Technology for profitable transportation

Extract

With the close relationship which exists between the airline industry and aerospace, it is appropriate to begin an aerospace technology symposium with a short review of what the airline industry has achieved and where it is now going. The timing is similarly appropriate because it is the 50th anniversary of the true beginnings of the airline industry. Boeing introduced its B247 into service at the end of 1933, and Douglas followed with its DC2 in 1934. Both aircraft were major steps from previous technology, and created the equipment base from which air transportation could develop. At the same time, the Air Mail Act of 1934 created the organisational environment in which the industry could flourish and, inter alia, compelled Boeing and United Aircraft to divest themselves of airline interests and marked the true beginning of United Air Lines. TWA and American had preceded it by a few months, while General Motors were persuaded to sell off Eastern Air Linesonly a few weeks later.