SUNLINER NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Vol. 1 - #1 (Dec. 10, 1951) Frontier's traffic gains - 1st nine months of 1951: •76,776 passengers •21 million rev. passenger miles •2,128 M pounds air freight •Total Revenues - $2,993,000 •Non-mail revenues $1,195,000 Silver City-Hurley service inaugurated 12/1/51 on route between Phoenix and El Paso. 200 people carried at $2.50 each on sight-seeing flights over area. Sales task force organized to "blitz" communities Sales team consisted of: •Chet Lubben - DEN •Vern Carlson - GJT •Ed Gerhardt - PHX •Mike Cook - SLC •Dick White - ABQ/BIL •Bob Evans & Brooke Burnham of CAL & BNF •Jerry Kitchen - Cargo Sales Mgr. •John Lindsay - Psgr. Sales Mgr. Worked in 36 on-line cities and 22 off-line cities with five solid months of sales travel. •called on 5,000 business firms •some 20,000 persons •60 luncheon/dinner meetings •40 travel movie showings with 35 to 400 people •55 radio programs with 10 to 15 minute presentations •100 newspaper articles •Distributed thousands of "Let's Get Acquainted" booklets Vol. 1 - #2 (Jan. 1952) Frontier's traffic for 1951: •102,394 passengers - Up 56% •303,394 ton miles air freight - up 87% •127,808 ton miles air mail - up 73% Dropped Price and Provo from route (lack of passengers) New "H" marker installed at Duchene, Utah between GJT/SLC Progressive overhaul in maintenance developed. Six packages of maintenance spread over a 144 week period. This eliminated major overhaul costs and time down. Evens out work load and eliminated overtime costs Frontier serves oil development areas: •Casper - oil supply and drilling materials/offices •Big Horn Basin - oil production in Wyo. •Wind River Basin - oil production in Wyo. •San Juan Basin - Oil/gas production in New Mex. & Colo. •Uinta Basin - oil production near Vernal •Denver-Julesburg Basin - oil production •Powder River Basin - Mont. & Wyo. oil production •Williston Basin - Montana & No. Dakota oil production Frontier carries 33% of all air freight of the 18 feeder lines, 16% of all air mail of the 18 feeder lines Arizona Airways Route 93 Case Hearing in Phoenix March 11-18, 1952 heard by CAB. Later in October 6, 1952 the examiner recommended that FL be suspended at Superior, the Phoenix/Douglas segment, the Phoenix/El Paso segment, the stop at Prescott and TWA be suspended at Winslow Vol. 1 - #5 (May 1952) Phoenix area strawberries and fresh flowers shipped to SLC - DEN - ABQ - GJT markets in the eight feet long cargo compartments of our DC-3s. Worked with Flying Tigers to haul 18,000 lbs. air freight from Denver to Phoenix Fresh grapefruit from Phoenix area used on sales promotions throughout system. Had small flags labeled "Flown fresh from the Valley of the Sun" Highway billboards used extensively on system. Had theme "Had enough ?" on approaches to towns with the flying time from a major city vs the average driving time, Many of these signs were in Scotchlight material to stand out in dark. Caps and gowns from Autrey Brothers of Denver shipped over system for high school graduations. Some 10,000 sets of caps and gowns moved in May/June each spring. Zuni Indians flown by FL charters to fight forest fires Fires often spotted by FL crews enroute. Vol. 1 - #9 (September 1952) Peaches of the Hale and Elberta varieties grown in GJT area are flown fresh via FL to major markets in DEN-SLC-ABQ. Small flags were also used in dishes of peaches served at group luncheons in Arizona with "Flown fresh from Cool Colorado via FL" Rawlins Antelope Derby attracts hundreds of hunters via FL during September 1952 Phoenix based personnel of Frontier make up "Rebel Division" Two round trips DEN/GJT reduced to one round trip in winter to schedule mid-day service which would be more reliable Capt. Everett Aden spent three months helping Iceland's Flugfelag Akwreyrar (airlines) set up scheduled services between Iceland and Scandinavian countries. Operated 3 PBYs, 2 DC-3s and one DC-4 aircraft Vol. 1 - #12 (Dec. 1952) Donald A. Duff, ex-President of Challenger Airlines and V. P. Traffic & Sales dies in Minneapolis where he was working with Wisconsin Central Airlines (North Central). Duff's motto - "Stay flexible and learn to roll with the punches!" He was spoken of as being a human dynamo with a big smile and a hearty laugh. Liked to tell a story to get a meeting started or to make a point. Frontier ties in with Western Stock Show in Denver with hauling of small calf from Gunnison and sale of tickets. Vol. 2 - #2 (February 1953) Frontier's Traffic Results - 1952: •125,525 passengers - Up 23% •Load factor - 34.2% - up 14% •Denver - 18,499 psgrs. •Phoenix - 17,835 psgrs. •Air freight - 424,350 ton miles - Up 38% •Air mail - 109,740 ton miles - Up 14% Arizona Airways route 93 consolidated with Frontier's Route 73 as result of CAB decision. Eliminated were stops at Loardsburg, Demming, Las Cruces, Nogales and Douglas. TWA out of Winslow Winter resort promotion developed between Frontier and smaller resorts in Phoenix area belonging to the Association of Desert Lodges (12) These lodges included: •E1 Chorra •Desert •El Estribo •El Qeste •Flying "T" •La Fonda Fiesta •Outpost •Yellow Boot •La Vista Grande •Sundial Rancho Vista •Ride-N-Rock Edna B. May, Sales Rep in Phoenix conducted luncheon/dinner meetings in FL served cities in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah during the fall of 1953 and 1954. Some 3000 persons heard her spiel on Valley of the Sun attractions. Vol. 2 - #5 (April 1953) Happening enroute - GJT/DEN: Climbing out of GJT on an afternoon flight a lady passenger with the new inflatable falsies noticed that the rarefied atmosphere was improving her figure too much. As the flight left Gunnison and approached 13,500 feet to climb over Monarch Pass the stewardess noticed the lady's discomfort and embarrassment in the presence of a nearly full load of male passengers. The stewardess tactfully invited the lady to "come up forward into the cockpit and watch the pilots fly the airplane." By the time that the passenger returned to her seat the plane was down to 8,000 feet and everything was back to normal. Hal S. Darr, FL's president and Chairman of Board also operates the Marana Army Air Force Base near Tucson. His company, Darr Aero Tech, also operated training bases for the Army during World War II. These were located in Georgia and Oklahoma. His Marana AF Base was built from scratch as a result of the Korean War of 1950. He has 850 employees, 800 civilians and 50 military on the base. Aas 32 buildings to prepare military pilots in primary and basic training. The flight school has 30 Piper Cubs and 156 AT-6s for use during the six month course at Marana before going on to jet schooling elsewhere. Vol. 2 - #6 (May 1953) Cody, Wyoming air service inaugurated June 1, 19 3. Crowd of 10,900 and 700 passengers carried on flights. Williston Oil Basin service case hearing gets underway May 22, 1953 Improved flight reliability underwritten with installation of VOR (VHF omni directional range) navigation equipment on all DC-3;i - $78,000 project cost. Clyde Longhart, Supt. of Communications handled project. Vol. 2 - #8 (July 1953) Donald W. Nyrop - Counsel for Conference of Local Service Carriers - Working on new subsidy formula to make possible new replacement aircraft for the 117 DC-3s being used by the locals. Congress, thru H. R. 3607, would set up funds to finance development of new local service type aircraft. Locals service to 320 cities, 183 smaller intermediate communities are served exclusively by locals. •1952 commercial revenues - Over $20 1/2 million •1948 commercial revenues - Only $5 million This is an increase of four times 1948 showings. Vol. 2 - #10 (Sept. 1953) Williston Basin hearings in Billings begin Sept. 21, 1953 and moved to Williston on Sept. 24. CAB Examiner Paul Pfeiffer. Governor J. Hugh Aronson, Montana's governor, was a witness in FL's behalf. Claire Almquist - Named Supervisor of Tariffs "H" markers - Radio beacon operating in the 200-400 KC band - omni directional, tied to anautomatic Directional Finder (ADF) on DC-3s. automatically supplies continuous info on the bearing of the radio beam in relation to the aircraft heading. First used at Durango Oct. 15, 1947. Later at LaVeta pass and Alamosa, Chama, Farmington & Gallup. Used 60' poles. Chama installation in first big snow storm of 1947 season. Power increased from 50 to 100 watts First IFR authorization between Denver/Farmington was July 29, 1948 "H" markers on Albuquerque/Salt Lake City segment was next to be tackled. Some marker sites were over 100 miles from an airport. Wasatch Range in Utah presented problems which took two years to solve. Were solved completely in 1952. 20 "H" Markers on system in 1953. Only 10% of FL's system on Federal airways. Clyde Longhart and his wife drove mountainous backroads to get to installations. Longhart - Supt. of Radio Dept. at this time. Vol. 3 - #1 (Dec. 1953) Tollie Glaves veteran of U. S. Postoffice Dept. as Asst. General Supt. of Air Mail - 14th Division at Omaha becomes FL's Supt. of Mail - Mar 1954. Dec. 17, 1953 Frontier along with 13 other locals carried 1st class mail by air to determine feasibility of such service to small towns. Carried during Christmas period on temporary basis. Locals received thirty cents per ton mile. This added to revenues and reduced dependence on Federal subsidy. Vol. 3 - #4 - (March 1954) 16-page booklet - "A New Kind of Airline outlined FL's services to smaller, isolated communities. Following success of handling "Preferencial Mail" during the Christmas season of 1953, the Post Office Dept. further authorized Frontier, Central and North Central to again carry such 1st class mail to become effective March 10, 1954. Postmaster General Aurthur Sommerfield pointed out that the revenues derived are deducted from subsidy payments to affect substantial savings to the Federal government. Riverton, Wyo. Aviation Week featured a "Spring Fashion Fair" conducted jointly by FL/TWA with Miss Ma ry Gordon, TWA's travel and fashion expert. This week commemorated lO,OOOth flight thru RIW by FL. Great support from news media, 6000 people at air-port, 852 passengers carried on $3 sightseeing flights on two DC-3 of which 80 per cent were 1st riders. Vol. 3 - #5 (April 1954) Louis E. Leverone - New chairman of Board. He is from Chicago and President of Nationwide Food Service Inc. of Chicago. Film "Wings Over Dexter" produced by American Airlines, tells story of the local service airline industry and its contributions to the successful economic development of the smaller, intermediate cities. One print was given to each local service carrier by AA for showings to various community gatherings such at Chamber/commerce service clubs, schools, TV, etc. Vol. 3 - #6 - (May 1954) Frontier files for exemption order to serve Jackson, Wyo. - Docket 6646. Western serves JAC between June 15 and Sept. 15 of each year. Vol. 3 - #8 - (July 1954) FL wins Williston Basin route- Service to start Sept. 15, 1954. Route between Billings/Bismarck via Miles City/Glendive/Wolf Point/Sidney/Williston and Dickinson. Crews to be based at Billings consisting of 16 pilots, 8 stewardesses and four mechanics. Big pre-inaugurals planned to kick off new service with Post Office Dept. to provide special "first flight cover cachets" for air mail. Vol 3 - #10 - (Sept. 1954) Williston Basin Service started with 80% of sight-seers on pre-inaugural flights being first riders. Governor J.Hugh Aronson of Montana joining "'Mac" Myhre of FL to tie a ribbon commemorating the linking of Montana and North Dakota by FLs new air service. Vol. 3 - #11 - (Oct. 1954) Winter schedules to be cutback DEN/RKS and DEN/FMN and PHX/TUC to one round trip daily because of FL's tough financial position at this time. Situation developed from the reopening of FL's mail rate effective Sept. 15th which placed FL on a temporary mail rate. This is based on the basic rate presently approved by the CAB . This temporary rate covers only the difference between commercial revenues and operating expenses. Costs of operating any flights over and above the basic pattern okayed by the CAB, such as the three flights affected by the service cutback, (above) must be borne by FL. Minot added to FL's service pattern Jan. 1, 1955 as an intermediate between BIL and BIS via ISN. Load factor 50% - ten months ending 10/31/54. This compares favorably with the 43% load factor for the same period in 1953. Vol. 4 - #3 (Feb. 1955) Permanent certificate sought from the CAB on a new bid for permancy by the local service airlines. Three day hearing in DCA before the Aviation Sub-committee on Senate bill S-651 sponsored by Senator Warren Magneson of Washington. John F. Floberg counsel for Conference of 1ocal Service Airlines testified as follows: •2 million passengers used local lines in 1954 •20% of passengers connected to trunk flights •Recurrent expenses & time wasted on recertification proceedings by airlines, cities & states •Instability in any financial program to obtain needed funding •Difficulty to plan long range because of the instability & doubtful life expectancy of locals. C. A. Myhre of FL - 1st witness from the local lines Myhre's points made in DCA on need for permanent certificate •Impossible to float and market securities in open market. Most stock in Frontier closely •held by 700 stockholders, may of them employees of FL. •62% of enroute time on FL's system is used to climb and letdown because of extremely mountainous terrain flown by FL. Only 38% of flights are at cruise altitude. •Fl - average of 375 people per route mile compared with many thousands of miles elsewhere •Equity financing near impossibility for local airlines Vol. 4 - #4 (Mar. 1955) March 14 - Preliminary conference in DCA before the CAB Examiner Ferdinard Moran. FL asking for permanent certificate between DEN/PHX - ABQ/SLC - GJT/DEN and BIL/DEN. New route GTF/ISN via HVR-GSW-OLF-MOT and Grand Forks via Devil's Lake/Bismarck & Fargo Vol. 4 - #5 (April 1955) Permanent certificate bill for 1ocal service airlines, Senate Bill S-651, approved by Senate. House of Reps had previously passed H. R. 2255. Now need compromise bill to make certificates permanent. Four sales teams hit major traffic hubs across nation to generate interline psgr. traffic via FL. Covered: West Coast - Mid-west & Great Lakes -South Central and Gulf - East Coast Vol. 4 - #6 (May 1955) Permanent certificates to 13 local service carriers . Half of 300 cities on routes made permanent. Others carried extensions on 3-year temporary certificates. Uranium activity on Western Slope brings about the formation of Frontier Mining Co. by FMN group. Station agent Chuck Bristle & FL Board director, "Lo" Linville head group. One cent share with 20 million shares authorized. Vol. 4 - #7 (June 1955) Hal S. Darr - former President of FL dies of heart attack. First full year of 1st class mail by air via FL. Post Office pleased with results. Vol. 4 - #9 (August 1955) Permanent certificate issued by CAB order E-9549. Considered most significant milestone in FL's history. All points on system except GUC/MTJ/MVS/GEY/RWL/ SAF/CFT/MlS/OLF/SDY/DIK which were given 3-year renewal of operating authority. Pilots can now obtain life insurance at standard rates as result of excellent safety records of airlines in recent years. At Glendive and elsewhere on system, FL would hold aircraft on ground for school kids to take a fast tour of aircraft as part of air age education classes. Vol. 5 - #1 (Dec. 1955) FL asks for CAB Investigation to determine the future policies of CAB toward the airline. FL petitioned for an investigation to explore new methods to reduce subsidy to defer route proceedings involving points in the area served by FL until the investigation is completed. CAB Docket #75S4. The CAB ordered action deferred until three route cases are decided FL is the most highly subsidized carrier of all locals. $2 1/2 million in 1956 & 1957 needed. FL has lowest route population of any carrier. 95% load factor needed to break even with DC-3 aircraft. Trunks were applying for routes in FL's area. •ABQ/SLC - CAL •ABQ/PHX - CAL & EAL •SLC/PHX - WAL •TUC/PHX EAL & TWA •ABQ/TUC - TWA •DEN/PHX WAL-CAL-AA-TWA •DEN/SLC - WAL-BNF-NWA-EAL Vol. 5 - #2 (Jan. 1956) Seven States Case goes before CAB. Prehearing 1/24/56 in DCA.. Hearing Examiner Gurtis Henderson Investigation instigated by seven states involved: Nebraska - South Dakota - North Dakota - Iowa - Minnesota - Illinois - Wisconsin. To determine need for additional local airline service to meet travel needs in this vast isolated area of U. S. Vol. 5 - #4 (March 1956) FL orders six Fairchild F-27 aircraft to be made in Hagertown, Maryland. First aircraft scheduled for delivery in 1957. 40-passengers - highwing-280 m/p/h cruise - Rolls-Royce Dart engines. Vol.5 - #5 (April 1956 Seven States Area Case hearing in Omaha - July 19, 1956. This is strictly a local service case except for those cities served by trunks which are up for suspension by the trunks with transfers to locals: •BFF-LBF-GRI- - UAL to suspend •CDR-AIA-HOT-BFF & Spearfish - WAL to suspend FL participant in Phoenix Service Case before hearing Examiner James S. Keith. FL applying for DEN-PHX nonstop. Besides FL there are also similar applications from CO - TW - UA - WA for this route. Between SLC and PHX FL - Bonanza - WA are applying FL wants nonstop and one-stop between DEN/PHX Hearing was heard in Phoenix in May with 80 witnesses. Vol. 5 - #6 (June 1956) Phoenix Service Case heard by Examiner James Keith. Montana Local Service Case, a spinoff of the proposed Pacific Northwest case to be heard by Examiner Merritt Ruhlen. FL wants: •RIW/JAC/Idaho Falls •BIL/BZN/BUT/HLN/GTF •BIL/LWT/GTF/FCA/GEG •GTF/HVR/GSW/OLF Vol. 5 - #8 (August 1956) Seven States Case hearing in Omaha. FL first carrier heard. Myhre - Coe - Kitchen - Colin McIntosh as witnesses for FL. Hearing concluded in DCA - 10/5/56. Attorney Scott C. Whitney represents FL. 1,000 loafs of bread and coffeecakes flown daily from PHX to INW to supply local needs with fresh breadstuffs. Vol. 5 - #9 (Sept. 1956) Fourteen air fairs in seven states in 1956. (5000 psgrs, on Six held in Wyoming at CYS/GEY/LAR/RIW/RKS/ 200 flightss WRL, DIK/ISN in No. Dakota CDV/MLS/ in Montana, VEL plus SAF and SVC One millionth pasgr. Mrs. Lonnie Jacques of Aztec, N.M. and her little daughter Pita were so recognized by FL. Four million pounds of AF in 1956. 41% of total poundage of the 13 local service carriers. Made up of drill bits, gear wheels, core samples from drillings truck/car parts, baby chicks, flowers, bread stuffs, fresh fish, fresh pizzas etc. lab test materials & fresh blood also carried with strawberries, fresh peaches carried in season (May, Jun, Jul 1959) Jake, The May 1959, SUNLINER NEWS has a photo of CV-340, N73130, Sunliner Navajo, with the new Crescent Logo on page 1, with the Public touring the aircraft during an Airlines Open House, at Stapleton Airfield , Denver, CO. Pre Inaugural CV-340 flights in the new "Radar Convairs" with the new logo were flown to sixteen cities to introduce the new aircraft to "VIP'S" prior to going into scheduled service, which started July 1, 1959,  as reported in the June-July, 1959, SUNLINER NEWS. The June-July, 1959 Issue, also has a photo of mechanic Zick Burns, who designed the new Crescent paint scheme. Ken Schultz (e-mail 7/19/99) Vol. 13 - #3 & 4 (May-Jun. 1964) First Convair 580 joins FL fleet. May 1st make the arrival of SN N73126 - the first converted CV340 delivered to FL. Next day painting on the new aircraft started. The first CV580 air service started June 1 with flights at GTF, ELP, LWT, BIL, JAC, SLC, GJT, CEZ, FMN, ABQ, and MTJ. The CV580 cruises at 355 mph and each engine, a GM Allison turbo-jet, has 3750 horsepower. SN N73127 was the second CV580 received by the company. The first aircraft are designed to carry 52 passengers.