web-catalog        CAM Contract Air Mail First Flights AM-56

Aerodacious (Aviation + Audacious = Aerodacious) eMail: Aerodacious Page ccAM056 (Revised 01/20/2008)

Background: The Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act) authorized the postmaster general to contract for domestic airmail service with commercial air carriers. It also set airmail rates and the level of cash subsidies to be paid to companies that carried the mail. By transferring airmail operations to private companies, the government effectively would help create the commercial aviation industry. Various routes were designated and contracts for carrying the mail over these routes were then awarded to many different private air service companies. The Contract Air Mail routes became known as CAM's.

AM-56: AM-56 was awarded to American Airlines. American Airlines had developed from a conglomeration of 82 small airlines companies through a series of corporate acquisitions and reorganizations. On January 25, 1930 American Airways was incorporated as a single company. American operated its routes with all-metal Fokker Tri-motors and Ford Tri-motors. In 1934 American began flying Curtiss Condor biplanes fitted with sleeping berths. The Condor carried air mail and accommodated 15-18 passengers in the ultimate of airline comfort.
        In 1934, American Airways Company slipped into financial straits and was acquired by corporate raider, Errett Lobban Cord, who renamed the company "American Airlines." Early in its history, American was headquartered at Midway Airport in Chicago IL. On June 25, 1936, American was the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service. By the end of the decade, American was the nation's number one domestic air carrier in terms of revenue passenger miles. On Feb. 16, 1937, American carried its one-millionth passenger. AA was awarded AM-56 and on July 15, 1941 began flight service between Buffalo NY and Toronto Canada.

Douglas DC-3

56N1	410715	Buffalo NY	AA	William Hinton	$3.75
56N1f	410715	Buffalo NY	AA	William Hinton	$10.50
56S2	410715	Toronto Canada	AA	William Hinton	$15.00
56S2f	410715	Toronto Canada	AA	William Hinton	$45.00

Boeing 720
         Early in the development of the 707 Boeing recognized the need for a slightly smaller, medium range variant which came to be known as the Boeing 707-020. It evolved to become the Boeing 720. American purchased 25 of them offering "up and away" performance.

56W3	670524	Toronto Canada	AA	Robert A Holt	$3.00
56W3f	670524	Toronto Canada	AA	Robert A Holt	$30.00
56E4	670524	Chicago IL	AA	Robert A Holt	$3.00
56E4f	670524	Chicago IL	AA	Robert A Holt	$2.25
56E4A	670524	Los Angeles CA	AA	DE Penn	$3.00
56E4Af	670524	Los Angeles CA	AA	DE Penn	$2.25

56W5	670604	Toronto Canada	AA	AF Duffy	$11.25
56W5f	670604	Toronto Canada	AA	AF Duffy	$45.00
56E6f	670604	Los Angeles CA	AA	Hugh Melville	$3.75

56NE7	770111	Chicago IL	AA	Leroy F Berkebile	$3.00
56NE7f	770111	Chicago IL	AA	Leroy F Berkebile	$3.00
56SW8	770111	Montreal Canada	AA	Leroy F Berkebile	$4.00

INDEX: First Flights by CAM Route #

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

15

16

17

18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

INDEX: First Flights by Experimental Route #

1001

1002

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

84

86

87

88

90

91

93

94

96

97

98

99

100

101

103

105

106

107

111

119

120

121

139

140

141

143

144

148

172

INDEX: First Flights by Air Taxi Services Route #

288

289

290

291

292

293

295

296

297

298

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