The Nome Nugget

A Move Towards Progress

WHEN NOEL WIEN set his single engine, open cockpit plane down on the tundra here in 1924 he had no alternate field or any FAA regulations, yet he changed this remote place from a community isolated for 7 months of the year to a town united with the rest of the continent. Local businessmen grasped the importance of this new kind of transportation and its advantage over dog teams for mail and saw the possibilities of handling merchandise by air. They helped finance and launch Wien Airlines which has served Nome with the best planes available ever since that time.

When Pan American entered Alaska in 1932, it took over two Alaskan airlines, employees and all, hiring only two outsiders at that time and has served Nome since that time.

Both these companies have expanded and progressed together with aviation always having the fastest, safest and most comfortable planes for their Alaskan customers. Their services have been important stepping stones in uniting Alaska.

Now they are ready to merge again, making it possible for more efficiency in both companies, as well as solving some financial problems faced mutually by these pioneer skymasters. The result is sure to be another phase in bringing Alaskans closer together with a better understanding of each district's problems.

Why the CAB or any other government agency should be in a position to have the final say in the matter of private enterprise is a puzzle to Americans who believe they live in the land of the free. CAB was created for the purpose of an orderly development of aviation and safety in the skies. That they should or would disapprove an agreement between two well known airlines to sell a non-subsidized route which would result in better schedules better service and mean a financial improvement for the companies involved seems highly improbable and the sooner sanction is given, the sooner the people of this area can benefit by the change-over.