
This will take some doing in the lean
months of January, February, and March.
That old bugaboo, delays, is in for a beat
ing if 1955 predictions come true--they're
forecast to drop 15%.
In the final analysis, the answer to whether
we reach our 1955 goals lies in the efforts
of each employee. In an effort to assist
in meeting these goals. The Piedmonitor
will periodically publish our progress to
ward them. If everyone is conscious of
our aims, if we all pull toward the same
objective, 1955 will be Piedmont's top
year.
AA THANX PAI
American Airlines is mighty grateful to
Piedmont these days, as the following let
ter from J. H. Gibson, AA's Supt. of Fly
ing Operations shows. His letter, add
ressed to Bill Anspach, LYH Station Man
ager reads: "I would like to state that the
personnel of Piedmont Airlines, with no
exceptions, bent over backwards to acco
modate us and our equipment and took ex
cellent care of our passengers. Their fli
ght 75 made a non-scheduled stop at Lynch
burg to accomodate our Roanoke passengers
and they set up transportation for the re
maining eleven passengers to Howard John
son's restaurant and made all arrangements
with same for meals. They handled the
transfer of our equipment, bag and bag
gage, and assumed custody of the mail
with the approval of the Superintendent of
Mails at the Lynchburg Post Office. I say
that these men are truly deserving of our
gratitude and commendation."
HITCHED
Darlene L. Burkholder, |NT,and T. L.
Martin, INT - November 24.
V. A. Howard, INT, and Sandra Jean
Regan, INT - January 1 •
We would like to extend our deep
est sympathy to:
Carl Kuhlman, Winston-Salem
Accountant, upon the death of
his father, Walter Scott Kuhlman,
Sr. of Atlanta, Georgia on Janu
ary 23.