The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
January 22, 2014 - Issue 1290
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First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
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NetLetter Past Issues
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Donation Information
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Send cheques payable to "ACFamily Network" to:
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Welcome to the NetLetter!
We welcome you to allow the NetLetter to be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC, Wardair, etal and share your experiences with us! 
Terry Baker and the NetLetter Team
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| Star Alliance News |
 United Airlines introduces special edition amenity kits; commemorative amenity tins feature airline's "Flyer Friendly" brand campaign. United Airlines introduced special edition amenity kits featuring the airline's brand campaign, "Flyer Friendly." Available for customers in United BusinessFirst on long-haul international flights departing from the United States, the collectable tins highlight each of Uniteds' eight North America hubs. Each customer in BusinessFirst will receive one of the eight tin designs, which feature distinctive imagery that United commissioned specifically for the brand campaign. The special edition kits include the amenities of the traditional BusinessFirst kit, including Philosophy brand skin care products, and will be available until March 1, 2014 or until supplies last. Customers in BusinessFirst will receive the traditional amenity kit on long-haul flights arriving in the United States. (Source: United Airlines)
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| Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker |
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 Reader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below have been submitted to us by our faithful readers.
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 Mike Horan has sent us these photos -
Hi Guys . . here's two old pictures which have come to the fore . . from Ireland
Opening of TCA offices in Dublin in 1963... the gentleman cutting the ribbon is Minister for Transport and Power (1959-1969) Erskin H Childers (later to become the 4th President of Ireland in 1973.) the TCA names come up on the pictures (it would be interesting to see if any are still 'upright' . . and pick up on the photo's.)
Regards to all at the Newsletter. Mike Horan.
This photo of the official opening of the Dublin Sales and Ticket office August 1963. From the right: Joan Irwin, Jack Horan, Anna Gavigan.
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 And the staff at Dublin in 1963
from the left: Joan Irwin (misspelled in the photo), Felix Cronin, Nora McCarthy and Jack Horan. |
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| TCA/Air Canada People Gallery - Compiled by Terry Baker |
 Below we have musings from the "Between Ourselves" and "Horizons" magazine, Air Canada publications from years gone by, as well as various in-house publications. The NetLetter has been fortunate enough to have our readers donate vintage Trans-Canada Air Lines and Air Canada publications from as far back as 1941 to share with you. These have been scanned and are being prepared for presenting in a special area of the ACFamily Network for archival and genealogy research.
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Issue dated - July 1978
Some items gleaned from the "Horizon" magazines.
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The first week of July has always been recognized as the time to celebrate Canada's birthday, but in 1977 the employees of the Atlantic Canada Region had an equally important event to commemorate * the first anniversary of the Atlantic Region.
On July 1st, 1977 the three Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, along with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador were made into an autonomous Air Canada region.
Am ong the many activities held throughout the region to celebrate its first birthday was a get together in Fredericton.
From the left are: Passenger Agent Leonce Savoie; Airport Customer Service Supervisor Tom Purdy; Station Attendant Tim MacLaggan; Cargo Agent Harvey Muttart: Secretary Bertha Calhoun: District Manager Wendell Cook: Clerk Stenographer Annette Richard; Mechanic Doug Burpee: A/Customer Service Supervisor Art Rogers; Passenger Agent Carman Burns and Station Agent Ward Campbell.
The map in the background showing the ten districts was produced by some of the staff.
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 Enjoying the cake cutting festivities are, from the left, front: Ben Blotnicky, Mechanic; Nancy Fitzgerald, Secretary; Passenger Agents Jeanne Helms-Hatfield and Sandra Mitcheil, Roger Linder, Vice President-Atlantic Canada Region; Donna Maguire, Clerk Stenographer; Sheila Taylor, Passenger Agent; Jack Inouye, Communications Engineering Technician; Passenger Agents Jan Ballarda and Elsie Ford; and Mechanic Jim Quinn.
Back row: Bertha Lemke, Secretary; Flight Attendants Gisele Bedard-Baig and Sally Hill*and In*Charge Flight Attendants Sybillie Janicki and Ciaude Bourgie.
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The executive of London. Ontario's new Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA) is shown durIng its first board meeting held in June 1978.
Back row, from the left, are: Kelvin Magee,Director; Rhonda Manore. Secretary; Tony McLeod, Airport Customer Service Manager; Paul Naylor. Director; Diane Savoie. Vice President and Pat Tapson, District Manager who, along with Tony, attended as advisers.
Front row, from the left are: Ron Carradine Treasurer; Rosa Hayward, President and Donna Hodgson and Mary Lou MacAlpine, Directors.
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 W.A.C.A. tennis buffs compete.
More than 181 interliners from all over the world attended the fifth annual World Airline Clubs Association tennis tourney held in Athens during June 1978. A total of 38 Montreal Air Canada interliners made the trip and, although they came away empty handed, enjoyed the experience.
Some of the Montreal players are shown here.
Kneeling from the left are: Eileen Botha, Margaret Burke and Andy Narayan.
Second row, from the left, are: Art Lackman. Jennie Hurley, Elton Clelford, Aubrey Winterbotham, Marie-Louise and Robert Desbat and Hedi and Hans Richter.
Back row. from the left, are: Marcel Ethier. Pat McDonald, Fred Davey, Bob Bayer. Eric Bell and Peter Hurley.
Other participants were: Maurice and Pierrette Allan, Sam and Rhoda Arnold, Yves Auclair, Eileen Bayer. Paul Desmarais, D. Dhanjai. Elizabeth Garber, Gil and Pat Gilbert, Andy Gugliandolo who doubled as photographer, Sylvia Lackman. Ray and Lucette Poirier, Daniei Rabeau, Mary Sellier, Herman Stockel. Pascale & Jean Rene Van Becelaere.
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| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
Niagara Falls as you've never seen it before.
The Youtube Video below was made using a DJI Phantom Multi-Rotor drone with a GoPro Hero 3 camera attached to the bottom. Quite an impressive video, please watch it in full screen and turn up your volume.
The video was taken from an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operating in US and Canadian Restricted Airspace. Operating a UAS in this airspace presents a hazard to other aircraft and people and required specific approval of the FAA and other agencies.
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| DJI Phantom - Niagara Falls |
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Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker
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 News and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and its "ancestry" of contributing airlines. |
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Issue dated - January 1983
Items from the "CPAir NEWS" magazine -
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 Whitehorse forever.
The spirit of Whitehorse is embedded deeply into all those who served there, as indicated by the growing annual reunion of ex-Whitehorse staffers held In Vancouver, and in later years at Parksville on Vancouver Island.
Present at the fourth annual reunion, their Whitehorse service dates and 1982 positions in Vancouver, left to right in rows from top of staircase, Dan Hooker, Dec. 79-May 81, res agent and Roxie Elder, May 81 -March 82, res agent; Ian Berry, Aug. 79-Sept. 80, res agent and Steve Gentleman, Nov. 69-Oct.79, supervisor, cargo; Brian Jarvis, Sept.79-April 8, res agent; Laurel Anderson, July 78-Nov 79, res agent and Don (Boomer) McWilliam, Nov. 73-Nov. 78, sales rep; Brad Lee, Oct. 79-Jun. 81, res agent; Erik Zuyderduyn, Aug. 72-Feb. 74, sales rep; Jake Alexander, Feb. 72-Dec. 73, dispatcher and Torben Bentzen, April 73-Sept.78, supervisor, ticket office; AI Vance, Feb. 78-July 79, corporate and government sales development and Marlle Field, Oct. 73-July 79, customer relations rep; Jim Dalton, Sept. 80-Jan. 82, supervisor, Vancouver res; Glenys Baltimore, April 80-Sept. 82, res agent; Richard Carret, July 73-Nov. 75. airport operations; Phil Anderson, July 78-Nov 79, res agent; Doug Reid, 1973. computer services. Standing at right of staircase, Phil Kelsey, April 73-March 79, payload controller; AI Sherlock, June 70-Aug. 73 and Aug. 76-Dec. 80, dispatcher; Gord Blad, April 73-May 74 , pilot 8-737.
(We apologize for the crease across the photo causing the distortion-eds)
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 Five of the B-737 aircraft have been sold to Peoples Express. Fin # 701, 702 and 703 were delivered during the fall of 1982. fin # 704 was delivered March 1983 and #705 in May 1983.
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 Office for the agent serving CP Air on Queen Charlotte City which is actually a village on an isolated Island group off B.C. Here's an example of how the company looks in one ofthe world's last frontiers!
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| Reader's Feedback - Compiled by Terry Baker |
Every week we ask our readers for their stories or feedback on what they have read here in previous issues. Below is the feedback we have received recently. Ron McLennan refers to the airport codes we had in recent NetLetters - During my initial training for Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1968 (reservations), the information we were given then was that the codes were derived from Royal Canadian Army codes in use at the time. Edmonton was "EG", Vancouver was "VR", and so on. In order to comply with the international standards of three letter codes for airlines, the letter "Y" was added to comply with these regulations. Why the "Y"? No one seems to know - as far as I know. Ron McLennan Toronto Peter Walsh sends us this comment - Aspire to inspire before you expire. Hi, just an update, YXU has been an international airport for a number of years now serving over 500,000 passengers this past year, a very friendly and easy airport with a large cargo facility. A pleasure to use. I retired here fifteen years ago and I believe it was named International at that time. Best regards. Peter. Norman Hogwood has sent us his comments referring to NetLetter nr 1284 - Re the QF cat story. According to my old QF mates this was a an actual event and there were a lot of red faces. It reminded me of a yarn told me by an old NAC skipper mate. On his very first flight as P-in-C he was taking a DC-3 freighter from CHC to AKL. During the flight his F/O took a walk down the back and came back with a beautiful pure white cat which he had spotted in a crate and decided to give it a ride up front! Like many cats, this one didn't take too kindly to strangers and jumped off his lap and ran around the floor in amongst the pedals. When finally grabbed it was virtually black from all the rubbish it had been in. The F/O's nickname was "Knife" as he always carried a pair of scissors with him(!) so he proceeded to give the cat a quick "short back and sides". My friend was horrified as he imagined losing his command on his first day in the LH seat. But the cat, which incidentally was on its way to a cat show, was returned to its crate and nothing further was heard. I imagine it didn't take a prize at that cat show. Cheers. Norm |
Odds and Ends.
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 Sometimes we receive articles and information that just doesn't fit in our other areas. This is where it goes!
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David Cundall, an aviation enthusiast from the U.K., is back in Burma searching for buried Spitfire airplanes, with a new sponsor, according to recent news reports. Cundall returned to Burma last month to search for pristine Spitfires he believes were buried there at the end of World War II. His previous sponsor, the Belarussian video gaming company Wargaming.net, withdrew support for the project last February after evidence of Cundall's theories failed to materialize. The Claridon Group, a British freight-handling business with an office in Burma, now is backing the project.
The PRESTWICK STORY.
 In the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued June 1949, Gil Minorgan, TCA's Prestwick Station Manager, gave the "inside" story of how our first overseas port of call grew during the WWII from a grass airfield to a major international airline terminal.
The story of Prestwick, TCA's Scottish port of call, has its beginnings a good many years ago - in fact long before the first heavier-than-aircraft fluttered its wings in precarious flight. The original terminal-hotel building, to which has been added many extensions, was a private residence called "Orangefield'' built in 1690.
During the lifetime of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, it was owned by General McCrae retired Governor of Madras. Robert Burns spent many happy hours in the house, and to this day, above the front door of the old building are inscribed the words "A pleasant spot near the Scottish Wilds,'' taken from his poem "The Vision''. "Orangefield,'' through the passing years, remained a private residence until 1934, when it was purchased and converted into a small private hotel.
During the summer of 1935, the grounds surrounding "Orangefield'' were turned into an airport and Scottish Aviation Ltd. commenced the operation of a flying training school, turning out short-term commission pilots for the R.A.F. Group Captain D. F. McIntyre was then Director and Chief Instructor, and remained Managing Director of Scottish Aviation Ltd. and Scottish Airlines, a subsidiary company. In 1938, the school commenced training navigators, for which purpose three multi-engine Fokkers were purchased from K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines. A total of 390 Navigators graduated from the school up to the inception of the British Commonwealth Training Scheme in Canada and South Africa.
On September 29th, 1940, a lone Hudson bomber slipped down upon the lush grass runways of Prestwick, to herald the arrival of the first ferried aircraft from Canada from that time, until the cessation of hostilities, 40,000 aircraft were to follow, Liberators, Bostons, Mitchells, Fortresses, Dakotas, Curtiss Commandos, Canadian built Lancaster's and Mosquitoes, famous names in the annals of World War II.
During the early spring of 1941, the return ferry service, 'ATFERO' was conceived and commenced operations, the Canadian terminus was operated by CPA and Prestwick by Scottish Aviation. During June, 1941, a "hush-hush" run called the "Arnold Service" commenced operations between Washington and Prestwick, using Liberators. Named after General Arnold, USAAF, its primary purpose was to give experience and train American crews in trans-Atlantic flying. In the spring of 1942, a return ferry service commenced operations, run by TWA and North East Airlines. American Airlines later replacing NEA. This service used StratoLiners and DC-3's over the North Atlantic via Iceland. Hard surface runways were opened up in 1941 and aircraft arrivals rose to a peak of 300 per day, forming a veritable bridge across the Atlantic, induced the original AirLift.
(We continue this story about Prestwick in NetLetter nr 1291 - eds)
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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Russian airports ban all liquids in carry-on luggage ahead of Winter Olympics
All liquids, regardless of volume, will be banned in carry-on luggage in Russian airports from January 11, 2014 as Russia increases security for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Ministry of Transport said.
Short history of London's Heathrow airport (LHR), from postcards issued by Heathrow.
 40's
- June 6th 1944 - The construction of the runways begins.
- January 1st 1946 - London Airport is transferred from military to civil control. The first aircraft to take off was a BSAA (British South American Airlines) a converted Lancaster bomber names "Starlight".
- 31st May 1946 - London Airport is officially opened. The first passenger terminals were ex-military marquees.
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| Smileys - Compiled by Terry Baker |
As we surf the internet and back issues of airline magazines we regularly find airline related jokes and cartoons. Below is our latest discovery.
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 Memories from the festive season - An anonymous cartoon found in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued January 1956.
(Does this cartoon bring any memory of being in a recent standby group? Why not let us know - eds)
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The NetLetter is an email newsletter published (usually) once a week and contains a mixture of nostalgia, current news and travel tips. We encourage our readers to submit their stories, photos and/or comments from either days gone by or from present day experiences and trips. If we think that the rest of our readers will enjoy it, we will publish it here.
We also welcome your feedback in regard to anything we post here. Many readers have commented with additional information, names and personal memories from the photos and articles presented here.
The NetLetter, which is free, is open to anyone that wishes to subscribe but is targeted to retired employees from Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and all the other companies that were part of what Air Canada is today. Thanks for joining us!
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
Sincerely,
Your NetLetter Team
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Disclaimer: Please note, that neither the NetLetter or the ACFamily Network necessarily endorse any of the airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers. We would be interested in any feedback (good or bad) when using these companies though and will report the results here. We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link.
E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted) - The historical information as well as any other information provided here is subject to correction and may have changed over time. We do publish corrections when they are brought to our attention.
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First published in October, 1995
- Chief Pilot - Terry Baker, Nanaimo, B.C.
- Co-pilot - Alan Rust, Surrey, B.C.
- Flight Engineer - Bill Rowsell, Londesboro, Ontario
To contact us, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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