Clipper, Vol. 10, No. 17, August 19, 1954

              19th YEAR PACIFIC-ALASKA DIVISION
Read From California to Calcutta, From Alaska To Australasia
22nd YEAR PAA HAS FLOWN IN ALASKA
Vol. 10 No. 17	PUBLISHED BY THE EMPLOYEES OF PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS	AllgUSt 19, 1954
NEW SAN FRANCISCO TERMINAL BUILDING OPENS SEPTEMBER 1ST
This is an arriving-passenger’s-eye-view of the new terminal building at San Francisco International Airport. Following a three-day “open j
SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN
San Francisco’s New Six-Story Terminal Building Features Many Time and Space Saving Innovations
house” the new terminal will officially open for airline business on Wednesday, September 1st.
Three-Day Flight Festival to Hail Opening of San Francisco Airport's New Terminal Building
Airline Operation From New Facility Slated For September 1st Following Gala Dedication Program Starting On August 27th
One week from tomorrow, Friday, August 27th, the new terminal building at San Francisco International Airport will go on display.
Several “firsts” have been incorporated into the design of San Francisco International Airport’s new terminal building and facilities.
Baggage will be sent from the airline traffic counters to the ground floor by means of a hydraulic vertical lift. These lifts can make a round trip in just 8 seconds. Use of this type of lift saves not only valuable time but also valuable space.
For the first time at any airport a common aircraft sewage disposal unit has been installed. Again, this means time saved for all the airlines.
Standard Oil Company has built an underground hydrant fueling system. This will, to a large degree, eliminate tank-truck traffic around the ramp.
The cargo section has been located so that the closed end faces the prevailing wind. The receiving end has a platform at truck-bed level, while the floor at the other side is at field level. The mail sorting room includes the most up-to-date facilities for speeding the dispatch of mail.
High up on the field side of the terminal building is a direct-reading electric clock.
There are four elevators—two in the front and two at the field side —to serve the six floors in the new building.
Floor by floor, here is what you’ll find at the world’s finest airport terminal building.
. Ground level: Incoming baggage claiming area, a complete U.S. Post Office, baggage for departing planes, employees cafeteria.
First floor: Departing passengers enter here, lobby area, traffic counters, coffee shop and bar. Passengers reach concourses from this floor to board planes.
Second floor: Various concessions and shops, including a nursery, spectators balcony for watching field activity, and a few airline offices. The Pan American VIP lounge is on this floor.
Third floor: The main de luxe dining room, terrace and bar.
Fourth floor: Offices of the Public Utilities Commission, City of San Francisco.
Fifth floor: Offices of the CAA and the U.S. Weather Bureau.
A three-day program of events has been scheduled. There will then come a two-day period to allow for cleaning up and moving in by the various airlines before the new terminal will actually go into public use on September 1st.
A schedule of the daily events appears elsewhere in this issue.
In addition, a series of special events has been planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Dedication of the new 14 million dollar terminal building and adjacent facilities will be held the first day of the festival.
Airline dispatch offices will be located on the concourse which the particular airline uses. By employing these concourses, or fingers, it is possible to park the planes closer to the terminal.
Airlines who will use the new terminal include Pan American, United, American, TWA, Western, Southwest, Pacific Southwest, California Central, Qantas and Japan Air Lines.
Special television shows are planned, and Bay Area newspapers will publish special supplements paying tribute to the local airline industry and the new terminal.
Some airlines (not Pan American) will operate short sight-seeing flights during the three days.
All airlines using the terminal will have special exhibits set up. The PAD Advertising department has directed the construction of a 40-foot booth. An elaborate electrical map has been designed showing Pan American’s world-wide routes, and an appealing Hawaiian display has been built.
This PAA booth will be located on concourse C. A Strato Clipper, open for public walk-through, will be parked on spot number one, concourse D, right next to the speakers stand.
Traffic representatives will be on duty at the Pan American ticket counter—the first one on the right as you etner the front of the terminal.