PIA - A History: Jets and Air Taxis, 1966-1967
In the last post in this series, we looked at Ozark Air Lines' growth at Peoria and the prospect for jet service. In December 1965, DeWitt Collins announced his retirement as airport director, a position in which he had served since 1948. His successor, Thomas Schepke, serving as assistant director since 1950, assumed the director's job in March 1966. Ron Burling was hired in May to assist Schepke. Among Schepke's duties was to prepare for the inauguration of PIA's first turbojet service on Ozark Air Lines' DC-9s and help manage airport expansion. Extension of Runway 4-22 by 1,000 feet to the northeast required closure of Airport Road north of its intersection with Harmon Highway. A 525 foot southwest extension was planned, giving the runway 5,202 feet. Eventually, this was increased to 5,700 feet by adding 600 feet to the northeast extension, and cutting the southwest extension to 500 feet. Initial GPAA approval for the project came in late-December 1966....