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HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM 483
Santa Fe Springs is located 13 miles southeast of Los Angeles on the Santa Ana Freeway and is home of many industrial and commercial firms. Our neighbor to the northeast is the city of Whittier and here one finds a rather large residential and business population. Prior to the opening of the Santa Fe Springs-Whittier Heliport all the industrialist, commercial people, businessmen, and citizens had to tolerate a rather lengthy, dangerous, and time-consuming drive across the entire city of Los Angeles in order to reach the Los Angeles International Airport. This was not only an unnecessary waste of time but often times a costly waste of money as well.

In order to better serve the citizens of our respective cities, Whittier and Santa Fe Springs decided to acquire the services of a heliport. To do this, land was required for a landing facility, property had to be improved, and access had to be provided to existing surface streets.

Through the cooperation of the Eastman Kodak Co., who provided the land for $1 per year, and the cities of Whittier and Santa Fe Springs, this plan has now become an operating reality. Today, less than 4 months after the opening, Los Angeles Airways helicopters are carrying more than 50 passengers per day and provide 11 flights per day service to our area, in addition to the carrying of mail and express parcels.

As you can see, we too have made an investment in the development of this operation and we were happy to do so, as you were, to provide this needed service to our citizens. We firmly believe that through joint Government-business cooperation such as this that the growth of our economy will more than offset our combined investments.

Due to the importance of this service, we request that you do whatever you can to assist this project in getting on its feet. The removal of your complete support of helicopter operations at this time would certainly be a crippling blow to our combined investments in the economic future of our area.

I plan to be in the Capitol for a meeting of the League of Cities from March 29 through April 1 and I hope we will have an opportunity to discuss this further at that time.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM A. J. EMMENS, Mayor.
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LYNWOOD CALIF., March 2, 1965.
Hon. A. S. MONRONEY,
Chairman, Aviation Subcommittee, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
  DEAR SENATOR MONRONEY: The city of Lynwood, located in the Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area, is vitally interested in the proposed limitation on helicopter air service. At one time, we enjoyed direct helicopter mail delivery and did not realize how beneficial or important it was until the service was discontinued. Lynwood is located approximately 10 miles from both the Long Beach and Los Angeles International airports and we are actively seeking helicopter passenger service. I'm certain that you are aware that it often takes as long to drive the 10 miles as to fly the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In my opinion, the helicopter is the only immediate answer to speedy transportation between home and airport.
  We desire expansion, not reduction in service.
   Sincerely, 
   KENNETH ERICKSON, City Manager.
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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR,
Pomona, Calif., March 1, 1965.
Senator A. S. MIKE MONRONEY, 
Chairman, Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
  DEAR SENATOR MONRONEY: The city of Pomona strongly supports the continuation and expansion of the scheduled helicopter service provided in this area by Los Angeles Airways. Following the hearings of your Aviation Subcommittee on March 8-9, 1965, we hope that you will introduce legislation to further this objective.

  What is needed by our great metropolitan areas is a total transportation system composed of freeways, bus systems, rapid transit and air transportation