Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division records, 1919-1995
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana. Department of Transportation. Aeronautics Division.
- Title
- Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division records
- Dates
- 1919-1995 (inclusive)19191995
- Quantity
- 24 linear feet
- Collection Number
- RS 492 (Formerly RS 402)
- Summary
- This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records. This collection is comprised of records documenting the work of the Aeronautics Division of the Department of Transportation, and Department of Highways, and includes correspondence, case files, minutes, reports, subject files, project files and miscellany.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Processing of this collection funded by a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.
By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division was headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division were furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation.
The Aeronautics Division facilitates the maintenance of airports and the various components of airport infrastructure, including visual and electronic navigational facilities and flying aids. Other responsibilities include registering Montana aircraft and pilots; coordination and supervision of aerial search and rescue operations; and administering a loan and grant program to municipal governments to fund airport development and improvement projects.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection is comprised of files documenting the Aeronautics Division’s work, and includes correspondence among division administrators and chiefs, with airline contacts, legislators, and government agencies; case files about airports throughout Montana (arranged alphabetically by city); reports filed by the Aeronautics Commission, and reports about the state of transportation and airports throughout Montana; minutes of the meetings of the Aeronautics Board, the Aeronautics Commission, and Aeronautics Division staff; and project files, subject files and miscellany relating to the administration of airports, airport safety, and Aeronautics Division programs, among other things.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Name of Collection. Collection Number. Box and folder number. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by subgroup and then by series.
Location of Collection
39:8-3Processing Note
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Transportation were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 492, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Transportation's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 492. Rather than reprocessing over 280 linear feet of Transportation materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition information is available upon request.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Correspondence Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1-5 | Director: W. E. Hunt |
1970-1975 |
| 1 / 6-7 | Administrator: Michael Ferguson |
1976-1982 |
| 1 / 8 | Airport Development, Airports and Airways
Bureau |
1964-1981 |
| 1 / 9-11 | Airports and Airways Bureau, David C. Kneedler,
Chief |
1980-1987 |
| 1 / 12-2/3 | Plant and Equipment, Gerald C. Burrows,
Supervisor |
1971-1985 |
| 2 / 4 | Safety and Education Division, Jack Wilson,
Chief |
1967-1971 |
| 2 / 5-9 | Safety and Education Division, Fred Hasskamp,
Chief |
1982-1991 |
| 2 / 10-12 | Ted Mathis |
1974-1979 |
| 2 / 13 | Jim Bernet, Chief Pilot |
1974-1979 |
| 2 / 14 | John Melcher (U.S. Congressman and
Senator) |
1974-1988 |
| 2 / 15 | Ron Marlene (U.S. Congressman) |
1977-1987 |
| 2 / 16 | Pat Williams (U.S. Congressman) |
1979-1985 |
| 2 / 17-18 | Worthie M. Rauscher (WRM) |
1969-1970 |
| 3 / 1-4 | General memos and correspondence |
1967-1986 |
| 3 / 5 | Aeronautics Commission |
1961-1969 |
| 3 / 6 | Board of Aeronautics creation, goals of Aeronautics
Division |
1975-1982 |
| 3 / 7 | "Constitution By-laws" |
1968-1969 |
| 3 / 8 | Board of Aeronautics |
1979-1981 |
| 3 / 9 | Board of Aeronautics, mailings |
1976 |
| 3 / 10 | Aircraft / Pilot Pool |
1975-1990 |
| 3 / 11-16 | Airlines: Frontier, Northwest, Western |
1965-1969 |
| 3 / 17-20 | Airport Operations and Airports (Helena, Yellowstone,
Denver) |
1966-1979 |
| 3 / 21 | Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) |
1978-1985 |
| 3 / 22 | Customs and Immigration at Calgary, AB |
1976 |
| 4 / 1-2 | Montana Department of Community Affairs |
1975-1981 |
| 4 / 3-4 | Montana Department of Commerce |
1981-1987 |
| 4 / 5 | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
1979-1982 |
| 4 / 6 | Federal Communications Commission (FCC) |
1963-1969 |
| 4 / 7 | Governor, miscellany |
1989-1990 |
| 4 / 8-11 | Legislative: Max Baucus, Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf,
Reps. James Battin, John Melcher, and Arnold Olson |
1962-1988 |
| 4 / 12 | Legal, general |
1964-1969 |
| 4 / 13 | Montana (Aeronautics) Commission Study, Navigation
Aids |
1964-1965 |
| 4 / 14 | Northwest Fixtures |
1965-1970 |
| 4 / 15 | Search and Rescue |
1982-1986 |
| 4 / 16 | T.A.P., Inc. (Technology in Action is
Progress) |
1971-1982 |
Case FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 17-28 | Anaconda - Billings |
1962-1991 |
| Box | ||
| 5 | Bozeman - Culbertson |
1962-1991 |
| 6 | Deer Lodge – Hamilton |
1962-1991 |
| 7 | Helena - Libby |
1962-1991 |
| 8 | Lincoln - Plentywood |
1962-1991 |
| 9 | Plentywood - West Yellowstone |
1962-1991 |
| 10-12 | West Yellowstone |
1962-1991 |
| 13 | West Yellowstone - Wolf Point |
1962-1991 |
ReportsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 14 / 1-4 | Individual Airport Data: Billings – Wolf
Point |
1970-1990 |
| 14 / 5 | "Report of the Commissioner of Aeronautics…for the
Governor" |
1935 |
| 14 / 6-7 | Aviation Education Supervisor Reports |
1966-1976 |
| 14 / 8 | Aeronautics Commission, Presentations Before the Civil
Aeronautics Board (D.C.) |
1973 |
| 14 / 9 | Reports of the Legal Division |
1969-1970 |
| 14 / 10 | "Montana Plan for State and Regional Defense Airlift" |
1965 |
| 14 / 11 | Operations and financial reports |
1977-1983 |
| 14 / 12 | Aeronautics Commission, "Report on Examination" |
FY 1969 |
| 14 / 13 | Aeronautics Commission, "Annual Report to the
Governor" |
1946 |
| 14 / 14 | "National Transportation Study, State of Montana work
plan" |
1974 |
Minutes Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 14 / 15-19 | Montana Aeronautics Board, Board of Aeronautics |
1974-1979 |
| 14 / 20 | Board meetings |
1981 |
| 14 / 21 | Staff meetings |
1974-1978 |
| 14 / 22 | Montana Aeronautics Commission |
1969-1973 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 15 / 1 | "Commercial operators" |
1981-1982 |
| 15 / 2 | "Executive Planning Process" |
1978 |
| 15 / 3 | Environmental Quality Control |
1977 |
| 15 / 4 | Governor Ted Schwinden |
1985-1986 |
| 15 / 5 | Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee for Women
(ICCW) |
1977-1984 |
| 15 / 6 | Rep. John M. Schontz |
1981-1982 |
| 15 / 7 | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
1987 |
| 15 / 8 | Annual reports to the Governor |
1976-1977 |
| 15 / 9 | "League of Cities and Towns" |
1971-1977 |
| 15 / 10-11 | FAA Essay Contest |
1984-1986 |
| 15 / 12-13 | FAA obstruction reports |
1985-1986 |
| 15 / 14 | Attorney General |
1963-1981 |
| 15 / 15 | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
1968-1974 |
| 15 / 16 | U. S. Department of the Interior |
1967-1979 |
| 15 / 17 | Federal Communications Commission (FCC) |
1978-1980 |
| 15 / 18 | "General: Towers, Structures, Obstructions" |
1978-1980 |
| 15 / 19-20 | Flight Service Stations |
1982-1984 |
| 15 / 21 | Montana Aviation Statewide Conference |
undated |
| 15 / 22 | Volcanic Ash Fallout Plan |
1980 |
| 15 / 23 | Ultra-light aircraft |
1981-1984 |
| 15 / 24 | "Budget and Program Planning" |
1960-1978 |
| 16 / 1 | Aeronautics Conference |
1968 |
| 16 / 2 | Short Haul Study |
1968 |
| 16 / 3 | Glasgow Air Force Base bid |
1971 |
| 16 / 4 | Montana International Airport |
1971-1975 |
| 16 / 5 | Airport insurance |
1976-1977 |
| 16 / 6 | Board of Aeronautics |
1972-1974 |
| 16 / 7-8 | Buckley Survey and Study |
1966-1968 |
| 16 / 9 | "Special Reports, Miscellaneous" |
1966-1968 |
| 16 / 10-12 | T.A.P. Proposal and Reports |
1967-1969 |
| 16 / 13 | "Third level carriers" |
1967-1975 |
| 16 / 14-15 | Aircraft pool |
1974-1980 |
| 16 / 16 | "Montana to Europe Scheduled Air Service: feasibility
study" |
1974-1976 |
| 16 / 17 | Montana Board of Equalization |
1962-1970 |
| 16 / 18 | Automated Flight Service Stations (FSS) |
1984-1988 |
| 16 / 19 - 17/3 | Board of Aeronautics mailouts |
1978-1982 |
| 17 / 4 | Aircraft registration |
1975 |
| 17 / 5 | Senate Sub-committee hearings |
1970-1971 |
| 17 / 6 | Montana Legislature |
1967-1969 |
| 17 / 7 | "1969 Legislative Kit" |
1969 |
| 17 / 8-14 | Proposed legislation |
1971-1979 |
| 17 / 15 | Aeronautics Commission, Regulations and
Resolutions |
1961-1977 |
| 17 / 16-19 | Taxation: Gas Tax, Head Tax, Gas Tax data |
1956-1970 |
| 17 / 20-21 | Legal Opinions and Interpretations |
1958-1969 |
| 17 / 22 | "Mode C" Airspace |
1988 |
| 17 / 23 | MDT Strategic Plan |
1992 |
| 17 / 24 | Reorganization and creation of Montana Department of
Transportation (DOT) |
1982-1994 |
| 17 / 25 | Montana Flight Plan |
1963-1967 |
| 17 / 26 | FAA Wind Data (Wind Rose Chart) |
1966 |
| 18 / 1 | Department of Law Enforcement, Crime Control
Commission |
1973 |
| 18 / 2 | State Board of Health |
1969 |
| 18 / 3 | Montana Flying Farmers and Ranchers |
1962-1970 |
| 18 / 4 | Montana 99s (int'l org. of women pilots) |
1962-1970 |
| 18 / 5 | Northern Plains Air Transportation Council |
1969-1975 |
| 18 / 6-13 | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
1964-1992 |
| 18 / 14 | Sen. Lee Metcalf |
1970-1973 |
| 18 / 15 | Customs and immigration |
1964-1971 |
| 18 / 16-22 | Airlines: Concorde, Condor, Frontier, Northwest
(including Northwest Airlines strike), Western |
1968-1978 |
| 18 / 23 | Governor Ted Schwinden |
1987-1988 |
| 18 / 24 | Executive Reorganization |
1970-1972 |
| 18 / 25 | Montana Department of Commerce |
1989 |
| 18 / 26 | Montana Department of Commerce, Keith
Colbo |
1985-1986 |
| 18 / 27-28 | Michael Ferguson, Administrator |
1983-1987 |
| 19 / 1 | Aeronautics Commission, OPI Aviation
Education |
1946-1961 |
| 19 / 2 | School of Aeronautics and Related Trades |
1964-1967 |
| 19 / 3 | Flight training: Korean veterans |
1952-1959 |
| 19 / 4 | Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) |
1962-1964 |
| 19 / 5 | Aviation Mechanics Refresher Seminar
(AMRS) |
1962-1964 |
| 19 / 6 | Flight Seminar for Youth |
1964-1969 |
| 19 / 7-8 | Civil Air Patrol (CAP) |
1970-1979 |
| 19 / 9 | Satellites, search and rescue |
1973-1974 |
| 19 / 10 | Proposal Analysis for "Montana’s Statewide Airport
System Requirements" |
1971-1990 |
| 19 / 11-15 | City airports: Arlee - Kalispell |
1963-1970 |
| 19 / 16 | "Downed AIC Locator Beacon, ELT and Homers" |
1966-1978 |
| 19 / 17 | Navigational Aids Policy |
1968 |
| 19 / 8 | Heliports (including hospitals) |
1966-1974 |
| 20 / 1 | Short Haul Transportation Study |
1970-1972 |
| 20 / 2 | "FSS Hardcone Plan" |
1964-1965 |
| 20 / 3 | "Deregulation" |
1964-1965 |
| 20 / 4-8 | City airports: Lambert - Yellowtail |
1962-1974 |
| 20 / 9 | Completed airport inspection forms |
1965 |
| 20 / 10-11 | Beacon Relocation Program |
1963-1965 |
| 20 / 12-17 | State Airport System Plan (preparation, preliminary
reports, requirements, costs, plan update) |
1970-1979 |
| 21 / 1-2 | Deregulations |
1978-1979 |
| 21 / 3 | Montana Aviation Advisory Council |
1984-1985 |
| 21 / 4 | "Testimony of Michael Ferguson before the Aviation
Subcommittee" |
1986 |
| 21 / 5 | Flight service stations |
1973-1986 |
| 21 / 6 | Aviation Subcommittee recommendations |
1982 |
| 21 / 7 | Aviation educational films |
1981-1986 |
| 21 / 8 | Legislation: SB 266 |
1975 |
| 21 / 9 | Legal opinions: Cannon and Garrity |
1970-1977 |
| 21 / 10 | Walt Disney film contracts |
1962-1975 |
| 21 / 11 | Aircraft ambulances |
1972-1980 |
| 21 / 12 | "Questionnaires: requested and completed" |
1971-1983 |
| 21 / 13 | "Air traffic activity statistics" |
1976-1981 |
| 21 / 14 | Aeronautics Commission, Airport Div. monthly
reports |
1965-1970 |
| 21 / 15 | Beacon survey |
1969 |
| 21 / 16 | Beacon land owners |
1965-1967 |
| 21 / 17 | Airport Development, rules, regulations, and
policies |
1961-1962 |
| 21 / 18 | "Beyer – info for Airport Division and legal
opinion" |
1963-1964 |
| 21 / 19 | "Legal counsel: Lobel" |
1963-1964 |
| 21 / 20 | Search and Rescue Coordination meeting |
1967 |
| 21 / 21 | Montana Pilots Association |
1967-1970 |
| 21 / 22 | Short Haul Air Transportation Study |
1969-1970 |
| 21 / 23 | Auxiliary aviation history |
1968 |
| 21 / 24 | Airport meetings |
1970 |
| 21 / 25 | Marking Unpaved Airports Test Program |
1978-1984 |
| 21 / 26 | Weekly Aeronautics Report to DCA |
1977 |
| 21 / 27 | "Helicopter Ambulance Service in Emergencies" |
1970 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 22 / 1 | Ultralight aircraft |
1981-1984 |
| 22 / 2 | History, safety and education |
1961-1968 |
| 22 / 3 | Department of Agriculture, commercial apps. |
1976-1978 |
| 22 / 4 | Poster contest |
1987 |
| 22 / 5 | Aircraft registration, intensive research |
1984 |
| 22 / 6 | Montana Pilots Association |
1972-1987 |
| 22 / 7 | Search and Rescue contract |
1974-1977 |
| 22 / 8 | Economic regulation (EDR dockets) |
1973-1982 |
| 22 / 9 | "Opinions & Regulations Relating to
Aeronautics" |
1970-1977 |
| 22 / 10 | Procedural regulations |
1971-1979 |
| 22 / 11 | Elimination of subsidy programs |
1980-1981 |
| 22 / 12 | "Organizational regulations" |
1973-1975 |
| 22 / 13 | U. S. border airstrips |
1965-1975 |
| 22 / 14 | Airports and Airways Development Act |
1970-1982 |
| 22 / 15 | Airports reports |
1970-1976 |
| 22 / 16-21 | Airlines: Air West, Alpine, Cascade, Frontier, Western |
1972-1986 |
| 22 / 22 | Airport manager monthly reports |
1976-1985 |
| 22 / 22 | Airport manager monthly reports |
1976-1985 |
| 22 / 23 | "Boulder" |
1965-1983 |
| 22 / 24 | Montana Aviation Trades Association, Montana Aviation
Advisory Council |
1981 |
| 22 / 25 | "Director's Manual" |
1977-1978 |
| 23 / 1-4 | Budget sheets |
FY 1965-1975 |
| 23 / 5 | Weekly Divisional Reports (Harold Fryslie) |
1976-1977 |
| 23 / 6-7 | Board of Aeronautics |
1977-1978, 1980 |
| 23 / 8 | Deregulation |
1975-1977 |
| 23 / 9 | Pilot policy |
1968-1978 |
| 23 / 10 | Civil Defense, state and regional defense
airlift |
1963-1973 |
| 23 / 11-14 | Board mailouts |
1977-1978 |
| 24 / 1 | Paving repair at Aeronautics Commission
office |
1969 |
| 24 / 2 | Aeronautics Commission building,
construction |
1958 |
| 24 / 3 | Helena Airport lease |
1970, 1991 |
| 24 / 4 | Montana Aeronautics Commission (MAC)
budgets |
1963 |
| 24 / 5 | Billings building, finishing |
1970 |
| 24 / 6 | Gallatin County law officer agreement |
1975 |
| 24 / 7 | "RRC Multi-modal Study" |
1993-95 |
| 24 / 8 | Glasgow Air Force Base |
1967 |
| 24 / 9 | Film originals |
1967 |
| 24 / 10 | "(Hugh R.) Kelleher vs. Montana and the Montana
Aeronautics Commission" |
1971 |
| 24 / 11 | Montana Aeronautics Commission loans and collections |
1963-1964 |
MiscellanyReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 24 / 12 | Search and Rescue Manual |
1968 |
| 24 / 13 | Hearings on air operators insurance |
1967 |
| 24 / 14 | Transcript, Informal Hearing between Civil Aeronautics
Board and Air Carriers |
1968 |
| 24 / 15 | Policy, Operations and Procedures Manual |
1969 |
Project FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 25 / 1 | Montana Aeronautics Commission Monthly Meetings
Correspondence |
1968-1969 |
| 25 / 2 | Legislature 1969 Enplanement Fee |
1969 |
| 25 / 3 | Airline Meeting |
1968 |
| 25 / 4 | Adequacy of Service |
1967-1969 |
| 25 / 5 | TAP, Inc. Air Survey, Progress Reports (Technology in
Action is Progress) |
1967-1968 |
| 25 / 6 | DIEHL – Economic Base Study |
1968 |
| 25 / 7 | Eastern Montana Cities (Booklets, statistics,
transcripts) |
1969 |
| 26 / 1 | General Matters |
1968-1969 |
| 26 / 2-3 | Eastern Montana Cities – Correspondence |
1969 |
| 26 / 4 | Planning File |
1968 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Airports--Montana
- Airports--Safety measures.
Corporate Names
- Montana. Aeronautics Board.
- Montana. Department of Highways.
- Montana. Department of Transportation. Aeronautics Division.
Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilley; Updated by Lindsey
Mick
2012; 2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
