Washington Airlines Explained

Airline:Washington Airlines
Founded:1968
Ceased:26 September 1969
Destinations:Baltimore, Washington
Key People:Robert Richardson

Washington Airlines is a defunct airline that was based in the United States[1] The service was the FAA's first approved instance of a STOL airline service.[2]

History

Washington Airlines was founded to operate under a concept that STOL operations could enhance airport capacity without significant infrastructure costs. In 1968 Albert Scott Crossfield demonstrated the concept flying 160 operations between Boston, La Guardia and Washington National for Eastern Airlines.[3] There was worldwide interest in the concept of STOL operations within cities with limited land for expansion.[4] New York had $126 million planned for construction of STOL runways in 1970.[5]

The company was founded by Butler Aviation International and Pan Maryland Airways. Butler had franchise rights to sell Dornier Do 28 aircraft in America, and chose the aircraft for their STOL service.[6] [7] After five months in service between BWI, DCA and IAD the company was losing money with load factors of 20% and a total net loss of $100,000.[8] [9] Washington Airlines ceased operations on 26 September 1969[10]

Destinations

Fleet

The fleet consisted of the following aircraft as of 1969:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Washington Airlines: The Short Haul (STOL) Experiment. Robert A. Richardson American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Technical Information Service.
  2. Book: Transportation and Distribution Management, Volume 8. Traffic Service Corporation. 1968.
  3. Book: Eastern Air Lines: A History, 1926-1991. David Lee Russell. 140.
  4. Book: On the Fast Track: French Railway Modernization and the Origins of the TGV. Jacob Meunier. 149.
  5. Book: The Future of aeronautics. Royal Aeronautical Society.
  6. Book: Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of Congress, Volume 114, Part 21. United States Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1968.
  7. Flying Magazine. October 1967. 112.
  8. Book: American Aviation, Volume 32. Ziff-Davis Publishing, 1969.
  9. Book: Astronautics and Aeronautics United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 1969.
  10. Air Progress. August 1989. 82. Nick Komos.