Aerovias Centrales Apprentice Pilot Wing

Mexico 1932-1935

Following the February 9, 1932 failure of Corporacion de Aeronautica de Transportes, S.A. (CAT), Pan American Airways (PAA) moved on February 26 to establish a subsidiary, Aerovias Centrales, with which to acquire, operate, and build upon CAT's assets. A fleet of 4 Fokker F-10As and 2 Fairchild 71s is provided. Dismissing the central portion of the newly acquired network, Juan Trippe's operation concentrates on the Pacific coast, while retaining the Torreon-Durango-Mazatlan segments; Ford 5-ATs are introduced on November 12. To meet competition from Walter Varig's LAO (Lineas Aereas Occidentales, S.A. de C.V.), Aerovias Centrales, in April 1934, employs the first of five P.A.A. supplied Lockheed Model 10Cs to open Los Angeles-Mexico City same day service. When LAO goes out of business in January 1935, P.A.A. quickly acquires its Tapachula route. Refusing to bow to a government rule that all airlines operating as Mexican must have Mexican flight crews, P.A.A. dissolves Aerovias Centrales on December 18, selling its fleet to CMA (Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, S.A. de C.V.).
Note:This wing was hand made. You can tell by the saw and chisle marks on the rim of this one piece wing.