The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
June 24, 2014 - Issue 1302
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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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 New Heathrow Terminal 2 starts operations - First passengers arrived at the Star Alliance's new home at Heathrow. The new Terminal 2 - the home of Star Alliance at Heathrow - threw open its doors to welcome its first passengers, marking the start of a new travel experience for the 12 million Star Alliance passengers who pass through this leading UK airport every year. On June 18, Air Canada became the second carrier to operate flights from Terminal 2.
Air India is set to join the Star Alliance in July following three years of delays.
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| Air Canada News |
 On June 18, Air Canada became the second carrier to operate flights from Heathrow's (LHR) Terminal 2. Air Canada's Rovinescu is the new IATA Chairman Air Canada rouge to launch new Toronto-Honolulu non-stop flights, The new route, offering the only non-stop service between Toronto and Hawaii, will begin November 26, 2014. Flights will be operated using Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER. In addition, Air Canada announced that existing year-round non-stop service from Vancouver to Honolulu and Maui, currently operated by Air Canada, will be converted to daily Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER service effective November 21 and December 1, 2014, respectively. As part of its Air Canada rouge winter schedule to Caribbean destinations, twice-weekly seasonal service from Toronto to St. Maarten, previously operated by Air Canada, will be converted to Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300ER service effective December 20. Non-stop St. John's to London Heathrow, U. K. flights will operate year-round beginning October 26, 2014. |
| 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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 John Hopkins sent us this information -
Fraser Muir, Past President of the National Pionairs, can be clearly seen along with his wife Joan in this photo taken at the D-Day 70th anniversary commemorations ceremonies in France, as they receive thanks and poppies from French children as part of a ceremony at the Brettville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France, June 6th 2014.
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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. 1978
- Oct 29th - B727 flight to serve Montreal-Port-au-Prince inaugurated.
- Nov - Federal cabinet approves purchase of Nordair by Air Canada.
- Nov 6 - First of three B727-22QC (Quick Change) C-GAGX fin 491 aircraft purchased from United Airlines went into the new "Couriair" service. This aircraft was withdrawn from service February 29th 1981 and sold to Plymouth Leasing.
2014
- May 23rd - First revenue flight of the B787 Dreamliner was from Toronto to Halifax. Flt AC604 was commanded by Captain Michael Deere. Kirstan Howe and Jonathan Rocheleau were Flight Attendants. (source Daily May 26/14)
- May 27th - Zurich welcomes fin 801. Our B787 Dreamliner's first international flight.
During the 1970's and 80's, Jack and Aureen Morath, (Jack is a UK Pionair), arranged an annual trip to a North American city for a two day extravagance. Usually, these popular events were attended by approximately 50 fellow Pionairs. Sadly, Jack and Aureen no longer arrange these events, although they are very much involved with the local events in the UK for fellow Pionairs. Here we have this extract from the UK/EC Pionairs monthly newsletter for April - Reminiscing our North American trips with UK Pionairs: In May 2006 our UK Pionairs group consisting of nearly fifty members and friends met up in San Antonio, Texas for our Annual 'Outing'. We called our trip "Fiesta Texas". On our first evening the Hotel Radisson arranged a special reception for us, complete with a Mexican "Mariachi" band. The next morning our coach driver took us to visit an old Mission and after that a visit to the famous Alamo. After a lunch break at the Alamo, we moved on to a typical ranch for a BBQ meal and some entertainment. We were entertained by a cowboy who did rope tricks on and off his horse. One of our ladies 'volunteered' to be tied up and have a bull whip cracked around her which was quite fun. The next day we visited a wild seed farm where the founder's son gave us a talk before we explored the farm. The owners gave each of us a packet of wild seeds. Afterwards we drove on to Fredericksburg, a small town founded by German immigrants in the early 19th century. It has a broad main street bordered by shops, cafés and 'bier keller', etc. Then it was back to San Antonio for a stop at the Buckhorn Saloon which has been in operation since l881. A gun-toting cowboy greeted us at the door before showing us to our tables. We finished off the day with a short tour of the city of San Antonio. It was certainly an unusual and interesting area to explore especially the canals that we walked along through the city.
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Issue dated - April 1959
Some items gleaned from the "Between Ourselves" magazines.
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 Discussing a program, at Dorval, for the IBM650 electronic computer are Allan Haken, Computer Programming Supervisor and Programmer Francoise Pichette. These long and detailed programs must first be written for the computer before it can process a mathematical operation. The programs were destined to operate in the "SINDAILY" system, which was the company's inventory system and run every day processing issues, returns, orders, receipts and various reports. At months end, another program, "REPENTYE" reconcile the inventory and produces reports.
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 THE ANNUAL SPRING Sales Conference was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel In Montreal recently. District Sales Managers of the Eastern Region are shown in this photo at one of the sessions in the three day conference together with invited guests.
From the left: Hugh McElligott, DSM Saint John; A.J.Sutherland, DSM Halifax; T.F.K. Edmison, Regional Operations Manager, Halifax; Guy Perodeau, DSM Montreal; Al Ward, Ass't to RSM, Moncton; Bert Dansereau, DSM Quebec City: W. Rathborne, Director of Reservations; W. W. Fowler, RSM, Moncton: G. J. Churchill, DSM. Boston; John Connolly. DSM, Sydney; R. Sellors. DSM. Moncton: P. E. Willis, Director of Administrative Procedures; Bob Anderson, Operation Planner and W.Horner, DSM St. John's.
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Issue dated - November 1978
Some items gleaned from the "Horizons" magazines.
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 In 1978, these happy employees at Zurich felt much closer to Canada, in fact with their new CRT sets, they are only two seconds away from Toronto!
Zurich was added to the ReserVec II system and the staff was busy learning, testing and becoming familiar with the network possibilities of their new 'gadget'.
Shown from the left are: Walter Ott, Reservations & Sales Office Supervisor; Passenger Agents Lilian Schneebeli, Reguia Schoop and Ruth Giueck; and Tony Schoen, Manager, Switzerland and Italy.
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| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
 Formula 1 Pit Stop 1950 vs 2013
(from Al Watson)
Sometimes I come across a video that isn't aviation related but very interesting (at least to me). In the video below, you can see a typical Formula 1 Pit Stop in 1950 compared to one in 2013. It's hard to believe they can do a turnaround that fast. (My aviation segue...)
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| Formula 1 Pit Stops 1950 & Today |
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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 - February 1985
Items from the "PWA Flightlines" magazine -
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 The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede at Scotia Center present Pacific Western Airlines with a five year Community Involvement Plaque.
Pictured are (first row) - Michele Fussell, Stampede Princess; Rod Sim. Consumer Relations; Jack Lawless, Director Public Relations; Gail Waterman, Manager Consumer Relations; Pat Brown, Stampede Queen; Monica Perchaluk, Stampede Princess; Monica Miller, Switchboard /Receptionist; Tony Johnston, Financial Analyst; Sandor Juhasz. FInancial Analyst
(Second row bottom to top) - Don Johnson, Senior Director, Operations Administration; Bob Hamilton, Manager Financial Analyst; Dennis Tillotson, Manager Route Development; Dave Stewart, Manager Project Design and Coordination; Brian Merryweather, Manager Labour Relations.
(Third row, bottom to top) - Donna Ptolemy, Secretary; Joanne Stewart, Executive Secretary; Sharon Hutton, Manager Administrative Services, System; Patty McLafferty, International Communications Officer.
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Issue dated - September 1985
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 The PWA Western Region Social Club Honours the 1984/85 Retirees
On June 7th, 1985 the Western Region Social Club held a going away party at the Skystage in honour of retiring employees.
The evening was a huge success. Guest speakers on behalf of the Social Club were Sandy McDougall, as Senior Director Western Region; Charlie Stewart, as Director Technical Services, Calgary; and Jack Cooke, Vice President Public and Industry Relations, Calgary. CALPA was represented by Kim Crozier. Flight bags were presented to all the retirees by Diiys Eliison, the acting President of the Western Region Social Club. Flight Operations retirees were each presented with a crystal goose on behalf of CALPA. Best Wishes were extended to all.
Top row ( l to r): Des Delhaye, Earl Benson, Kees Fransbergen, Murray Cliff, Albert Ott, Wally Detroye, Ron Knight, John McLeary, Don Wine, Harry Powell.
Front row (l to r): Don Granger, Art Yeats, Anne Graham, Mike Kelly, Marjorie MacDonald, Bill Dobin.
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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.
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Jim Bruce wrote:
This aired June 7th on Silver Screen Classics (Videotron ch 140)
NFB 30 min doc (1955) subject the introduction by TCA of the Viscount to North America market. North Star shown, too. DVD for sale from the NFB.
They don't introduce the captain in the flight deck scenes. Who is it? And in the met briefing? Follow this link for the video.
Doug Seagrim sends this information - The Captain on the flight deck is Herb Hopson. He was a headquarters pilot under Lindy Rood (Vice President Flight Operations) and in the mid sixties was director of flight technical. One of his projects at that time was introducing runway center line lighting which was a new concept at that time. I did not recognize the pilots at the met briefing. Hope that helps.... Doug Seagrim
I n NetLetter nr 1299, we had an article regarding the retirement of Captain Penrose with this photo.
Captain Stevens has sent us this response - Hi Folks, I recognize many of the faces here but the names escape. The pilot at the top back, I would say, would be Paul Stenner. He would be a Second Officer then.
Cheers,
Captain N. Stevens (Ret)
Paul Stenner sent us his memory of the event - Regarding the Capt Bob Penrose retirement photo; I do not remember the F/A's names, however the F/O in the middle of the photo is Capt. Bud Raymond who returned to active duty after a medical leave, and the young chap in the top row is me, S/O Paul Stenner who retired off the 767 in 2003 after 35 years plus.The photo was most likely taken in the mid 70's. Bob was always a true gentleman and gave the S/O's a little "stick time" on the DC-8 which was nice as we were not licenced to fly the aircraft as S/O's.
Yours respectfully,
Paul Stenner, North Saanich, B.C.
Norman Hogwood sends us this story from New Zealand - This article may be of interest to the NetLetter readers. In the 50's Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL - fore runner of Air NZ) operated a Short Solent flying boat service on what was called the Coral Route - Auckland - Apia (Samoa) - Suva (Fiji)- Aitutaki (Cook Islands) - Tahiti. It must have been a dream duty for the crew and it took about 30 hours flying with stopovers for lunch, refueling, a swim etc! Dennis Marshall was still talking about the experience when he retired as Cabin Crew Manager! Cheers. Norm
There was one infamous flight in 1955 when the plane was coming back from Tahiti bound for Auckland with an almost full passenger load. The atmosphere on board was tinged with excitement. The passengers, including glamorous French film star Martine Carol, had heard that the next stop, Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, had one of the most dazzling lagoons in the South Pacific.
As the Flying Boat landed on the lagoon sending foaming shafts in its wake, the passengers marveled at the vivid turquoise of the water, the soft cream coral sand and the necklace of small islands where swishing palm trees were the only sign of life. The tropical air felt like silk. The two-hour stopover to swim in the lagoon while the aircraft refueled rushed by too quickly.
After everyone was back on board, one of the Flying Boat engines failed on take-off. Passengers, luggage, blankets, food and drink were offloaded on the uninhabited island Akaiami and the Flying Boat took off on three engines to Tahiti to get the faulty engine repaired.
"That was the last we saw of the Flying Boat for eight days," recalls Dennis Marshall the young Flying Boat cabin steward.
"There was pigskin luggage stacked on the sand and passengers asking me to take them to the hotels. But this was 1955. There were no hotels in Aitutaki." He and the two hostesses got the passengers and luggage on to the rusty but trusty fuel barge for the 9km chug across the lagoon.
In Air Force sheds which had been built beside a crushed coral runway for the American Forces during World War II, they set up house, helped by showers, an old jeep, an Aitutakian who sent Morse-coded messages to Tahiti and liquor from the registered agent's locker when the Flying Boat's supply ran out.
The islanders topped up the Flying Boat's dwindling food supplies with an abundance of fresh fish, meat and fruit and vegetables while Marshall handed out IOUs. Ninety fish were caught on a single day and the tourists became fascinated with the skilled Aitutaki fishermen who speared fish from the reef as the waves crashed over. During a walk up Mt. Pirake for views of the encircling lagoon, Marshall saw local children dancing. They were practicing for the impending visit of the governor-general and agreed to entertain the Flying Boat passengers. The community-spirited islanders built a platform, bedecked the tourists with fragrant frangipani and bright hibiscus and enthralled them with the rhythm and vitality of their dance and drums.
The tourists felt their initial irritation wafting away with the balmy breeze. Memories of silver service meals cooked aboard the Flying Boat evaporated. Lovely young island women swayed past and Marshall worked harder to remain in command. When the Flying Boat returned several days later no one wanted to leave. Eyewitnesses to their departure say a marlin danced in the wake of the flying boat as it took off from the lagoon. It must have been a marvelous parting salute
Kelly Martin has sent us this information - I have subscribed to the NetLetter for many years and thought you might be interested in some news concerning my Dad, Kelly M. Smith.
 Captain Roger L. Smith, TCA/Air Canada from 1939 to 1971, was recognized by the City of Coaticook, Quebec with the unveiling of a portrait in celebration of the City's 150th Anniversary (1864-2014) and the naming of a new street in his honour near where he used to own and operate "Roger L. Smith Air Service" in the early 1930s. (L-R) Luc Marcoux, Coaticook City Councillor, son Kelly M. Smith and wife Catherine Mary Smith.
Chris Duke sends us this memory after reading NetLetter nr 1300 -
Reference the article in the latest issue about man-powered flight.(in Alan's Space)
I had a small part in the construction of the man-powered aircraft built by BAC Weybridge employees in the late 60's for an attempt at the Kremer Prize.
It seems many 'aircraft' were built around the world in pursuit of this prize, sadly but not surprisingly most never got close.
A successful design the Gossamer Condor won the main prize in the mid seventies and was also peddled across the English Channel. There was no 'event' as such, just numerous projects over a fifteen to twenty year period.
Regards,
Chris Duke,
Retired AC, Mississauga |
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!
Alan Evans in South Africa sends us his memory: Beaver DHC-2 was a great aeroplane. I worked up North, the arctic and west coast. In the song you will hear them sing about Norm Gold. I worked for him when he changed the company name in 1964 from Powell River Airways to Air West. Many wonderful memories.
Alan
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| The Beaver Ballad |
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 Vickers Viscount aficionados may wish to view the network by clicking on the link or image below...
The Vickers Viscount Network
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As a result of the article, in NetLetter nr 1301, regarding the recent "show" on a restored Vickers Viscount housed at the W.C.A.M, Jim Griffiths had sent the W.C.A.M this information - I think the play on May 29th and 30th is a great idea. I was the Captain that had the privilege of flying the airplane down from Gimli for the WCAM. Too bad there are only 37 seats available. Maybe you could take a lead from the current airline industry and pack a few more in. I'm sure if you got some seats from WestJet or Air Canada you could double the attendance. In any case I've spread your advertisement to all my aviation friends and it will surely create interest. I don't have to tell you how practically every aviation museum in the country is in financial straights caused by dwindling attendance. A play in an aircraft what a great idea!!!
I have written some stories about flying Viscounts on the prairies and foothills and I've attached a sample. Maybe you could have one of the F/A actresses up in the overhead bin to take the boarding passes... aka theatre tickets at the performance.
Jim Griffith
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 Early photo of Vancouver Airport sent to us by Doug Robinson
Following the fire that destroyed the terminal in 1949, Vancouver International Airport 's new terminal. 0pened in 1950.
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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Flying Legends Air Show 2014
Saturday July 12th & Sunday July 13th 2014
Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK
Tickets on sale visit www.fighter-collection.com for details and how to book.
Click on image below for preview
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| Legends 2014 Trailer |
The 100th anniversary - 1914: On the morning of January 1, the first scheduled commercial airline flight took to the air. Taking off from St Petersburg, Florida, and flying to Tampa, a 23 minute flight which cost us$10.00 the Benoist flying boat was piloted by Tony Jannus, with the former mayor of St Petersburg, Abram C Pheil, as the sole passenger. The airboat was known as Benoist Airboat Model XIV, no. 43. The model number referred to the year in which the plane was to be offered for sale (1914). The number indicated that it was the forty-third aircraft to be built from initiation of the Benoist Aeroplane Company.
See: www.airlinecentennial.org/the-first-airline-story
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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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A commercial 747 was taxiing for take-off when a deer darted in front of the plane and was hit. The captain immediately called his wife to explain he would be arriving late as the plane had hit a deer. His wife asked, "What altitude was that deer at?"
Fraser Muir has sent us this information -
England WWII rules for golf during the Battle of Britain.
Thought you Guys and Gals would enjoy a little bit of British humour.
Fraser
The 1939-45 War Rules
During the Battle of Britain, players on golf courses were attacked by German bombers. To meet the conditions the following 'Rules' were written by Major G. L. Edsell, Secretary of St Mellons Golf and County Club and generally adopted:
- Players are asked to collect bomb and shell splinters from the fairways to save these causing damage to the mowers.
- In competitions, during gunfire or while bombs are falling, players may take cover without penalty for ceasing play.
- The positions of known delayed-action bombs are marked by red and white flags placed at reasonably, but not guaranteed safe distances from the bombs.
- Shell and/or bomb splinters on the greens may be removed without penalty. On the fairways or in bunkers within a club's length of a ball they may be moved without penalty and no penalty shall be incurred if a ball is thereby caused to move accidentally.
- A ball moved by enemy action may be replaced as near as possible to where it lay, or if lost or destroyed a ball may be dropped not nearer the hole without penalty.
- A ball lying in any crater may be lifted and dropped not nearer the hole, preserving the line to the hole, without penalty.
- A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a bomb or shell, or by machine-gun fire, may play another ball from the same place. Penalty one stroke.
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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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