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HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM  17

did return last July with a number of its schedules. While I am not up to date, my impression is that their results have been rather discouraging to themselves and to other carriers.

Senator CANNON. Actually the bulk of the helicopter service then was because of schedulings, where a passenger would come into either Midway or O'Hare and have to transfer from one terminal to another to make a flight schedule, is that correct?

Mr. BOYD. That is my impression; yes, sir.

Senator CANNON. In other words there is not much hope for an inflight service there from either O'Hare or Midway to downtown Chicago?

Mr. BOYD. No, because they have an excellent highway system there, and it has not yet reached the stage of congestion which makes people look upward.

Senator CANNON. Where does the bulk of the service go in the Los Angeles terminal? It goes from Los Angeles to where?

Mr. BOYD. The best way to describe the Los Angeles operation is to call it a very short haul local service carrier. It operates a pattern of service to and from the airport which takes in a large number of communities in the areas surrounding Los Angeles; the furthest point being San Bernardino, which is about 65 miles from Los Angeles airport. It serves Riverside, which is about 60 miles; Glendale, 15 miles; Van Nuys which is about 20 miles; Anaheim, about 30 miles; Newport, about 45 miles; Whittier, 20 miles; and intermediate points. 

Senator CANNON. Do they attempt much of a frequency of service to the intermediate points? You heard Senator from California say this morning that the highway system is relatively short traveling distance.

Mr. BOYD. I wouldn't take issue with Senator Murphy, but I would point out that he stated that this true only where there are expressways. With all of its magnificient [[magnificent]] highway system, California has very few expressways. So the fact of the matter is that most of these communities do no have the direct access to the airport or to downtown that is needed for the flow of commerce.

Senator MONRONEY. Will the Senator yield?

Senator CANNON. Yes.

Senator MONRONEY. Would it be a good idea to have the chairman ask the Los Angeles Airways what percentage of their traffic is between the airport and downtown, and between downtown and the airport? If these figures of 10 or 15 minutes are true, then we are wasting our money if this traffic is about 90 percent generated downtown. I for one want to know whether this fantastic speed with which the Senator from California said he could go downtown to the airport maintains.

Mr. BOYD. Mr. Chairman. I misspoke myself. Los Angeles Airways does not serve downtown.

Senator MONRONEY. It does not?

Mr. BOYD. No, sir. Except possibly on some mail flights. It does not provide a passenger service.

Senator MONRONEY. Presumably it would have to serve downtown with passenger service.

Mr. BOYD. There is no passenger service.

Senator MONRONEY. Where does it run? Just to outlying communities only?