Springbok – South African Airlines
From the formation of the company in 1934 until 1997, South African Airlines used a flying
springbok as its official symbol.
Springboks are an antelope-gazelle native to southwestern Africa. They’re extremely fast and
can leap high into the air making them an appropriate airline symbol. Although the logo is
no longer displayed on South African Airways aircraft, the Springbok lives on as the airline’s
call sign and can be heard world-wide.
Sasquatch – SeaPort Airlines
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, SeaPort Airlines flies a fleet of Cessna Caravan
turboprops providing Essential Air Service to communities near their hubs: Portland,
Memphis, and San Diego. Oregon (and the U.S. Pacific Northwest) is home to the mythical
creature “Bigfoot” or “Sasquatch” which makes Sasquatch the perfect call sign for SeaPort.
Blue Streak – PSA Airlines
PSA Airlines (not to be confused with its namesake, the original Pacific Southwest Airlines) is a
regional carrier owned by American Airlines Group. PSA is based in Dayton, Ohio and flies
routes as American Eagle. In the mid-1980s, PSA was called Jetstream International Airlines
and flew routes as a Piedmont Commuter. The airplanes had a long blue stripe (or streak) to
match the Piedmont jets. Thus, the call sign Blue Streak!
Bemidji – Bemidji Airlines
If you’re flying around Minnesota, it isn’t unusual to hear the call sign of Bemidji (pronounced
Bem-i-gee). Bemidji Airlines, based in Minneapolis, operates a busy fleet of aircraft providing
scheduled cargo, and passenger charter services. Why Bemidji? The airline is headquartered
in the small town of Bemidji, Minnesota. I
A - Z of Flight
June 2017
www.alliance-airways.net
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