Northwest History. Alaska 7. Aviation Air Routes, United States

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1935
• Subjects: Spokane; Alaska; air route; air line service; aviation; Harry L. Blunt; Pacific Alaska Airways; the Pan American Airways; Pullman; weather records; the coast; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Pacific; TransAlaska
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/89731

Spokane-to-Alaska Air Route Held Best. Spokane-to-Alaska Air Route-Held Best Spokane soon may be the southern terminal for a great new air line service to Alaska. Rumors to this effect are current in local aviation circles and the possibility of an announcement within a few weeks and actual starting of service this year is being discussed. Arrival here last Saturday of Harry L. Blunt, famous Alaska "mercy flyer," for six years chief pilot fo Pacific Alaska Airways,subsidiary of the Pan American Airways, has added considerable interest, it is said, and has caused a general revival of speculation. Reports that Blunt came here to negotiate terminal facilities for Pan-American were denied by him today in a long-distance telephone conversation from Pullman, where he went Monday night. Here for "Vacation." "I am in Spokane on vacation," he told the Chronicle. "I am still connected with Pan-American Airways, but am not seeking terminal facilities for that concern." "I do believe that Spokane is the logical port of entry for an Alaska connection," he said. "The interior route is much preferred by flyers the year around because of the absence of coastal fogs, which impair vision. On the route from Spokane to southeastern Alaska there are no high mountain ranges and weather records show it is clear at least 50 percent more than along the coast." Better flying conditions inland and available connections with the east, west and south schedules of Northwest Airlines and United Air Lines are mentioned as the principla inducements. Supports Belief. Local air authorities declare that the possibilities of the inland route to Spokane are for 20 completed, uninterrupted flights out of 20 by the coast route. Recent publicity of Pan-American Airways features the expansion of the transalaska service of Pacific Alaska Airways, giving credence to the beliei here that a definite program soon is to be announced.