Airmail Act Of 1925

The Significance of the Airmail Act of 1925

Antonio B. Jackson

Embry Aeronautical University

Abstract

In the early days of the aircraft many believed that it could have many applications. By 1911, the U.S. Postal Department saw the time saving possibilities of delivering the mail by air and began to experiment with this idea. After determining the effectiveness of an airmail service, the post office established regular service. In the beginning the air service showed lots of potential, however, it was later determined to be too expensive and needed to operate 24 hours a day to be more effective. This led to the development of navigational aids to assist pilots while flying at night. Around the clock airmail operations became common and the

Post Office in control of all airmail services, they hired their own pilots and improve the reliability of the airmail service, using war-surplus DH-4 biplanes (Bilstein, 2001). The DH-4 replaced the Curtis JN-4 airplane, which was slower and less durable than the DH-4. By the fall of 1920, airmail service had been established from New York to San Francisco, however, the lack of suitable navigational aid forced the airmail pilots to land at dusk(Bilstein,2001). The pilots landed at dusk because they were unable to see and plot their course in the dark. In order to keep the mail moving, when the pilots landed at dusk the mail was then off-loaded onto a railcar, were it continued on until dawn and then loaded onto a waiting aircraft to continue the delivery (Bilstein, 2001). The delivery time for the mail coast to coast was around 100 hours prior to the aircraft, and with the combination of railcar and aircraft the time was reduced to 78

In 1929, the first flight was completed using only cockpit instruments, by Lieutenant James Doolittle. The instruments included radio range beacons, marker beacons, an altimeter, and a gyroscope ("Airmail: The Air Mail Act of 1925 Through 1929," n.d.).

Reward for Service. In 1928, as a reward for being in service for more than two years, the Postal Department awarded 10 year contracts, excluding competitors, to airmail carriers. However, airmail carriers continued to fly shorter routes, but to meet the requirements set by the government, many carriers merged, creating longer routes between more cites ("Airmail: The Air Mail Act of 1925 Through 1929," n.d.).

Conclusion.

The passage of the Airmail Act of 1925, ushered in change for the airline industry. Its passage stimulated the commercial airline industry to grow to what it is today. The development of navigational aids, from lit bonfires to lighted airfields, improved the safety and reliability of flying at night. The Kelly Bill, has saved lives, money, and time. The rewarding of airmail contracts encouraged growth and competition among airline companies and although there were some problems the industry continued to