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488 HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM From the 1960 through 1964, the San Bernardino Heliport has boarded 51,140 passengers, 1,371,482 pounds of air mail, and 207,470 pounds of air express. In addition, from 1960 through 1964, Los Angeles Airways has carried 46,226 passengers into the San Bernardino Heliport, plus 662,616 pounds of air mail 698,616 pounds of air express. Los Angeles Airways' helicopter service is not a luxury commuter service or a between-airport shuttle service, but it is a vitally necessary part of the national air transportation system-carrying thousands of people out of San Bernardino for connection with the world's airlines via Los Angeles International Airport to other points in California, to all airline points in the United States and to many worldwide points. Of equal importance, industry and other air travelers now have direct access by air directly through San Bernardino from every other airline point in the United States, and the world. San Bernardino is completely reliant on Los Angeles Airways for helicopters for air transportation-not only for passengers, but also for air mail and air express. Millions of dollars have been spent in locating industrial plants, etc., contiguous to LAA's routes. Norton Air Force Base, located in San Bernardino, is headquarters for the Ballistic Systems Division of the Air Force Systems Command. This division is responsible for all development and production of ballistic missiles. We are a rapidly expanding center for research and development in the space and defense industry and extensive urgent travel requiring airlift to and from Los Angeles is vital to the support of our defense and space programs. Los Angeles Airway's helicopter service must be continued as a necessary part of San Bernardino and the Nation's air transport system, and we strongly urge the expansion of such service for San Bernardino and for all of southern California. Sincerely yours, Bennet A. Meyers, President. ____ City of Monrovia, Monrovia, Calif., February 25, 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: This letter is in reference to the hearing scheduled be your committee on March 8 and 9, on the subject of whether the Government should continue, expand, or limit the federally supported helicopter air service program. The city of Monrovia is located in the heart of the heavily populated San Gabriel Valley and needs helicopter service. The population of the San Gabriel Valley is greater than that of Newark. If the federally sponsored helicopter service is curtailed, it will impose a serious handicap on not only the citizens of the San Gabriel Valley, but on the development and growth of industry and commerce in this area. The Civil Aeronautics Board has suggested that the helicopter subsidy could be phased out, and Los Angeles Airways apparently agrees with this position, or at least has no objection to it. This would be my position. The subsidy could be phased out over the next half-dozen years without a hardship on any parties involved and would do much to stimulate the service under free enterprise. I trust that your committee will give this matter serious and thoughtful consideration and reach a solution which will be in the public interest. Sincerely, Gifford W. Miller, City Manager. ____ City Hall, Anaheim, Calif., March 1, 1965. Senator A. S. Mike Monroney, Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Committee, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Dear Senator Monroney: This is in reference to the hearings being held by the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce on the subject of whether the Government should continue, expand or limit the federally supported helicopter air service program. The city of Anaheim emphatically supports the proposal of the Civil Aeronautics Board in its show cause order of February 16, 1965, docket 15683, wherein
