Airline to fly Pan Am banner again

For people of a certain age, the name 'Pan Am' still strikes a chord.

From its birth in 1929 to its demise in 1991, Pan American World Airways was the gold standard in air travel, and Brownsville played a key role, serving as Pan American's 'Gateway to Latin America' from 1929 to 1959 and the company's Western Division headquarters almost as long.

Pan Am was a major presence, and a major employer in Brownsville for three decades.

Now Pan American Airways Inc appears poised to take off again from Brownsville.

The company has taken up residence in the elegantly stuccoed 1930s Pan American Building on Amelia Earhart Drive at what was once Brownsville-Pan American Airport and is now Brownsville/ South Padre Island International Airport.

It's no coincidence: The company picked the name to match its new headquarters, and Pan American Airways the name under which Pan American World Airways was originally incorporated, happened to be available.

Just don't expect glamorous fleets of Brownsville-based Pan Am Clippers bound for exotic South American destinations, like in the old days.

Reopening

Do expect 70 cargo flights a month from Brownsville to various Latin American destinations, starting in 2011, including service to Rio de Janeiro, said PAA President Robert Hedrick.

The company plans an official announcement Friday at its historic Amelia Earhart Drive digs.

"We will be announcing the reopening of Pan American Airways," Hedrick said. "We will also be announcing the reopening of the Gateway to Latin America, started by Pan American back in 1929. Then they're going to rededicate this building at the same time."

PAA and its sister company, Hedrick's freight-management firm, World-Wide Consolidated Logistics Inc, also headquartered in the old Pan American building, have opened a screening facility at Brownsville/SPI airport that's certified by the Transportation Security Agency and available to any air carrier or cargo company.

The TSA facility was necessary in order for PAA, or anyone, to fly cargo across the border from Brownsville. Hedrick even has his eyes on the African market, with Johannesburg a relatively short hop from Rio de Janeiro.

Commercial distributors

Consolidated Logistics and the new PAA owe their existence to World-Wide Consolidated Aquatics, another Hedrick-run venture, which distributes commercial equipment for resort hotel pools, irrigation and water-purification systems, and manufactures and distributes portable wastewater treatment plants.

The company ships these items, some of them very large, to places like Mexico, Greece, Egypt and Costa Rica, which presents certain logistical problems. Consolidated Logistics' business is managing the shipment of big cargo by air, rail, ground and sea for Consolidated Aquatics and other companies. PAA is Consolidated Logistics' air cargo affiliate. PAA doesn't own any aircraft yet, but is leasing two Boeing 727 cargo jets.

"Later on we may look at buying aircraft companies out to then own those aircraft, but at this point there are so many aircraft available of various types that it doesn't make business sense to go out there and spend operating capital," Hedrick said.

"Initially, we will do what most companies do. We will be very frugal. We will spend money very carefully, and that's the way we're going to put Pan American back up there."

The Brownsville Economic Development Council has been helping PAA cultivate business contacts down south. While the airline's immediate focus is on cargo, passenger flights could be on the horizon to Monterrey, Mexico City and perhaps Cancun.

"Will we carry passengers? Yes, we probably will," Hedrick said. "Will we do it tomorrow? No. We're trying to put together the first flight before the end of December but I doubt we'll make it. Keep in mind, cargo is where our cash flow comes from. Cargo is what generates the funds internally for us to then expand into passenger service. We're not doing it the other way around. We're going to be very careful and select the routes."

- AP