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Elrey Borge Jeppesen - continued....

An example of Jeppesen's work can be seen in these images copied from the famous Jeppesen Black Book:

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Click on each image to see a larger version.
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Jeppesen would record certain landmarks, provide elevations of obstructions and airport ruway information for the field Jeppesen flew in and out of. Jeppesen designed enroute procedures, approach and missed approach procedures to be used when the weather was bad. Other pilots were constantly asking him for his navigational information. The requests became so frequent that Jeppesen began offering copies of his book for $10. Many pilots collected additional data on their own routes and reported it back so he could add to his growing collection of airport and route information.

Jeppesen also tested the new radio navigational aids and developed ways to use the technology for improving point-to-point navigation and also began designing instrument approach procedures, using the information he had gathered on airports throughout the Northwest. These procedures were documented on his instrument approach charts, the only source in the country for this type of information.

In the late 1930s, Varney Airlines, Boeing Air Transport and several other companies merged to become United Airlines. United decided to use Jeppesen's charts throughout their organization, becoming one of the first airlines to subscribe to his early Airway Manual Service. The chart business took off.

Jeppesen is known as the father of modern aeronautical charts and while a pilot for United Airlines, Jeppesen and his wife, a stewardess for United Airlines, began the chart business around 1936 putting together the Jeppesen Airway Manuals in the basement of their home. By the time the U.S. entered World War II Jeppesen had charted most of the United States and his "Jepp" charts had become standard issue to military pilots.

In 1954 Jeppesen retired from United Airlines and he and his wife Nadine put all of their efforts into the chart business. In 1961 they sold to the Times Mirror Corporation where Jeppesen remained chairman until 1988. Later the company became known as Jeppesen Sanderson and has since been sold to Boeing.

Thank you Elrey Jeppesen for all you have contributed to aviation.