web-catalog        Post DeRegulation Air Mail First Flights         Piedmont Aviation

Aerodacious (Aviation + Audacious = Aerodacious) eMail: Aerodacious Page US029Piedmont (Revised 01/29/2008)

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.

        Thomas H. Davis founded Piedmont Aviation. It was incorporated on July 2, 1940 in Winston-Salem NC as an aircraft sales and service organization. It formed an airline division on January 1, 1948. Shortly thereafter AM-87 was awarded to Piedmont Airlines and on February 20, 1948 Piedmont inaugurated flight service between Wilmington NC and Cincinnati OH. It made intermediate stops in Aberdeen, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Charlotte and Asheville NC, Bristol-Kingsport-Johnson City TN and Lexington, KY.

Boeing 737

PI-D1N	781201	Roanoke VA	Piedmont Aviation	Harry W Bradshaw	$4.50
PI-D2N	781201	Richmond VA	Piedmont Aviation	Harry W Bradshaw	$6.00
PI-D3N	781201	Knoxville TN	Piedmont Aviation	RM Linker	$6.00
PI-D4N	781201	Charlotte NC	Piedmont Aviation	RM Linker	$6.00
PI-D5N	781201	Greensboro NC	Piedmont Aviation	RM Linker	$6.00
PI-D6S	781201	Boston MA-Greensboro NC Charlotte NC or Knoxville TN	Piedmont Aviation	Harry W Bradshaw	$3.00
PI-D6Sf	781201	Boston MA-Greensboro NC Charlotte NC or Knoxville TN	Piedmont Aviation	Harry W Bradshaw	$3.00
PI-D6Sa	781201	Boston MA-Richmond VA or Roanoke VA	Piedmont Aviation	RM Linker	$3.00
PI-D6Sfa	781201	Boston MA-Richmond VA or Roanoke VA	Piedmont Aviation	RM Linker	$3.00

        Piedmont Aviation grew from the smallest of 17 local and trunk airlines to become the 6th largest airline in the US in terms of passengers carried, flying over 200 jet aircraft from Los Angeles to London. It expanded its route system and profitability only to become a candidate for a potential buyout. In August 1989 Piedmont Airlines was absorbed by USAir.

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