[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HISTORY OF EASTERN AIRLINES

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                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2009

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to 
the history of the former Eastern Airlines and its loyal employees. As 
a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Aviation, this matter is of 
particular importance to me. I recently met with one of my 
constituents; Mr. Robert G. Fuhrman of Fayetteville, Georgia, who is a 
former Eastern pilot; Bob recounted the history of the company and its 
employees' fight to maintain its reputation for leadership in the 
airline industry. Additionally, Bob presented me with a copy of his 
manuscript as well as a number of correspondences to elected officials 
detailing his experiences, both good and bad, at Eastern Airlines. I 
have brought these experiences and documents to the attention of the 
House Aviation Subcommittee so that the Members of the Subcommittee 
would be aware of the history of Eastern Airlines as well as fulfill my 
constituent's First Amendment right as outlined in our U.S. 
Constitution to petition his government for a redress of grievances.
  I would like to recount some of the history of Eastern Airlines which 
had such a profound impact on my home state of Georgia as a hub at 
Hartsfield--Jackson, Atlanta International Airport.
  Eastern Air Transport first emerged on the heels of the Great 
Depression, operating primarily as an airmail carrier. As air travel 
grew during the 1950s and 60s, Eastern proved to be a leader in both 
aviation technology and industry practices. It was the first airline to 
turn a profit from commercial transportation and the first to 
successfully implement a shuttle service.
  Along with its reputation for excellence in flight, Eastern became 
respected for its civic and philanthropic contributions. Eddie 
Rickenbacker, the company's founder and World War I flying ace, oversaw 
Eastern's participation in U.S. war efforts. In World War II, Eastern 
served the United States Military by establishing military support 
flights connecting Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. This project 
eventually led to the creation of the airline's own Military Transport 
Division. The families of Eastern airlines shared both the drive for 
success and sense of responsibility its early founder established. 
Between 1985 and 1986, employees and their families sponsored three 
``mercy flights'' to Ethiopia and the Sudan.
  Despite the company's early success and innovation, Eastern began to 
experience financial difficulty. After years of losses, a series of 
labor disagreements, and the slow accumulation of debt, Eastern filed 
for bankruptcy in March of 1989. However, the strategic move was not 
enough to salvage the company, as it was unable to keep up with the 
expanding market and the demand for cheaper fares. Eastern Airlines 
finally closed its doors in 1991. While the airline is no longer in 
operation, the advances its management and employees contributed to the 
industry are still used by major carriers today. It is of great 
importance to me that Eastern Airlines and its employees such as my 
constituent Robert Fuhrman are remembered by the U.S. Congress in a 
positive light for their contributions to air travel.

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