[Aviation - Reports and Articles]

Files from this series were generated from 1984 through 1994. Materials include memos, notes, correspondence, reports, and news clippings. Most of the correspondence was written by other senators, airline industry associations, and officials from various airports. Many of the reports were generated by various federal departments and agencies including the Congressional Research Service and the General Accounting Office. Subjects include the Montreal Protocols to the Warsaw Convention that dealt with liability claims for the family members of victims of international airline disasters. Much of this material refers to the bombing of Pan American Airlines flight 103 in 1988 and the shooting down of Korean Airlines flight 007 in 1983. This series also includes files on specific airports regarding expansion and renovation, landing fees, and airlines using or leaving these airports. Most of the airports mentioned are in Maine, especially the Portland Jetport and the Bangor International Airport. There is also a file on Logan Airport in Boston, mostly regarding the Massachusetts Port Authority's Program for Airport Capacity Efficiency, which dealt with licensing fees. Other issues include more general files on liability, airport security, airplane crashes, an Eastern Airlines strike, noise abatement, the tourism industry, and procedures for customs inspection at international airports. Some files on customs and immigration regarding international travel can be found in the Railroad series. Additional files on immigration are in the Judiciary series.

Many of the files came from or concerned the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, particularly its aviation subcommittee. Other federal agencies mentioned are the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Department of State, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Many files concern the Maine State Department of Transportation and various town municipal airport officials. A variety of aviation manufacturer and airline carrier companies, associations, and unions are represented in these files. In addition there are files created by other associations including various law organizations such as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and family victim associations such as the Families of Pan-AM103/Lockerbie.

Most of the files were maintained and created by Robert Carolla and Trey Kelleter. Others were created by Mary LeBlanc, Patrick Maxcy, and Howard Paster, and some early files were created by Christine Williams. Some files on defense are mixed in, particularly those on the conversion of military airfields and procurement for Bath Iron Works and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Additionally, some files on railroads and public transportation are mixed in.