Let GEORGE Do It!
Burroughs and TWA

Unfortunately, I no longer have any of the stuff that I
had saved from GEORGE. Just too many moves since those days and things
became less and less important to me over time. The pitch line in
those days was "Let George Do It" bythePR types for
both Burroughs and TWA. Burroughs hired me in '64 since they were
looking for airline types and I had an fairly extensive airline background
along with about 5 years of systemprogramming experience in the data
comm area for Eastern Airlines (ADX7300 in NY and Univac490 in CLT).

GEORGE was to be TWA's first try at a passenger reservations
system. When hired, I heard that TWA had been going to go to IBM but
somehow changed their mind and initially decided to use Burroughs hardware.It
was also said that TWA then expanded the choice to include system software
development by Burroughs with TWA doing the applications software.I
cannot vouch for the veracity of this second hand info.

My first job was "reverse" programming and
enhancing the"BUS" (Burroughs Utility System) program.
BUS was a functional package but largely in machine code and some assembly
language and very minimal documentation. Had to get it into a user
friendly form with sufficient documentation to satisfy TWA. One of the
major BUS capabilities was a realtime debugging package under which
application programs could be tested and problems trapped(along with
system indications and registers at the time of failure) without crashing
the entire system.

Burroughs decided to farm out the actual development of the
data comm package to a software firm in NJ called DSA. I ended up with
the job of overseeing the design and development effort and being the
interface between Burroughs and DSA. both at GVL and later on-site at TWA's
Rockleigh, NJ new computer center for GEORGE. I continued in this area
until DSA completed the "COMPAC" package for Burroughs and it was
proven to meet the contractual requirements. I then moved into a
Burroughs group doing conceptual system requirement designfor future
airline offerings with side work on in-house enhancements to the COMPAC
package.

Eventually left Burroughs in 1969 and turned down a TWA job
offer to stay with them on the GEORGE system. Instead, becameone
of five principals in starting our own small company. Coincidentally,
not much later TWA pulled the plug on GEORGE, movedthose employees who
were considered important to the development of a new IBM PARS system to
Kansas City and entered a law suit with Burroughs Corp. I know TWA won
the suit but don't know what was received other than a product that
Burroughs later produced that provided the capability for an arriving
airliner to be parked at an airport loading gate by the pilot (without help
from ground personnel) though the use of a colored visual optical
display called, I believe, BOLDS. I was also told that this caused a
union issue and never saw wide implementation.

For myself,After alot of overseas travel, plus
long commutes in the Philadelphia area, I got tired of the east coast living and ended up
actually working for TWA in '74 and retiring in '91 here in Kansas City.

E. "Mac" MacDonald KR0I
K.C., MO