Florida’s Commercial Aviation History
Florida has a rich and vibrant history in commercial aviation. With its strategic location and favorable climate, the state has played a significant role in the growth and development of the airline industry. From the early days of pioneering air travel to the modern era of bustling airports, Florida has been a hub for both domestic and international flights. Key milestones include the establishment of major airlines, such as Eastern Air Lines and Pan American World Airways, which operated from Florida and helped shape the global aviation landscape. Today, Florida boasts a network of busy airports, serving as gateways for millions of passengers who visit the state's popular tourist destinations and contribute to its thriving economy.
Florida's Commercial Aviation History Timeline
July 7, 1908
1908 Kissimmee Air Ordinance
The town of Kissimmee, Florida, enacted an ordinance regulating the town's airspace up to 25 miles above the ground. The U.S. War Department and great cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam, modeled their air-space regulations on the town's ordinance.
January 1, 1914
St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line
With the inauguration of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, Tony Jannus entered history books as the world's first airline pilot. The flight covered 18 miles and took 23 minutes. The flight was in a Benoist Model XIV.
January 20, 1914
Establishment of NAS Pensacola
The battleship Mississippi arrives in Pensacola along with the collier Orion, signaling the transformation of the old Pensacola Navy Yard into the cradle of naval aviation. The first flight at the new station was a 20-minute cruise logged on February 2, 1914.
1917
Chalks International Airline
Originated as the Red Arrow Flying Service in 1917, founder Arthur "Pappy" Chalk soon suspended operations in order to serve in the Army Air Service during World War I. After the war, Chalks returned to Miami and, in February 1919, commenced with flights between Miami and Bimini in the Bahamas.
November 1, 1920
Aeromarine International Airways
Aeromarine West Indes Airways began the first scheduled International passenger and air mail service in the United States, operating daily between Key West and Havana on a 60-minute flight schedule. The aircraft were converted U.S. Navy F5L flying boats and featured accommodations for 11 passengers.
December 10, 1958
First United States Domestic Jet Service
Using a Boeing 707 leased from Pan American World Airways, National Airlines became the first U.S. airline to operate jet airlines within the United States. Pan American's Clipper America (N710PA) departed Idlewild Airport (present-day John F. Kennedy International Airport) at approximately 9:30 AM, bound for Miami International Airport.
