Essair (short for Efficiency, Safety, and Speed in the Air[1]) was incorporated in 1939, the first airline authorized by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to fly as a "local service" air carrier in the United States. It changed its name to Pioneer Air Lines in 1946 and served destinations in New Mexico and Texas. Pioneer and was acquired by and merged into Continental Airlines in 1955.
Founded by Major William F. Long[4][5] (who owned the Dallas Aviation School and Air College), Essair began a temporary service between Houston and Amarillo, via Austin, San Angelo, Abilene, and Lubbock. On July 11, 1944, the Civil Aeronautics Board agreed that an experiment in subsidized short-haul and local scheduled air service should be conducted. The experiment involved the establishment of a new airline category, known as "feeder" or "local service" air carriers. On August 1, 1945, Essair became the first airline to fly under the new classification, with a temporary certificate.[6] and operated Lockheed Model 10 Electra twin prop aircraft on its routes within Texas.[7]
Pioneer Air Linesedit
The airline's name became Pioneer Air Lines in 1946. The Electras were replaced by Douglas DC-3s with 23 of the type being used between 1946 and 1953.[8] New routes to several cities in New Mexico were added in 1948. From June 1952, nine Martin 2-0-2 unpressurised airliners were operated by Pioneer after they were purchased from Northwest Airlines. Davies (and Killion) says the federal CAB forced Pioneer to revert to the DC-3s in 1953 however, per the February 1955 Official Airline Guide (OAG), the carrier reintroduced the 36-seat Martin 202's back on some flights. The 202's were known as "Pioneer Pacemaster" aircraft.
In April 1949 Pioneer scheduled flights to 24 airports in New Mexico and Texas from Albuquerque and El Paso in the west to Dallas and Houston in the east. In February 1955 it flew to 21 airports; later that year it was acquired by and merged into Continental Airlines.[9]
Destinations in 1953edit
The November 1, 1953 Pioneer Air Lines system timetable listed the following 22 destinations:[10]
Following its acquisition of Pioneer, the April 1, 1955, Continental Airlines timetable contained this message: "Now...ONE GREAT AIRLINE to serve you better! Pioneer Air Lines, serving 22 cities over 2000 route miles in Texas and New Mexico, officially becomes part of the greater Continental Air Lines system and opens a new era in air transportation for the Southwest!"[14] However, by late 1963 Continental had ceased serving a number of the destinations previously served by Pioneer as the routes were transferred to Trans-Texas Airways.[15]
^Solomon, Stan (2008). Airlines for the Rest of Us: The Rise and Fall of America's Local Service Airlines. iUniverse. pp. 7–8. ISBN978-0595484430. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^Texas Historical Commission. "Major W. F. Long (1894-1976)". Retrieved 25 May 2018.
^FAA HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY, 1926-1996 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
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Essair short for Efficiency Safety and Speed in the Air 1 was incorporated in 1939 the first airline authorized by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board CAB to fly as a local service air carrier in the United States It changed its name to Pioneer Air Lines in 1946 and served destinations in New Mexico and Texas Pioneer and was acquired by and merged into Continental Airlines in 1955 EssairFounded1939Ceased operations1955Fleet size4DestinationsSee Pioneer Air Lines belowHeadquartersHouston Texas United StatesPioneer Air Lines Douglas DC 3 in 1948An unrelated commuter airline using the name Pioneer Airlines operated in Colorado Idaho Montana Nebraska New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota and Wyoming during the late 1970s through 1980s with Beechcraft 99 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft 2 3 Besides operating as an independent air carrier this second version of Pioneer also provided feeder connecting flight services on behalf of Continental Airlines as a Continental Commuter air carrier at the Denver airport DEN via a code sharing agreement with Continental from 1983 through 1986 Contents 1 Background 2 Pioneer Air Lines 3 Destinations in 1953 4 Fleet 5 See also 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External linksBackground editFounded by Major William F Long 4 5 who owned the Dallas Aviation School and Air College Essair began a temporary service between Houston and Amarillo via Austin San Angelo Abilene and Lubbock On July 11 1944 the Civil Aeronautics Board agreed that an experiment in subsidized short haul and local scheduled air service should be conducted The experiment involved the establishment of a new airline category known as feeder or local service air carriers On August 1 1945 Essair became the first airline to fly under the new classification with a temporary certificate 6 and operated Lockheed Model 10 Electra twin prop aircraft on its routes within Texas 7 Pioneer Air Lines editThe airline s name became Pioneer Air Lines in 1946 The Electras were replaced by Douglas DC 3s with 23 of the type being used between 1946 and 1953 8 New routes to several cities in New Mexico were added in 1948 From June 1952 nine Martin 2 0 2 unpressurised airliners were operated by Pioneer after they were purchased from Northwest Airlines Davies and Killion says the federal CAB forced Pioneer to revert to the DC 3s in 1953 however per the February 1955 Official Airline Guide OAG the carrier reintroduced the 36 seat Martin 202 s back on some flights The 202 s were known as Pioneer Pacemaster aircraft In April 1949 Pioneer scheduled flights to 24 airports in New Mexico and Texas from Albuquerque and El Paso in the west to Dallas and Houston in the east In February 1955 it flew to 21 airports later that year it was acquired by and merged into Continental Airlines 9 Destinations in 1953 editThe November 1 1953 Pioneer Air Lines system timetable listed the following 22 destinations 10 Abilene TX Albuquerque NM Amarillo TX Austin TX Big Spring TX Breckenridge TX Bryan College Station TX Clovis NM Dallas TX Dallas Love Field Fort Worth TX Amon Carter Field subsequently renamed Greater Southwest International Airport which was then shut down and no longer exists Houston TX Houston Hobby Airport headquarters for the airline Lubbock TX Midland Odessa TX Mineral Wells TX Plainview TX San Angelo TX Santa Fe NM Snyder TX Sweetwater TX Temple TX Tucumcari NM Waco TXPioneer also previously served El Paso TX Las Cruces NM Las Vegas NM and Roswell NM from 1948 to 1951 11 12 13 Following its acquisition of Pioneer the April 1 1955 Continental Airlines timetable contained this message Now ONE GREAT AIRLINE to serve you better Pioneer Air Lines serving 22 cities over 2000 route miles in Texas and New Mexico officially becomes part of the greater Continental Air Lines system and opens a new era in air transportation for the Southwest 14 However by late 1963 Continental had ceased serving a number of the destinations previously served by Pioneer as the routes were transferred to Trans Texas Airways 15 Fleet editDouglas DC 3 Lockheed Model 10 Electra initially operated by Essair Martin 2 0 2 Consolidated Fleetster 20ASee also editHarding Lawrence List of defunct airlines of the United StatesBibliography editGradidge Jennifer 2006 DC 3 The First Seventy Years Air Britain historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 332 3 Marson Peter J 2001 The Lockheed Twins Air Britain Historians ISBN 0 85130 284 X References edit Texas Historical Commission Major W F Long 1894 1976 Retrieved 25 May 2018 http www departedflights com April 1 1981 Official Airline Guide OAG Denver flight schedules amp July 1 1983 Official Airline Guide OAG Albuquerque flight schedules https www departedflights com Aug 1 1983 amp May 1 1985 amp Jan 15 1986 Pioneer Airlines route maps Solomon Stan 2008 Airlines for the Rest of Us The Rise and Fall of America s Local Service Airlines iUniverse pp 7 8 ISBN 978 0595484430 Retrieved 25 May 2018 Texas Historical Commission Major W F Long 1894 1976 Retrieved 25 May 2018 FAA HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY 1926 1996 Archived 2008 06 24 at the Wayback Machine Marson 2001 p 154 Gradidge 2006 p 235 Serling Robert J Maverick The Story of Robert Six and Continental Airlines ISBN 0 385 04057 1 Doubleday amp Company 1974 Pioneer Air Lines system timetable November 1 1953 Pioneer Air Lines system timetable October 12 1948 Pioneer Air Lines system timetable August 1 1950 Pioneer Air Lines system timetable February 1 1951 Continental Air Lines system timetable April 1 1955 Continental Airlines system timetable July 29 1964 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Essair Airways Essair Lines timetable images 1945 and 1946 President Johnson Letter regarding Order Denying Petition for Rehearing Reargument and Reconsideration Ed Coates Civil Aircraft Photograph CollectionPortals nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation nbsp This article relating to a United States airline is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Essair Airways amp oldid 1066544586 Pioneer Air Lines, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
