Los Angeles Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | October 1947 |
| Founder | Clarence Belinn |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Westchester, Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Southern California |
| Products | Helicopter passenger and airmail services |
Los Angeles Airways (LAA), established in October 1947 by Clarence Belinn and headquartered in Westchester, Los Angeles, was an innovative helicopter airline operating in the Southern California region.[1]
History
Beginning its operations with airmail delivery on October 1, 1947, Los Angeles Airways initiated scheduled passenger helicopter services in November 1954, marking it as the first airline worldwide to offer regular helicopter flights. The airline primarily linked Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with local heliports such as Disneyland Resort and Newporter Resort, later extending routes to Ontario and San Bernardino.[2]
In March 1962, LAA expanded its fleet by purchasing four Sikorsky S-61 helicopters at $650,000 each, becoming the inaugural civilian operator of this model.[3] A significant milestone occurred in October 1965 when the Civil Aeronautics Board issued a permanent certificate authorizing scheduled passenger services throughout greater Los Angeles. Additionally, approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for instrument flight rules (IFR) enabled operations during nighttime and adverse weather conditions.
However, despite these regulatory advantages, the Civil Aeronautics Board eliminated approximately $4.3 million annually in subsidies due to concerns about the commercial sustainability of helicopter services.[4] Efforts to obtain funding for advanced aircraft like the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane equipped with detachable passenger compartments did not come to fruition.[5]
After experiencing two fatal crashes and unsuccessful merger discussions with Golden West Airlines, Los Angeles Airways terminated its services in 1971.[6]
Fleet operated
Accidents
- January 1949: A Sikorsky S-51 crashed in Downtown Los Angeles, resulting in the death of pilot Harry Slemmons, aged 27.
- July 2, 1951: A Sikorsky S-51 went down between Pomona and Ontario, killing pilot John De Blau, aged 29, and civil aeronautics inspector Wyman Ellis Jr., aged 44.
- August 27, 1951: A Sikorsky S-51 lost its main rotor blades prior to landing at Lynwood; pilot Carl D. Crew, aged 24, was killed.
- May 22, 1968: Los Angeles Airways Flight 841, operated by a Sikorsky S-61L, crashed in Paramount with a loss of 23 lives.
- August 14, 1968: Los Angeles Airways Flight 417 suffered rotor failure and crashed in Compton, causing 21 fatalities including Clarence Belinn’s grandson.
See also
External links
- Los Angeles Airways on Airliners.net
- Disneyland Heliport
- Los Angeles Airways timetables
- 1958 timetable
- ↑ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. April 10, 1969.
- ↑ Staff, "First Helicopter Express Lands At Ontario Field", San Bernardino Daily Sun, 1953.
- ↑ Time Magazine December 26, 1960
- ↑ Tails Through Time: The Story of Los Angeles Airways
- ↑ Flightglobal.com April 1965
- ↑ Ed Coates Collection