A 10-cent notebook filled with handwritten route data served as the foundation for modern air navigation, transforming how pilots traverse the skies. Elrey Borge Jeppesen began this work while flying mail routes, moving beyond the primitive practice of relying on automobile road maps and railroad tracks to find safe passage across the United States.
Early Aerial Experience
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1907 to Danish immigrants, Jeppesen developed a fascination with flight while watching eagles as a child. In 1921, at age 14, he experienced his first flight in a Curtiss JN-4. By 1925, he joined Tex Rankin’s Flying Circus, performing as a wing walker and aerial acrobat. He soon purchased his own Jenny and obtained Oregon’s 27th pilot license, with the document signed by Orville Wright.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →From Road Maps to Aviation Manuals
During his time as an airmail pilot, navigation remained notoriously imprecise. Jeppesen began climbing hills to measure their height and gathering local weather reports from farmers, recording this intelligence in a pocket notebook. Fellow pilots requested copies of these detailed notes, which evolved into systematic en-route and approach procedures. In 1934, he established Jeppesen & Co. in his Salt Lake City basement, selling his consolidated navigation information for $10 per copy.
Operational Impact and Legacy
Jeppesen’s manuals introduced standardized missed-approach protocols, providing critical guidance for pilots during zero-visibility conditions. After retiring from United Airlines in 1954, he sold his business in 1961 while remaining involved as chairman. He died in Colorado in 1996 and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1907, Lake Charles, United States
- Died: 1996, Colorado
- Pilot License: 7034, signed by Orville Wright
- Company founded: 1934
- Marriage: Nadine Liscomb, 1936
- National Aviation Hall of Fame: 1990
- Edward Warner Award: 1995
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Little Black Book?
It contained navigation data including terrain height and contact information for weather reports, which replaced the reliance on automobile maps.
Did Jeppesen hold other professional roles?
Yes, he worked as a flight attendant, cartographer, and an aircraft pilot throughout his career.
Achievements
- National Aviation Hall of Fame
- Edward Warner Award
- Recorded as flight attendant, aircraft pilot and cartographer
