A look of a machine that sees without being seen-story on page two
December, 1975/January, 1976
Vol. XXVII, No. 1
Piedmont posted a profit for 1975
Thanks to Piedmont’s general aviation
operations, the Company managed to post a
profit for 1975.
As last year started, the seriousness of
our nation’s economic difficulties was becoming
quite obvious. The recession, which had begun
in 1974, continued. High fuel costs, inflation
and furloughs in Piedmont’s work force also
contributed to making 1975 one of the most
challenging years in the Company’s history.
As economic conditions improved through
the year, so did the Company’s business.
At year’s end Piedmont Aviation, Inc. re
ported total revenues of $167,292,016, up 3.3
per cent from 1974.
Costs and expenses rose 9.5 per cent to
$166,887,973 in 1975, primarily due to greatly
increased fuel costs.
Earnings after taxes were $204,293 or $.08
per share in 1975.
Piedmont Airline’s traffic figures for 1975
showed revenue passenger miles totalled
1,061,020,738.
The passenger load factor for the year was
49.57 per cent.
Passenger boardings
were 3,602,990.
through December
In commenting on the year-end traffic
results. Senior Vice President K. E. Ross said,
“While our final figures for 1975 were some
what below the record levels of 1974, the last
half of the year showed steady improvement in
traffic trends. V/e expect continued improve
ment as we get into 1976.”
Ground broken for fixed-base facilities at Roanoke
Saying “Piedmont has fairly deep roots in
Roanoke and they get a little deeper all the
time”. President T. H. Davis turned the first
shovel of dirt at the January ground-breaking
ceremonies there.
The occasion marked the start of construc
tion of a $1 million general aviation operation
by Piedmont at Roanoke’s Woodrum Field. The
Company has had a general aviation business
in Roanoke since 1958.
More than $700,000 of the investment will
be for facilities, including a general aviation
terminal building, service and storage hangers.
Byron R. Dickson, Jr. was architect for the
project. It is being built by Days Construction,
of Salem, Virginia.
Early in 1975, the Roanoke City Council
selected Piedmont as the fixed-base operator
1 •
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at Woodrum under a 25-year contract with the
city.
Piedmont’s previously off’ered maintenance
and parts sales and service will be expanded
with the new buildings. Construction is sched
uled for completion by the fall of 1976. Pied
mont will then offer additional services includ
ing air taxi and charter, flight training, fuel
sales, avionics services and Beech aircraft sales
and maintenance.
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Diagram shows sites of fixed-base terminal and hangars at Roanoke.
President Davis turned the first shovel of dirt with
councilman James Trout at left.