web-catalog        Post DeRegulation Air Mail First Flights         North Central Airlines

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Background: The Airline Deregulation Act took effect of December 1, 1978. The main purpose of the Act was to remove government control from commercial aviation and expose the passenger airline industry to market forces. This Act changed the face of civil aviation in the US. Air Mail would continue to be carried by Air Carriers but the old system of CAM and FAM routes would evolve into Air Mail flown by individual US airlines to both domestic and foreign destinations.

        In 1939 the Four Wheel Drive Company, a major manufacturer of four-wheel transmissions and heavy-duty trucks based in Clintonville WI, opened a flight department and bought a WACO biplane for their company's use. On May 14, 1944 the company started Wisconsin Central Airlines and in 1946 flight service was started between six Wisconsin cities.

         In 1952 the airline moved their headquarters from Madison WI to Minneapolis MN. Along with the move it changed its name to North Central Airlines. It became the busiest local carrier in the North Central United States.

McDonnel Douglas DC-9

NC-D1N

781215

Tucson AZ

North Central Airlines

L Nilson

$34.00

        Due to North Central's success it moved to buy Southern Airways. In 1979 a merger of the two airlines formed Republic Airlines. North Central Airlines ended.

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