CAM Contract Air Mail First Flights AM-84

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web-catalog CAM Contract Air Mail First Flights AM-84

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Page ccAM084 (Revised 11/23/2007)

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-84: AM-84 was awarded to Los Angeles Airways. Los Angeles Airways was incorporated in May 1944 by a group of Southern California businessmen to fly air mail services from LAX airport to three segments adjacent to LA. Actual operations did not actually commence until May 22, 1947 when a small fleet of five S-51's flew to the downtown post office, the San Fernando Valley, San Bernardino and Newport Beach. This proved that use of helicopters was feasible for the transport of mail and later, passengers. AM-84 was awarded to Los Angeles Airways and on October 1, 1947 it began helicopter flight service over three segments which touched upon forty-four LA suburbs and totaled about 356 miles. Of special note were the flights between LAX airport and the Terminal Annex Post Office building with the helicopters landing on and taking off from the Post Office roof.
Segment A

84-1 471001 Los Angeles CA LAA John De Blauw $3.00

84-1f 471001 Los Angeles Airport
to Segment A Points LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-2f 471001 Los Angeles Airport
to PO Terminal Annex LAA John De Blauw $3.75

84-3 471001 Alhambra CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-4 471001 Monrovia CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-5 471001 Pasadena CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-6 471001 South Pasadena LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-7 471001 Glendale CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-8 471001 Burbank CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-9 471001 North Hollywood CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-10 471001 Van Nuys CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-11 471001 Santa Monica CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

Segment B

84-12 471016 Los Angeles CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-12f 471016 Los Angeles Airport
to Segment B Points LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-13 471016 Huntington Park CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-14 471016 Lynwood CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-15 471016 South Gate CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-16 471016 Whittier CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-17 471016 Montebello CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-18 471016 El Monte CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-19 471016 Pomona CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-20 471016 Ontario CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-21 471016 Riverside CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-22 471016 Corona CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-23 471016 Fullerton CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-24 471201 San Fernando CA LAA John de Blauw $2.25

84-25 471201 Colton CA LAA Fred W Milam $3.00

84-26 471201 San Bernardino CA LAA Fred W Milam $2.25

Segment C

84-27 480110 Los Angeles CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-27f 480110 Los Angeles Airport
to Segment C Points LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-28 480110 Compton CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-29 480110 Bellflower CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-30 480110 Anaheim CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-31 480110 Santa Ana CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-32 480110 Orange CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-33 480110 Newport Beach CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-34 480110 San Pedro CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-35 480110 Torrance CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $3.00

84-36 480110 Redondo Beach CA LAA Charles B Kesselring $2.25

84-37 480110 Wilmington CA LAA John de Blauw $3.00

84-38 480110 Long Beach CA LAA John de Blauw $2.25

84-39 480110 Huntington Beach CA LAA Howard Higgins $3.00

84-40 481001 Rosemead CA LAA Howard Higgins $3.00

84-41 481001 Fontana CA LAA Howard Higgins $2.25

84-42 480218 Rialto CA LAA Fred W Milam $2.25

84-43 480401 San Gabriel CA LAA Charles L Clark $2.25

84-44 480401 Temple City CA LAA Charles L Clark $3.00

84-45 480401 Arcadia CA LAA Charles L Clark $2.25

84-46 480401 Upland CA LAA Charles L Clark $2.25

84-47 480401 Bloomington CA LAA Charles L Clark $2.25

84-48 490308 Claremont CA LAA Gale Moore $2.25

84-49 471016 Gardena CA LAA Gale Moore $2.25

84-50 500807 Azusa CA LAA Gale Moore $2.25

84-51 500807 Glendora CA LAA Gale Moore $2.25

84-52 510528 Downey CA LAA Gale Moore $18.00

Los Angeles Airways upgraded their S-51s to S-55s in 1954 when they began carrying passengers. Their routes were extended far beyond the original points linking with LAX airport. There was even a heliport at Disneyland.

Sikorsky S-55
In 1962 Los Angeles Airways were the first carrier in the world to put the large S-61s into scheduled service.

Sikorsky S-61

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 #

INDEX: First Flights by Experimental Route #

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

INDEX: First Flights by Air Taxi Services Route #

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