Newspapers / Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / Dec. 1, 1959, edition 1 / Page 3
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DECEMBER, 1959 THE PIEDMONITOR PAGE THREE PI PIX: F-27 Anniversary Craft Gains Approval From the very beginning of F-27 service, both Piedmont per sonnel and the general public have shown a tremendous accep tance of the craft. And after one full year of operating the turbo props (the first year ended No vember 14), the records are jus tifying that acceptance. Traffic data compiled shows that the F-27 craft generated 40 per cent more passenger traffic than did DC-3’s formerly on the same trips. Passenger load fac tor was 48 per cent, approxi mately one per cent higher than the company forecast in its ap- phcation for a guaranteed loan. President Tom Davis said, “A decision to re- i !&, place existing . aircraft with Jjn'-i new or d i f- ferent types cannot pru- dently be made unless two questions can be answered in the a f f i r m a- DAVIS tive.” Two Questions The two questions are: Will ■the new aircraft have a lower break-even load factor than the equipment to be replaced? and Do the routes over which the re placement aircraft are to be op erated have sufficient traffic density to reasonably assure a break-even load factor? Mr. Davis affirmed that “stud ies three years ago indicated the F-27 was the best modern transport available which would meet the test as a replacement for the DC-3 and that operating results during the first year con firm that fact.” The public enthusiasm for the 11 MRS. GRANT F-27 is illustrated by comments and questions which INT Reser- vationist Ina Grant has heard during the first year. Ina said, “Some prospec tive passengers ask for F-27 flights specifi cally. Others make reserva tions and then ask if their flights a r e on F-27’s. Either way, people know the plane and call for it by name.” The eight F-27's flew a total of 3,002,468 miles and chalked up 15,367 hours flying time. Three of the craft have now ex ceeded the 2000-hour mark. President Davis pointed out, “To be sure, as with any new type transport, we have had a number of ‘bugs’ which had to be worked out of the craft. For tunately, most of these have been confined to accessories.” Seven On Schedule Elimination of difficulties has progressed to that point that an operational spare is no longer required. One maintenance spare is still retained, placing seven F-27’s into the daily schedule. Direct operating costs for the craft during the first year were 100.36 cents per mile. Though higher than that for the DC-3, the figure is very favorable in comparison with the 104.10 cents per mile Convair costs experi enced by Mohawk Airline dur ing the first year of operation in 1956. The relatively low initial op erating costs figure is especially significant, when other factors are considered and when infla tion between 1956 and 1959 is examined. Substantial cost reductions are anticipated for the future. Al ready, insurance charges have been reduced. Also, it is believed that a 57 per cent break-even load factor can be attained. Superintendent of Maintenance Howard Cartwright reports that “the allowable overhaul period on the Dart engines has in creased from 800 to 1400 hours; the peri odic inspection limit has been extended from 100 to 125 hours; and the major, expand- e d inspection from 400 to 500 gone CARTWRIGHT limit has hours.” “In general,” Cartwright says, “though we’ve had problems here and there, we in mainten ance consider the F-27 a good plane. And everybody likes to work on it.” President Davis recently stat ed, “Behind all the noise and smoke created by introducing large, pure jets into regular serv- ive during 1959 lies an equally significant — although not so glamorous — development in air transportation. That is the in troduction of service for the first time by a new airplane designed expressly for short-haul opera tion.” “This new airplane, the F-27,” he added, “is the only airplane placed into short haul service since the DC-3 which has made possible substantial seat-mile cost reductions and potential subsidy reduction.” {■■#1 DIGNITARIES PARTICIPATING in the 1958 dedication were (left) James P. Carmichael, president of the Fairchild Corp. and (center) the Hon. Luther Hodges, governor of North Carolina. President T. H. Davis is shown here discussing F-27. service with them in front of his home in Winston-Salem. lO YEARS SERVICE Clyde Elliott Ennis, Mech. Spec INT, December 14. Frank H. Grant, Lead Radio Tech. INT, December 1. ^ James A. Humphreys, Dist. Sales Mgr. ORF, December 12. Porter B. Wallace, Sr. Spec., INT, December 19. Ralph C. Williams, Lead Radio Tech. INT, December 5. 5 YEARS SERVICE Miss Jeanette Butner, Oper, Clk. INT-FB, December 1. Eugene Henry Durham, Lead Mech. SDF, December 1. Johnny D. Jones, Purser INT, December 9. James W. Ledbetter, Cleaner INT, December 16. Kenneth E. Stephens, Sr. Mech. ORF, December 1. BIRTHS David Laurence Mahn, Boy, to Dick Mahn (CHO) and wife,: September 15. ; Linda Joyce Russell, G i r 1, to W. M. Russel] (INT) and wife,^ October 31. Boy to Mac Moore (SDF) and wife, name and date unknown. PROMOTIONS A. E. C h i 11 y, INT, Mechanic Specialist to Sr. Specialist. L. E. Hartman, INT, Mechanic to Sr. Mechanic. Thomas Holton, ILM, Lead Ra dio Tech. to Foreman, ROA. T. M. Kersey, INT, to Sr. Mei chanic. James S. Nunley, INT, Jr. Radio Technician to Radio TechniT cian, ROA. F. R. Pilley, Sr., INT, Jr. Me chanic to Mechanic. E\ ■ ■ IP. DEDICATION IN 1958 had Wendy Davis, young daughter of the president, chris tening the first F-27 in operation for Piedmont, "Tarheel Pacemaker." The bright shiny Rolls Royce, the ultimate in automobiles, symbolizes the quiet and dependability of the Rolls turbo-prop engines. LATEST F-27 INAUGURAL flight touches down at Port Columbus, where Sta tion Manager Ed Laskowski welcomed Sales Manager W. G. McGee. The October 25 flight, piloted by Frank Nicholson, began the first jet service of any kind for Columbus and for Parkersburg and Marietta.
Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter
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Dec. 1, 1959, edition 1
3
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