page six
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Industry notes
(continued from page two)
order, United’s 30 767s, Pratt & Whitney
engines were selected.
Board to use lottery system
The Civil Aeronautics Board has decided to
switch from the first-come, first-served method
to the luck-of-the-draw system in awarding
airlines the dormant routes of other carriers.
When the CAB started to give away the
unused rights of carriers in late October, it said
these routes would be awarded on the basis of
who showed up first to obtain them. The result
was a long line of airline officials outside the
CAB offices. They had to wait days to stake
their claims.
But the board decided that this isn’t any
way to run a regulatory agency; instead, it will
use the lottery method.
Capfoin and canines create happiness
Congress asked to prohibit taxation
The Air Transport Association asked Con
gress to establish policy guidelines on taxation
of fringe benefits that would prohibit the taxa
tion of airline passes. In a statement made to
the Ways and Means Committee’s Task Force
on Employee Fringe Benefits, ATA said policy
guidelines should be established that would
“permit an employer to share with its employees
facilities, goods, or services arising from its
business, where the employer incurs no addi
tional cost and where the benefits are available
to all employees on a non-discriminatory basis,
without increasing the employees’ tax burden.
Airline passes are not additional compensation
and therefore should not be taxable,” ATA said.
The Internal Revenue Service has repeatedly
tried to tax fringe benefits such as airline
passes, but Congress has prevented such action
by prohibiting taxation until Congi’ess has
studied the issue. The Ways and Means Com
mittee task force was set up to study the situa
tion and report to the full committee.
Is it shades of spidermen or a close en
counter of three kinds?
Actually, it’s neither. It’s the Star Riders,
something new in the field of animated cartoons
created by Piedmont Captain Jimmy Powers of
Atlanta.
The trio includes Commander Captain
Powers, First Officer Frostida and Second Of
ficer Kobi, who are identical white Samoyed
sled dogs. They call themselves terrestrial
travelers of good will.
The Star Riders pursue their mission, gener
ating happiness, aboard the Star Trike. Their
extra-terrestrial vehicle is a Volkswagon-
powered, highly-chromed and decorated three-
wheeler with sophisticated electronic radio
equipment.
Already a familiar sight in the Atlanta
area. Powers plans to expand his Star Riders’
universe. He has discussed his real-life ani
mated cartoon idea with Hanna-Barberra Pro
ductions in Los Angeles. Wai’ner Brothers is
also on his list for consideration of Star Riders.
In the meantime, the trio is staying busy with
television appearances, parades and even foot
ball bowl-game halftime shows. He says to
look for them in the Peach Bowl festivities just
before Christmas.
Powers, who has been with Piedmont since
1966, says his Star Riders mission of “bringing
smiles to the faces of earth’s beings whom they
encounter on the highways and byways” also
has a larger purpose — “promoting peace and
well-being among all people.”
“The image intended for Star Riders,”
Powers says, “is to show that man and beast —
all things — are brothers in one form or an
other, eliminating racial, geographical, political
and social barriers.”
If all goes well. Frosty, Kobi and Powers
may be changing time slots — from Saturday
afternoon halftime to Saturday morning and
the Star Riders Show.
Stay tuned.
Aircraft models will be available in Piedmont colors
In answer to what seems like at least a mil
lion requests — yes, there are aircraft models
available in Piedmont’s colors.
Actually, they’re not quite ready; but as
soon as enough orders are received, production
will begin. It will take a minimum of 100 orders
for each, 737 and 727, for the manufacturer to
start making our models. They will be solid,
one-piece plastic finished models, not kits. They
are l/200th scale and come with a plastic stand.
Wooden stands may be ordered for an extra
$2.95 each. In the unlikely event that not
enough orders are submitted, the builder will
refund money sent prior to production.
The Boeing 737 model will be six inches
long; the 727, nine inches. It should take from
six to eight weeks for the initial production
order.
Piedmont employees get a 10 per cent dis
count on each model ordered. The prices are as
follows;
B737 $12.50 plus 50' postage & handling
$13 (less 107f ) = $11.70
B727 $13.50 plus 50(j' postage & handling
$14 (less 10%) = $12.60
Florida residents must add 4 per cent sales
tax.
Air Jet Advanced Models, Inc.
7733 N.W. 53rd Street
Miami, Florida 33166
NAME B737 in Piedmont markings
ADDRESS B727 in Piedmont markings
CITY STATE ZIP Total amount enclosed
Employee Payroll No
Charge card, American Express VISA
Diners Club Master Charge Signature