Burbank Airport served needs of a growing nation

Burbank Leader, Jan 9, 2002. David M. Simmons

The following is a response to a letter appearing on the editorial page of the Burbank Leader on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001 I was surprised to read Will Ray's recent letter, wherein he commented on the early origin of the Burbank Airport. He stated, "the airport started out as a small general aviation airport serving small planes. It has, over the years, grown into a fairly large commercial airport with many flights each day." I beg to disagree with his statement as it pertains to the Burbank Airport. However, his early-day description applies perfectly with regard to the development of what is now the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Its original name was Mines Field. Mines Field, now known as LAX, came into existence in the 1920s as a general aviation facility. Its tenants consisted primarily of small charter operators, flight schools, private aircraft owners, maintenance shops, and the related personnel needed to support that type of operation. It remained largely a general aviation airport for many years, and did not become a truly commercial airport until 1946, when the major airlines relocated there from the Burbank Airport. The Burbank Airport's origin was in complete contrast. In the late '20s, an airline that later became United Airlines was feeling cramped in the facilities available at the Grand Central Airport in Glendale. At that time, Grand Central was the major commercial airport serving the Southern California region. All of the then-existing major airlines conducted passenger flight activity at the Glendale location. United Airlines, through a subsidiary corporation, bought the original land parcel of what was to become the Burbank Airport, and set about constructing a commercial airport for its use. Upon completion, it was named United Air Terminal. At that time it was known as one of the first commercial airports in the United States to be designed and constructed from scratch to serve the needs of the major air carriers. It was also known as one of the most costly to build. Following its dedication on May 30, 1930, it developed rapidly as the region's major airport. Soon all commercial flight activity moved from Grand Central to Burbank. As a concession to the other airlines, United changed the name of the airport to Union Air Terminal. In 1940, Lockheed bought the airport from United, and it became known as Lockheed Air Terminal, a name that was to remain for a number of years. In 1946, passenger traffic at the Burbank Airport totaled slightly over 1.2 million. At that time, Burbank raked as one of the five busiest airports in the United States, from a standpoint of commercial passenger traffic. As previously mentioned, it was in the fall of 1946 that the major airlines moved from Burbank to what was then known as Los Angeles Municipal Airport. Following the move of the major airlines, the development of the supplemental airlines industry and the expanded operations of several large cargo air carriers filled the operational void at Burbank Airport. It should also be noted that concurrent with the buildup of commercial air traffic in the 1930s and early '40s, Lockheed used the Burbank Airport to test fly the thousands of fighter and bomber aircraft manufactured at its nearby Burbank plants. These aircraft played a major role in reducing the status of Germany from world power to a defeated nation. From a historical standpoint, it is of interest to recall the Burbank Airport has served a variety of aviation needs for more that 70 years, in almost its original configuration. Very few airports in the United States, or the word, can compare to that long-term record. May I emphasize, in conclusion, that irrespective of what one's current opinion is of the Burbank Airport or its future, every citizen should share a feeling of pride for what that small parcel of land has contributed in the development of commercial aviation, and in serving the needs of our nation at a critical juncture in history.David M. Simmons Burbank