The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-09-16
LARGE FLEET
 COMMERCIAL
 PLANES HERE
Alaska Air Transport Has Three Craft for North
 ern Service

Purchase of the Lockheed Vega seaplane by the AAT from the Irving Airways as announced in yesterdays Empire, has put the Alaska Air Transport in the front rank of Alaska plane companies, giving the AAT the largest fleet of commercial planes operated in Southeast Alaska Already operat- ing a four-plane Stinson seaplane, with a six-place Bellanca Skyrocket added early this year, the addition of the seven-place Lockheed will allow the company to always have two planes in the air and one plane in reserve. It will now be possible for the company to maintain full service at all times and yet lay up one plane whenever necessary for overhaul and checkover, announced Sheldon Simmons, Chief Pilot and active manager of the company.
 Machine Shop
 Now completed and in use is the new hangar and, machine and work shop, located on the old Ju- neau Motor Company premises, on which construction was started this summer. The completion of the shop will not only enable the com pany to always keep their own planes in most efficient flying con- dition without going south for re- pairs, but application has bee n made to the Bureau of Air Com merce to have the shop listed as an approved airplane repair plant, and such approval is expected in the near future. The shop will then be able. not only to completely service the AAT planes but will do repair work Tor all pianes in Al aska, and it will no longer be necessary for Alaska planes to be flown to Seattle for overhaul The repair hangar is under the super vision of Gordon Graham, we'll known local air mechnician, as 
 chief mechanic, assisted by Ray Robinson, mechanic.
 Inaugural Flight
 The inaugural flight in the white Lockheed under the AAT banner was made by Sheldon Simmons yesterday morning when he flew a fishing and hunting party to Lake Florence, at 10 o'clock. Members of the party were: Tony Craviolini, c. J. Davis, s. w. Macdonald and MT. and Mrs Neil. At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Simmons made the first mail flight since taking over the Irving Airways mail char ter, along with the plane and all other equipment and contracts, when he flew to Tenakee and Sit ka Passengers were: Mrs. Cozac and daughter to Sitka; Otto Brick son and Mrs. Elda Custer, ao Ten akee.
 Mail Flights
 It IS planned to continue the mail flights throughout the winter, the first time that such service has been attempted. Although weather may not permit the mail flights to be made on schedule, 1t is expected that there will be very little deviation from schedules necessitated. Flights will be made on Tuesdays to Hawk Inlet, Ten akee and Sitka; on Wednesdays to Hoonah, Hirst- Chichagof and Chi chagof, following the present sched- ule. On the return from the flight to Sitka yesterday afternoon, Sim mons picked up the hunting and fishing party at Florence Lake.
 Pilot James Rinehart. flying the Stinson, carried the first mail by the AAT to Hawk Inlet, leaving Juneau at ? pm. yesterday. Pas sengers were: MT. and Mrs. Flintoff to Hawk Inlet and returning yes- terday evening, Henry Roden and two miners from Hawk Inlet