Once the world’s most famous airline, Pan Am was a company that created magic in the sky. The glamour and excitement of flying one of their routes was an experience cultivated by a world-class crew: experienced engineers, sophisticated stewardesses and the dashing former fighter pilots at the controls.
For a while, it seemed like Pan Am was doing everything right. So how did it vanish, so abruptly, in December of 1991? Get the behind-the-scenes story on Episode 12 of The Great Fail.
Episode Sources
LOTS OF REASONS WHY PAN AM FAILED
25 YEARS AGO: PAN AM CEASES OPERATIONS
Pan-American World Airways: the rise and fall of a 20th century cultural icon.
Dead Airlines And What Killed Them
The Story Of Pan American World Airways
What Caused Panam To Go Out Of Business?
The Biggest Airlines To Ever Go Bankrupt
An $85 Billion Airline Rescue May Only Prolong the Pain
PAN AM GOES BANKRUPT AFTER 64 YEARS AS AN AVIATION INDUSTRY ICON
Special Guest
Stephen Whitman
Operations Manager, Large Aircraft Group (LAG) at CAMP Systems International, Inc.
Stephen has over 41 years of airline management experience in Operations, Ramp Operations, Cargo Operations, System Operations, Aircraft Routing, Aircraft Maintenance Analyst, and Maintenance Planning.
He is also a FAA licensed Light Sport Repairman, FAA licenses Remote Pilot, FAA licensed Private Pilot and holds an FCC Restricted Radio Telephone Operator Permit.
He worked at Pan American World Airways from July 1979 to December 1991 first in Ramp Operations, then Airport Pax Svc, Airport Departure Control, and finally Maintenance Production Planning.