CMA (COMPANIA MEXICANA DE AVIACION, S. A. de C. V.): Mexico (1924-1956). U. S. pilot William “Slim” Mallory, on July 11, 1924 , receives a Mexican government route award (Concession No. 3) for services from Mexico City to Tampico. Joining with American businessman George L. Rihl, who is backed by Randal G. Piper and Carl V. Schlaet, the two form Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, S. A. de C. V. The government contract is shifted to CMA on August 16, amended to include Concession No. 4, Mexico City-Tuxpan and Tampico-Matamoras.
Capitalized at $25,000, the new airline is officially registered on August 24; Mexican citizen Lic Gustavo Espinosa Mireles is named president. The assets of financially distressed CMTA (Compania Mexicana de Transportation Aerea, S. A. de C. V.), formed as the nation’s first air carrier in 1921, are acquired and merged. The initial fleet comprises 3 Lincoln Standards obtained in the merger; it will eventually contain 8 Standard biplanes.
CMA enters into the delivery of payrolls by air business in 1925, dropping money orders and sacks to specified areas in the oil fields near Tampico from Lincoln Standard biplanes. The service is undertaken as a method of avoiding bandits, but at least one sack is lost when dropped off-target into a jungle, The bombardier, who later becomes a Pan American Airways (PAA) vice president, is fired. During the year, Sherman Fairchild purchases a 20% interest and agrees to supply all of the airline’s equipment needs.
A 10-year Mexican government airmail contract is received on August 16, 1926 for the route from Mexico City to Tampico via Tuxpan. Flying a Lincoln Standard, M. A. Nimenin makes an extended survey flight on December 9, Mexico City to Matamoras via Tampico, in 6 hrs. 5 min.—the first direct flight to the U. S. border for the Mexican carrier.
Capitalization is increased in 1927 to 150,000 pesos and 7 Fairchild FC-2Ws join the fleet; the last three are christened, Ciudad de Veracruz, Ciudad de Mexico, and Ciudad de Merida. Nonscheduled mail services are maintained.
World History
