Clipper, Vol. XV, No. 2, February 1958

              PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH
CLIPPER
LATIN AMERICAN DIVISION
AIRCRAFT SERVICE PICTURES
. . . Pages 4 and 5
VOL. XV, No. 2
MIAMI, FLORIDA, FEBRUARY 1958
580211
Miami to Get New PAA Jet Base
Suggestion Brings Big Pay-Off
Maximum $500Award to Master Mechanic For Building Intricate Grinding Machine
Facility Will Cost 20 Million Dollars
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An idea for building a grinding machine to rework face splines on Pratt and Whitney R-2800 engine crankshafts, has won the maximum suggestion award of $500 for a Pan American master mechanic. The suggestion was approved by the Technical Committee of the Employes’ Suggestion Plan, and the check delivered to the suggested Rollie R. Armstrong, employed in the machine shop at COB.
Prior to development of the new grinding machine it was standard practice to recondition crankshafts according to Pratt and Whitney instructions, using hand files and a hand air gun with small grinding tips. This procedure was satisfactory in most instances in restoring the crankshafts to service within acceptable limits. There were, however, some shafts on which hand filing was not satisfactory. When this occurred it was necessary to return them to the vendor for salvage. Many of these were junked. When development of the proposed grinder was started, all crankshafts in this category were shelved. They now have been reconditioned in PAA’s shops.
Before adoption of the grinding machine it was not possible to rematch crankshaft sections in the airline’s’ Miami shop by hand filing. They were returned to Pratt and Whitney to be rematched into a complete assembly at additional cost.
It now is practical to recondition or rematch them here. Tests show that the rematched assemblies returned to the shop after a complete engine run, do not require additional rework other than the routine inspection and run-out test, prior to being returned to service. In contrast, hand filed crankshafts always need reconditioning after each run.
Tests also show that crankshafts reworked by this machine have been almost 100 per cent free of
INVENTOR ARMSTRONG demonstrates grinding machine he built.
spline cracks as compared to 50 per cent of those hand filed.
Stanley W. Strama, component overhaul superintendent, reported that Armstrong worked out the details of a “very complicated piece of equipment on his own time without any engineering help and has constructed a machine that will effect substantial savings for the airline.”
Armstrong joined Pan American in July 1948 as a mechanic’s helper, becoming a master mechanic in August 1953. He has been a consistent contributor to the suggestion plan having won 11 previous awards since March 1949. Born in Chicago, he attended high school and Illinois Technical school in Springfield, Illinois.
Better Sales Effort Sought
Improved sales effort aimed at boosting air travel and cargo volume between Latin America, the United States and other countries was emphasized at San Juan, Puerto Rico, at a meeting of Pan American executives and sales personnel.
Production methods and goals for 1958 by sales offices both in the United States and Latin America were studied, and the 1957 results reviewed and analyzed.
Executives from Latin American Division headquarters in Miami, headed by Division Manager Edwin Drescher, and sales officials from New York met for two days at the Hotel San Juan Intercontinental with personnel from 16 Latin American cities served by the airline. Drescher keynoted the meeting, and Juan Homs, Division sales manager, presided.
A feature of the second day’s session was a demonstration of the “brainstorming” technique for generating ideas, by Austin Marshall, former executive director of the Philadelphia Radio and TV Broadcasting Association.
The technique is applied in conferences on a given subject—say, developing sales—where conferees are encouraged to speak up with
Continued ón page 6
Station Employes Rig Ladder Light
Station employes at Ciudad Trujillo have come up with another innovation for the improvement of their passenger loading ladder. First they devised a canopy to protect passengers on rainy days. That was several months ago. Now they have lighted it.
The arrangement was devised by Station Manager George Ly-all, Assistant Station Manager Ross Calvin. Alvin A. (Tony) Barbell, chief mechanic, and Manuel Grasal, mechanic.
The material for the job included an old 20-watt fluorescent lamp assembly, some scrap sheet aluminum from which a shade was made, and insulated wire cable. The total cost was about $5 plus a half-hour labor. The assembly is mounted at the top of the ladder and lights the platform and steps from top to bottom.
NEW ROADS IN CUBA
New roads and modernized old ones are turning Cuba into an ideal country for touring by auto. Cars can be rented at Pan American terminals in Havana and Cama-guey. There’s enough to see to make a two weeks tour worthwhile.
Nassau Flights Are Restored
Full air passenger service to Nassau from Miami and New York was restored by Pan American as tourists began returning to the island and resort hotels reopened their doors.
The airline, which has been flying a daily roundtrip to maintain the only scheduled air service to the Bahamian capital from the U. S. mainland during the recent strike of island hotel and other workers, resumed regular morning roundtrips from Miami February 3. Twenty-three passengers were aboard the Nassau-bound Clipper, leaving Miami at 8:20 a.m. for the 5 5-minute flight.
A third daily flight, leaving Miami at 5 p.m., began February 5, and a daily roundtrip flight between Nassau and New York was resumed February 7, leaving New York at 10 a.m.
Manager Appointed For San Juan Hotel
Harley J. Watson has been appointed general manager of the new San Juan Intercontinental hotel which opened February 1 ih San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was formerly Intercontinental hotels regional manager for Brazil, Chile and Uruguay,
July Start Is Target
All Maintenance Shops, Hangars And Offices to be Consolidated At Southwest Corner of Airport
A jet overhaul base costing between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000 for new facilities and equipment is to be established in Miami by Pan American World Airways.
If details can be worked out, Pan American is hopeful of beginning actual construction on the huge facility by July 1, it was announced by airline officials and George McSherry, Port Authority Director.
The base will include maintenance shops and supply depots, international cargo area, a building for PAA’s executive and general offices, five hangars, two nose docks and 47 acres of paved ramp and taxi area.
MASTER PLAN BEING DEVELOPED
The base will enable Pan American to establish new ultra-modern scientific techniques in aircraft and engine servicing and overhaul and will provide the most modern, working conditions for employees, PAA officials said.
Decision to locate a jet overhaul base in Miami was disclosed as Pan American formally notified the Port Authority members it was exercising its option on the proposed site for the base, a 112-acre tract in the southwest corner of Miami International Airport.
Port Authority members, Director McSherry and Pan American officials expressed mutual satisfaction over the successful consummation of lengthy amicable and cooperative negotiations. In their efforts to acquire a Pan American jet overhaul base for Miami, the Port Authority members twice extended the 90-day option on the site, originally given PAA last May 21.
PLANS APPROVED BY TRIPPE
According to the plans approved by PAA President Juan T. Trippe, the new base will not only be able to handle the giant jet airliners which Pan American will begin receiving in October, but also will provide service and overhaul facilities for conventional piston engine airliners, which will be in service for some years to come.
Part of the tract to be used for the new jet overhaul base is now occupied by Air Force Reserve activities.
Pan American’s decision to locate a jet overhaul base in Miami came at an opportune time, Port Director McSherry said.
The Port Authority recently became virtually assured of acquiring three new airports with the decision by the Marines to vacate by October 15 air facilities they now occupy in Opa-locka — the Master, Mainside and Amelia Earhart fields.
AIRLINE EXERCISES SITE OPTION
Prompted by this announcement from the Navy, the Port Authority launched an airport marketing survey to include an analysis of air space, aviation ground facilities, runway utilization and airport acceptance rates within the entire Miami area.
“When the results of this survey are completed, the Port Authority plans to develop a complete Master Plan for a regional system of airports that can adequately handle all phases of aviation including commercial and military as well as private and corporate aircraft activities,” McSherry said.
In 1957 Miami International Airport totalled 366,714 landings and take-offs, of which 170,651 were airline, 62,702 military and 133,361 civil, including private and corporate.
This ranks Miami as number two in the entire United States as to total aircraft movements.