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history highlights-north atlantic airline passenger service
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North Atlantic air passenger travel-history highlights
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US-Europe transatlantic airline history highlights
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Brtitish dirigible flies to Long Island, NY
The British dirigible R-34, a marvel of its day, lands on Long Island .Built from designs copied from a captured
German craft, the airship tppl 108 hours to make the east-west crossing.
Speed:62 mph. a year later a landing field will be built in Lakehurst, NJ, and later scheduled passenger service with Zeppelin dirigibles begins, the first scheduled passenger service across the North Atlantic, cutting ship travel time in half. The huge Lakehurst hangars are still there. -
First North Atlantic passenger
Renowned pilot Clarence Chamberlin flies from Roosevelt Field, L.I.(the departure airport Lindbergh used in his Paris flight in becoming the first pilot to fly solo across the North Atlantic) to
Eisleben, Germany. He took with him Charles Levine, who thus became the first passenger across the North Atlantic. -
Alcock and Brown fly the Atlantic non-stop
Alcock and Brown, two British aviators flew the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic (eastbound) to win a 10,000 pound sterling prize, along with other awards and shortly, a knighthood.
Airplane was a converted Vickers Vimy bomber. They crash landed in Clifden,Ireland,,as shown here. -
German leviathan lands at La Guardia
German Dornier DO-X, a monster airplane with 12 engines (six rows of two engines each, one with props in front, the other with pusher props on the back) flies up to La Guardia
at the end of a South American tour. It remains there for engine overhaul until May 21, 1932. The huge plane was a failure as a commercial passenger plane. -
Hindenburg flies first scheduled North Atlantic air service, between Germany and US.
The famous Hindenburg, still the largest vehicle ever to fly, began scheduled passenger service between Frankfurt,Germany and Lakehurst, NJ. Continued until the disastrous fire on May 6, 1937. Zeppelin scheduled service -
German Condor airliner makes first non-stop flight from Berlin to NY
The Fw 200 was the first heavier-than-air craft to fly nonstop between Berlin and New York City, making the journey on 10 August 1938 in 24 hours and 56 minutes. The return trip on 13 August 1938 took 19 hours and 47 minutes. " condor" -
Pan Am starts first scheduled airliner service over North Atlantic
First scheduled transatlantic passenger cservice started by Pan Am,just before the war, using flying boats. Seaplanes used Port Washington, NY, just east of NYC at first, then the Marine Air Terminal at La Guardia Airport, which opened in 1940 and is still there. By the 1940s, the North Atlantic routes had become the biggest revenue generators for the airlines. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Air_Terminal' -
Government decision breaks Pan Am monopoly
(Day approximate)
"The major turning point in transatlantic air service occurred in June 1945 when the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board granted permission to three airlines to operate service across the North Atlantic. They were American Export Airlines, Pan American, and Transcontinental & Western Airlines (TWA). This agreement finally broke Pan American's monopoly over international air travel and contributed to the flourishing of air travel in the postwar era."-Wikipedia
(Am. Export Sikorsky) -
TWA begins first pressurized airliner scheduled transatlantic service.
Trans World Airlines transatlantic service started on February 6, 1946, with a New York-Paris flight in a Constellation. Pressurization enabled flight up to some 20,000 ft., above much of the weather. Unpressurized airliners were limited to 12,500 ft. cruise due to oxygen requirements at higher altitudes. Graceful curves make the "Connie" one of the most pleasing designs to many. Speed:)Super G Model) 354 mph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Constellation' -
BOAC Comet first with jet service
BOAC's deHavilland Comet beat Pan Am's 707 into transatlantic service by a scant three weeks. The larger 707 and Douglas DC-8, as well as Britain's own Vickers VC-10, quickly made the Comet unecomic as a competitor. Early disastrous crashes forced a re-design as well. Speed:490 mph -
Pan Am introduces 707 transatlantic service
Shortly after the Comet began services, Pan Am introduced the Boeing 707, which set the standards for jet airliners for years to come. Followed shortly by the Douglas DC-8, it made the US airliner industry the biggest in the world. Speed:620 mph
<a http://www.boeing.com/commercial/707family/index.html' >pan am 707</a> -
Exception to rule allows economic routes for 3-engine airliners
(Month and day approximate)
US government rule requiring routes to be no further than 60 minutes from a diversion airport in case of engine failure was waived for three or 4 engined airplanes, allowing more direct and economical routing. -
Jumbo jets arrive
Pan Am's JuanTrippe "bets the company" and introduces the first wide body, the classic Boeing 747, on the NY-London route. Quickly became "Jumbo jet" in common parlance.
It was followed by the DC-10 and Lockheed 1011, which were the only wide body airliners till Airbus introduced the A-300.
Speed:555 mph http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747#Entry_into_service' >747 introduction</a> -
Concorde SST supersonic transport
Concorde supersonic service begins from Washington DC Dulles Airport to London and Paris. NY service, delayed by politics and litigation, begins 22 Nov 1977. Concordes retired 22 Oct. 2003.
Concorde, with afterburners like military fighters,flew at twice the speed of sound. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concorde -
First widebody jet certified for two pilot crew, eliminating flight engineer
(Exact day approximate)
US government panel says two pilot crew sufficient for wide body jets. Boeing 767 first to be approved. As a result, the 767 became the most widely used transatlantic airliner, for a period flying more flights than all other jetliners combined.
Early crews comprised pilots, navigators, radio operators and flight engineers. Today, 747s operate with just two pilots http://www.oocities.org/sg/aircraftssg/B767.html#10' >two pilot flight deck approved for wide bodies</a> -
Extended range extended to 180 minutes
(Month and day approximate)
Extended range requirements go to 180 minutes,putting 95% of earth's surface within airliner range. Some airlines authorized above 240 minutes (4 hrs!) on one engine today. -
Pan Am 747 destroyed by terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland
Pan Am 747 destroyed in flight by terrorist bomb. Unrest in Libya in 2011 revives rumors that Moammar Gaddafi personally ordered bombing for revenge after US bombed his quarters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103' >Lockerbie bombing< -
Aer Lingus flies first A330-300 ETOPS routes
Irish airline Aer Lingus operates Airbus A330-300 on ETOPS (extended twin engine operations) on Atlantic routes.
The Airbus later got 240 plus minutes for time to diversion airfields on one engine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aer_Lingus' -
Boeing 777 service introduced
Boeing introduces the "triple seven," sized between the 767 and four-engined 747. It has the range to serve long-haul markets directly, with lower trip costs than the 747. Becomes Boeing's most profitable airplane. Holds serveral long range records. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#Entry_into_service' >B-777 service begins -London to Dulles</a> -
Concorde sets speed record which still stands
Concorde sets speed record from JFK to London Heathrow,spanning the distance in 2 hrs, , 52 min,,59 secs.
Since supersonic transport is no more, this record will stand for the foreseeable future, or at least until supersonic travel can be made economic.
http://www.concordesst.com/retire/boston.html' -
9/11 attacks close US airspace
US airspace shut down for the first time in history. Many inbound planes from Atlantic routes had to divert. Shutdown lasted three days. Subsequently, passenger traffic plummeted, and 100,00 airline workers lost their jobs. Airlines lost huge sums, and recovery was slow. 'http://www.ehow.com/facts_5011704_effects-terrorist-attacks-airline-industry.html' -
747-8 announced
Boeing announces plan for a stretched, improved 747, to compete with the Airbus A-380. Delays have plagued the program as of 2011. The plane will be the longest airliner, and the largest built in the United States. ref='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-8' >B-747-8 announced</a> -
Air France inaugurates Airbus A380 "Superjumbo" service to JFK
Air France inaugurates Airbus A-380 "Superjumbo" service, using a 540 passenger version. The double deck airplane, now the largest passenger airliner flying, often requires changes to airport runways, gates ,and ground service equipment, as well as increased spacing from other airplanes by air traffic control. Speed:561 mph 'http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-11-20-air-france-a380-jfk_N.htm' -
Volcanic ash disrupts air traffic
Volcanic ash from Iceland eruption causes in chaos in air traffic on both sides of the Atlantic on a scale not seen since 9/11. Many European airports were closed, and travelers stranded for days. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/16/us-europe-air-idUSTRE63E1TM20100416'
