As the son of A D Nicholson, who had established the air service bearing his name in the 1970’s at Cumberland, Dale Nicholson early in his life became dedicated to aviation and would become a major player in the flying activities at the Cumberland Municipal Airport. Dale, under the influence of his father, attained his pilot’s license at an early age and rapidly became the holder of all the advanced flight certificates. He was a superb pilot and was highly motivated and dedicated to his flying endeavors.
The functions undertaken by Nicholson Air Service were numerous and varied, with Dale Nicholson at the helm. Through his ingenious efforts Dale was able to establish a contract with the Scandinavian countries that for years sent young men and women to Cumberland to learn to fly. Several of these foreign pilots, after gaining their commercial ratings, remained in the United States with a ‘green card’ and continued to pursue flying employment, some in this area and others throughout the country.
During the two and one-half decades of the existence of Nicholson Air Service employment of pilots and support personnel in the organization contributed greatly to our local economy. Although several of the positions filled changed rapidly over the years, Dale had a cadre of individuals that supported the organization over the long run. In addition to pilots, administrative personnel, maintenance technicians, and fuel service attendants were among those employed in the company.
A portion of the fleet of Nicholson owned aircraft. Photo courtesy of Greg Teeter.
Nicholson was the individual that passed judgment on the capability of many in this area and from out of town when they gained pilot ratings, with some later acquiring flight instructor certificates. He also graded several for their instrument rating enabling them to legally fly in inclement weather or under instrument conditions. On some occasions advanced aviators undertook the highest of ratings, that of Airline Transport Pilot, and Dale was the grantor of that prestigious certificate.
Dale Nicholson’s aviation endeavors were a major contributor for an extended period of time in the Cumberland area and for that he should be commended.
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Wings Over Cumberland 