
Accompanying photos show the grand opening
of the Pittsburgh Airways heliport on July 27, 1962.
Over the years, our town has had two
companies called Pittsburgh Airways, one beginning in 1929 and the other (shown
here) in 1962. Each these companies lasted only one year, but they both left
their mark on the history of aviation in the Steel City.
The first Pittsburgh Airways company
was a passenger service financed by Oliver M. Kaufmann and operated by ex-Navy
pilot James G. Condon and Theodore Taney. With two six-seat monoplanes, the
company offered flights from Pittsburgh's Bettis Field to New York City, with
a stop in Philadelphia. It was the first passenger liner spanning the
Allegheny Mountains.
The company gained in popularity, and
by 1930 was making daily flights to the Big Apple. Unfortunately, the company
could not turn a profit and attempts to gain airmail contracts and a larger
market share failed. Pittsburgh Airways was dissolved later that year.

In 1962, a group of investors began
another version of Pittsburgh Airways, this time involving helicopter
passenger service from downtown Pittsburgh to either Greater Pittsburgh
Airport (eight-minute flight) or the Allegheny County Airport (five-minute
flight). The fares were competitive with a taxi, which at the time could
run upwards of $4.00 per ride.
Pittsburgh Airways obtained lease of
160 feet of the Monongahela Wharf, at the foot of Wood Street next to the
Gateway Clipper Fleet mooring. Operating a seven-passenger helicopter, the
company began offering regular flights on July 30, 1962, amid much fanfare.
The Pittsburgh heliport was the first of its kind in the country.

Despite plans for up to forty flights
per week and increased service during peak times, low ridership, high operating
costs and the inability of the company to attract additional investment capital
spelled the end for Pittsburgh Airways. In November 1963, the company was
dissolved.

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