Newspapers / Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / March 1, 1959, edition 1 / Page 3
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MARCH. 1959 THE PIEDMONITOR PAGE THREE STATION OF THE MOMTH IE lEEi HELP A wm . a i‘i UMIU» n iliii im) This is the first in a series of feature articles on the individual stations served by Piedmont. We hope that the ■•Station-Of-The-Month” will serve as a means to bring all of us closer together by presenting factual highlights of the featured station - the personnel, the terminal where they work, and the cities which they serve. We further hope that you will find the articles not only informative, but enjoyable. lEd.l Columbus, as a capital city, is unique in that it did not become Ohio’s capital — the CAPITAL became COLUMBUS. When the then youthful State of Ohio, more than a century and a quarter ago, decid ed to seek a centrally located site for its capital, the decision incited a number of pio neer settlements to contest spiritedly for the prize. But the already established settlements 10 ere defeated by a “dream” city that had not even been begun. The legislators on February 14, 1812, accepted the proposal of a syndicate of land owners to build the capital on the “high bank east of the Scioto River directly opposite the town of Franklinton.” Iminediate- ly the syndicate plotted the village and cabins sprang up here and there about what was destined to become Capitol Square. The Legis lature adopted the name “Columbus” for the embryo capital, deciding to so honor America’!^ discoverer. Since that early beginning, Columbus has grown physically and in population, becoming the state’s third largest city, and ranking 28th in population among the cities of the United States. Having long since outgrown the strictly capital city classification, Columbus has emerged as a many-sided community, well balanced industrially, commercially, and in its cultural phases. Its strategic location, recog nized as early as 1812 when farsighted pio neers envisioned a thriving capital city in what then was a wilderness, is still a major resource which, with diversity of activity, be speaks a continuance of the steady develop ment that has characterized its history from the time it was an unnamed village on the ‘■high bank east of the Scioto.” The city is situated in the heart of the industrial core of the nation. It is close enough to the heavy steel industrial centers to have ready access to supply and near the greatest ccal and gas fields of the United States. Lying close to industrial markets, it can supply their requirements. To cap all this, Columbus is in the center of a great agricultural state, where the income per acre of its farmers is twice that of the average U.S. farmer. Two-thirds of the population cf the United States reside within a 550-mile radius of the city. Colum bus also takes honors as being a seat of learn ing. being the home of Ohio State University, eighth largest in the country, and six other colleges within the Metropolitan area. In ad dition. Columbus has rapidly develoved into a scientific research center of international rep utation. There are several institutions which do outstanding research in the chemical, metallurgical, nuclear, physical, electronic and medical fields. These various features of Columbus make its importance as a transportation center ob vious. In realization of this fact, efforts to se cure a first-class airport for the city began in the spring of 1927, when a few men interested in the possibilities of aviation met to devise ways and means to secure the passage of a bond issue. After years of civic activity. Port Columbus, one of the country’s finest aviation centers, was opened in 1929. : Ths past six weeks hrve teen bus;-’, challenging, and cnjoy- lable . . . and it all began when . was assigned the editorship of the P-EMONITOR. During these few wetks. I’ve discovered that the people who work for Pied mont are as friendly and helpful as you could ever hope to meet, and on every level the company itself seems to be a progressive and vital part of the airline in dustry. Along with learning these two things came the re sulting realization of responsi bility ... to make tiie standard of our company newspaper re flect the high qualities possessed by the people and company it serves. We’ve asked the question, “How can the PIEDMONITOR best serve?” and the answer has proved to include many things . . . it should keep all employees accui’iitoly a”:d a:!equ"tely in- forr.isd of compa;.y news, it siiould be entertaining and in teresting, and it should enable us to “keep in touch” with our friends in the different stations. There is only one way for the PIEDMONITOR to be successful and that is for us all to stay interested and contribute our part. Your station correspondents were appointed to represent you, so give them the news! We also want to take this opportunity to encourage you to share your ideas with us. We welcome your criticisms and suggestions—it’s the only way we can give you the paper you will most enjoy and use. May I also take this chance to thank each of yon for the in terest you’ve expressed and the help you’ve offered. Moonyeen R. Wright ("Columbus Dispatch Photo) HISTORY OF PORT COLUMBUS On July 8, 1929 cercmonies ivere held which officially opened Port Columbus. After the dedication program, the “City of Colum bus” (a Ford Tri-motor) took off with the nineteen “first” passengers and disappeared in the distance. Forty-eight hours later they com pleted a transcontinental trip (via plane and train)—a journey previously requiring over 100 hours to accomplish. At the time of the original dedication, the airport consisted of 524 acres and two runways meauring 2500 and 3500 feet in length and only one hangar. But today Port Columbus is quite a dif ferent picture and reflects the same growth that characterizes the city it serves. Today, the total area amounts to approximately 2200 acres. The airport boasts an 8,000 foot runway and construction is near completion of extend ing this to 10,700 feet, making it one of the longest airport runways in the middlewest. Present facilities include six large hangars, 24 “T” hangars and one service hangar. The most inpressive feature of Port Co lumbus is the new four-million dollar terminal facility which was dedicated on Sept. 21, 1958. Approximately 150,000 people attended the elaborate dedication ceremonies which were followed by a spectacular air show. In 1953 construction was begun on the control tower which rises 110 feet from the center of the building. The terminal proper is Y-shaped and the wings extend 260 and 630 feet from the tower. The longest wing is the passenger load ing pier and has eight permanent gates which facilitate the simultaneous loading of thirteen aircraft. The exterior of the terminal, designed by the J. E. Greiner Co., is of gleaming alum inum and glass with some brick trim. Port Columbus is dedicated “to the con venience of the traveling public, to the eco nomic service of Columbus people, and to the practical promotion of aviation in America.” The success resulting from such a dedication is clearly evidenced by the history of growth of the aviation industry in Columbus. During the year 1957, the airport handled 6.924,024 pounds of airfreight and a total of 626,796 pas sengers. Each nevj year sees an increase in the number of passengers serviced through Port Columbus . . . and Piedmont’s crew of ten is there to represent us in continuing serv ice of the highest quality. Housed in one of the nation’s finest air terminals, servicing one of the most progres sive and versatile cities. Piedmont can well be proud that it serves . . . Columbus, Ohio. And now let’s meet the Piedmont Crew! At Port Columbus we have a group of ten friendly folks representing us—and they “do it up in style!” Ed Laskowsi: Station Manager Don Shanks: Chief Agent Gene Shore: Operations Agent Dick Shelton: Operations Agent Ray Norris: Operations Agent Shirley Sword: Reservations Agent Lee Ann McBrayer: Reservations Agent Nancy Churches: Reservations Agent Jo Ann Short: Reservations Agent Janet Young: Reservations Agent Cowboy Suits ---{NEW And Airplanes It was very early in the morn ing and everyone in the Zisg:er household was sleeping soundly . . . except three-year-old Randy who WES about to embark on the biggest adventure of his life. Quietly and with a gleam of de termination in his eyes, Randy slipped from his bed and dressed himself in what he considered his Sunday Best—his fancy cow boy suit. It really mattered very little that the coat was wrong side out. Randy was lucky and managed to slip out of the house undetected and he soon found himself on the deserted street, FAA Cars slowed as they passed the little adventurer who walked alone but seemed to know with- ut a doubt where he was going. It was an awfully long way to where he was going (nearly two miles), but Randy didn’t mind . after all, he was going to, see the airplanes. If there was anything in all the world better than ice-cream, cowboy suits, snails, and baseballs, it was air planes. Then the Smith-Reynolds Air- The solving of many major problems facing aviation has long been locked up in the “basement” of the Department of Commerce, with vital decision power being distributed between many agencies dealing with aviation . . . But no longer! On Aug. 23, 1958, the President signed a bill. Considered the most important aviation legislation ever passed, this bill took the necessary step and an effective agency with over-all control was created to support the common needs of both civil and military aviation in the United States . . . the safely on his wav to the realiza-Federal Aviation Agency, tion of a dream. ' ^^ars the Civn Aeronautics Administration had supervised U. S. civil aviation along with a sister agency, the Airways Modernization Board. Both agencies have been dissolv ed, their functions and powers being transferred to the new FAA. The new agency also as sumed the air safety rule-writ ing functions of the CAB. As Mr. Richardson pointed out the interview, there are no spectacular surface changes. Safety is still the prime concern and purpose of the FAA as it port was in view! He had made,.^ag qJ CAA. However, the it! Randy started running but he was soon spotted and stopped by two strange men, T. L. Martin and Bill McGee. They tried to question him, but Randy sensed danger and took off again. George Stack proved to be the fleet-footed athlete and caught the screaming, kicking, squirming little spit fire. The police were notified and in the meantime Randy’s mother had missed him and ca'led the police also. Time was short . . . George thought for a moment and decided that a grand tour was deserved. Before the police and Mrs. Ziegler arrived, there was time for the victorious Ran dy to crawl in and out and over five planes. When his mother came he was ready to leave . . . mission accomplished! A delightful story of the ad ventures of childhood . . . and maybe more. Indeed it makes one wonder . . . what would the airline industry be like if we were all as enthused about our jobs as Randy was about air planes? What if each of us cap tured a like determination to rea’ize our goals? difference lies in the progyess and efficiency in, performing these responsibilities to establish and enforce safety rules and the other varied, duties. As Mr. Mur ray sums ,up, “As aviation ad vances, so must management. Therefore, it is necessary that 1 egulatory a g e n c ie s advance with the industry. I believe that the new FAA is the right step \n the right direction.” Just Flown In GSO—Mr. and Mrs. Earl Moore. 7-lb., 11 ounce boy, Feb. 22. ORF—Webbs, Hansens, Pilleys, Mellotts, Harts and Pow ells. LFH—Mr .and Mrs. Edward T. Best. Girl in Feb. ISO—Mr. and Mrs. Wade Allen. Daughter. ILM—Mr. and Mrs. Bill Nurn-' berger. 5-lb. 13 ounce son. ILM—Mr. and Mrs. Bob A'mcn, 7-lb. daughter.
Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter
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March 1, 1959, edition 1
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