Produced by Teaching Films, Inc in 1947, “Behind the Scenes at the Airport” is a short, black and white educational film that takes the viewer through the inner workings of the airport and all of the behind the scenes jobs that go into making air travel run smoothly. The film is partially scripted and follows a young boy named Ray as he experiences his first day of air travel and the pilot he befriends. This pilot becomes the narrator of the film and speaks over footage of different airport employees like mechanics, reservation clerks, pilots, ramp agents, dispatchers, and traffic control officers at work. Most importantly perhaps, is that the film contains images of Trans Canadian Airlines and American Airlines airplane models from the late 1930s such as the American Airlines Douglas DC-3.
Opening credits (0:08). Title page overlaid image of American Airlines Douglas DC-3 (0:15). Interior of an aircraft: young boy looks out the window and sees Toronto skyline (0:23). Trans Canada Airlines (TCA) aircraft lands and the stewardess bids passengers farewell as they disembark (0:45). Plane pilot approaches young boy and asks him about his experience, tells him to get ready for his flight to Boston (1:14). Pilot narrates as film displays scenes from inside airplane hangar: “unseen” jobs of mechanics and technicians (2:17). Mechanics work on the wing and engine of an American Overseas Airlines plane (2:21). Mechanics roll away shelves with various engine parts (2:51). Mechanics examine and repair the old engine (2:58). Testing of the newly refurbished engine (3:17). Mechanic reads various dials and takes note of how well the engine is working (3:35). Shot of plane engine propellers lined up in the hangar (3:38). A plane is towed by mechanics out of the hangar (3:57). Reservations and flight times: room of women telephone operators fielding calls about flight reservations, one woman adjusts the blackboard displaying plane numbers that still hold space for more passengers (4:06). Chief pilot in uniform examines maps and papers with flight path information (4:40). Close-up of weatherman’s report of meteorological conditions on the flight path (4:53). Chief pilot meets with airport personnel to confirm his chosen route and what time he expects to arrive at next airport (5:18). Flight dispatcher at work in office with other dispatchers (5:40). Man approaches white board used to keep track of all the flights’ take off times so that dispatcher can see (5:51). Two men push airstairs with American Airlines logo towards the door of the plane (6:14). Ramp agent stands in front of aircraft and coordinates the boarding of passengers and take off (6:19). Food service truck approaches the aircraft (6:30). Food service employees run up airstairs to deliver canisters of food (6:35). Fire extinguishers below the wing are checked (6:44). Mobilgas truck approaches to deliver fuel (6:49). Passenger baggage and freight are loaded onto the plane (7:12). Announcement for flight to Boston as passengers board the plane (7:58). Exterior view of the American Airlines Douglas DC-3 as engine and propellers warm-up for takeoff (8:08). Interior of the traffic control tower and scenes of the traffic control chief at work (9:04). Pilot in the cock-pit radios the traffic control chief confirming takeoff (9:18). Flight takeoff as seen from the control tower (9:41). Same young boy looks out of this window (10:10). Closing credits (10:18).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
