The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
October 5, 2014 - Issue 1308
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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:
ACFamily Network
#800 - 15355 24th Ave, Suite 523
Surrey, BC V4A 2H9
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Greetings!
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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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| THE DAILY and RETIREE's |
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It seems that all retirees, who used to receive copies of the "Daily" via e-mail are not receiving them. We all (retirees) stopped getting the "Daily" by email when they did the Aeronet changeover in June/July. There doesn't seem to be a way to get re-instated yet.
We, at the NetLetter, contacted ACAeronet and this was the response the NetLetter received...
Thank you for contacting Air Canada's HR Connex Centre. This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email regarding receiving the Daily in your email.
I do apologize for the inconvenience. Air Canada updated the new ACAeronet portal which most likely affected your ability to receive emails from the Daily. Before, we could walk a retiree or employee through the process on how to set their email to receive updates from the Daily, however; that option is not available anymore and we are not advised yet as to how to perform that operation again.
We would need to wait for an update on how to set your email to receive updates from the Daily. For the meantime, the Daily is still available online on the ACAeronet portal. In case that you do not have or have issues accessing the ACAeronet portal, you may contact the Helpdesk at 1-866-274-5444.
If you have other questions, feel free to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact us at our toll free number, 1-855-855-0785. Representatives are available from 8AM to 6PM EST Have a good day. (Indeed!!!!)
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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.
Betty Draper came across this article in the Leader-Post - July 25, 1940
Stratosphere Planes Seen
An efficient commercial air line is proving valuable to Canada in wartime and Trans-Canada Air Lines is planning to maintain its service and even develop further in the next year, possibly to the extent of introducing stratosphere capable airplanes.
By the spring of 1941 the present fleet of 15 Lockheed "14" planes will be considered out-of-date for the first-class service and experts are considering new types of planes to be used.
While the question is far from being settled, officials say it is possible that some stratosphere capable planes might be introduced. These planes recently were put on the regular trans-continental run of a United States airline and are believed to be practical for use in Canada.
The flight from Montreal to Vancouver now takes about 16 hours with four or five stops en route. Stratosphere planes could make the hop in 11 or 12 hours with one stop at Winnipeg. On the return flight the present time of around 14 hours could be reduced proportionately to nine or 10 hours.
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Issue dated - September 1977
Some items gleaned from the "Horizon" magazines.
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 Halifax Anniversary
Sales, Operations, Maintenance and In-Flight Service in Halifax put their heads together and came up with a dashing float in the annual Halifax Natal Day Parade marking the city's 228th anniversary.
Using the company's 40th anniversary as a theme, passenger agents and flight attendants donned uniforms from past and present eras.
The idea of participating in the parade came from Halifax's Sales Promotion Committee and was helped along by the hard work of many employees. Passenger Agent Robin Wyllie came up with the design while Kelvin MacKenzie, Chief Mechanic was largely responsible for construction of the tail fin. Shown on the float are, from the left: Charmaine LeBlanc, General Clerk, In-flight Service; Flight Attendants Solly Eskenazi and Ginnette Goujean; Margie Molson, Passenger Agent; Kristanne ColIier, Flight Attendant Supervisor; Carolyn Coffill, Passenger Agent and Flight Attendants Johanne Ladreville and Dale Little.
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Commemorating first flight
Crew members of Special Flight 003 salute F. M. Maurice McGregor on arrival at Seattle's Boeing Field. Captain McGregor was co-pilot of the first flight September 1, 1937 from Vancouver to Seattle. From the left are: McGregor; Purser Marianne Crottaz; Flight Attendants Eva Mossop, Leslie Nelson, Mabel Wilson, Marge Cymbala and Harvey Lomer; Second Officer Andre Lamy; Captains Bob Christie and Keith Sanderson. (Person in the background between Marge and Harvey was not identified - eds)
 
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John Rodger sent a photo that should have been added to the story about John Robb's 80th birthday in NetLetter nr 1307. (but the gremlins got in the way and the article got missed - sorry John - eds)
John Rodger sent us this photo from the "EnRoute" magazine - We helped John Robb celebrate his 80th birthday on Aug 23rd. A photo of John was printed in the 75th anniversary EnRoute Magazine he is the one on the right. He's seen working on a Vanguard engine.
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| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
KLM's Lost & Found Services
KLM's dedicated Lost & Found team at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is on a mission to reunite lost items as soon as possible with their legitimate owner. From a teddy bear found by the cabin crew to a laptop left in the lounge. Locating the owners can sometimes be a challenge, so special forces have been hired...
And remember: if it happens to you, the KLM Social Media team is always there for you on Facebook and Twitter!
Although the video below doesn't need much in the way of explanation, here's the translation of what is said in the video.
Transcript:
Yes, it's a lot of fun. Personally I think he is a real asset to the company. And he can really do something no one else can. Our main goal is to return lost items to the owner. As fast as possible. To do that, we monitor social media. And the crew checks the plane after every flight. I really like the fact that we are now getting some help with that.
We train for muscle strength, endurance, and of course socialization.
When you see the reactions of the passengers that really is amazing. He drops by regularly but I have to admit: I do spoil him a bit.
Watch to the end, the last few seconds are priceless!
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| KLM Lost & Found service |
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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 - May 1986
Items from the "PWA Flightlines" magazine -
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 Weight & Balance.
Late boarding passengers or difficult freight loads were no longer a major problem for PWA load planners in Vancouver or the two Edmonton airports since the introduction of the new computerized weight and balance program. Cam Peckinpaugh, Norm Smith and Syl Kalyn, initiators of the new program, liked to refer to it as an automated load sheet.
The program was developed using the Lotus 123 spreadsheet system. In order to make it usable at all the main bases without adding major costs to the program, Ken Campbell from Data and Support Services, converted and further enhanced the program to utilize the Dynaplan software on the main frame computer.
Brian Johnson, YVR, says the new computerized method of weight and balance cuts down on lots of paperwork.
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 ''It's quick and accurate,'' says YVR Customer Service Agent Leif Poulsen of the new computerized method of doing weight and balance.
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 Eric Smith (right) Cargo Agent YYC received a Canadian Air Security Association Certificate of Merit from Airport Manager Larry LeGros for his efforts in promoting and enhancing airport security.
On April 23rd 1986, Eric had observed an individual, air-side adjacent to the Air Cargo building, who was not wearing a visible restricted area security pass. After notifying the RCMP Eric kept watch on the individual's activity.
With Eric during the presentation on May 12th, are fellow employees from the left: Agents, Kevin Parkinson, John MacMurdo, and Max Layton, Jim Gordon, Lead Agent; Blaine Coffyne, Airport Manager; Paul Stoker, Relief Support; and Gary Ausmus, Cargo Operations Manager; Eric also received a PWA executive pen and key chain in recognition of his efforts.
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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. Betty Draper sent us this article from the Leader Post dated May 10th 1939 Plane service will not take in Maritimes. Halifax, May 10 - Canada's maritime provinces would not be included in the operations of the Trans-Canada air service this year. Transport Minister C.D.Howe said on his arrival here Sunday night to attend Dalhousie university convocation ceremonies, "No contracts for radio beacons in the Maritimes had been let," he said. "The service at first would operate between Montreal and Vancouver".
Regarding the SFO anniversary photo in NetLetter nr 1306. Conrad Karsen suggests - First gent on the left (rear) is Al Zeller. Conrad Karsen
Gary Bocking, Retired AC Employee. Courtenay, BC sends this information While I do not know any of the SFO staff, I do believe that the gentleman in the grey suit next to the cake is Guy Chaison. |
Caz Caswell refers to this article in NetLetter nr 1306 and sends more information regarding the Stranraer aircraft.
Issue dated - May 1986
Items from the "PWA Flightlines" magazine -
 Wardair also operated CF-BXO, photo shows aircraft at Great Slave Lake in Wardair colours circa 1959/60
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 Also attached now looking splendid as RCAF920 at Hendon in the UK.
See the Caz web site at www.airpixbycaz.co.uk/cazsite/index.html
Caz can also be found on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/caz_pix/
Why not visit www.airteamimages.com for all member photos on this renowned image library
Just to advise that Captain Bill Hardy (ex Wardair has just published his first novel, "The Last Contrail". It's a superb story, well written, and should be fascinating to everyone who loves this industry. Available through Amazon.ca. Thanks, Captain Wayne Kirby (ret)
Ken Pickford wants to set the record straight and sends this in referring to NetLetter nr 1306 and "Readers Feedback" -
One very minor glitch spotted in the comment from Bernie McCormack re the pub in the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam. He refers to the area as "Mallardville". Should read "Maillardville". It's named for an Oblate missionary from France by the name of Maillard, not for the species of duck. Regards, Ken
Ross Taylor sends this information in reference to the two photos in NetLetter nr 1307.
The two photos of mechanics working on the Viscount suggest that they are carrying out engine control checks. The handset/intercom is a bit of a hint. Engine control functions, travels and security were common scheduled check items on Dart powered aircraft. Keep up the good work.
Cheers, and best regards, Ross Taylor AME CYWG (ret)
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 Dave Wall makes this observation - I enjoyed the little film that Jim Griffith noted in #1307 describing the very early days of Heathrow. At minute 6:32 a pub is shown during the lament about some pubs being lost. Fortunately, that pub survived, as I'm sure many readers will confirm. The file attached shows the present day "Three Magpies" as seen on Google Earth. Still going strong and worth a visit.
Dave Wall
(Those of you on standby will be happy to know the pub still stands for you to while away your waiting time - eds)
Mary Whyte had sent us this information regarding the chinaware mentioned in NetLetter nr 1307.
Our Glory Days, it was a fun nite. There was some really good news for me in the NetLetter. It is regards to Mr Rhodes item about TCA's first china of which I have several pieces and didn't know what to do with them. Cec McDonald brought them in and put them in our kitchen, when the office closed, I wasn't going to let them get destroyed so I brought them home and now, I'm going to get in touch with Mr. Rhodes... Isn't this exciting?
Jim Griffith sends this - This should bring back some memories.
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| Jetliners - Air Canada Boeing 727 and DC-9 at Toronto |
Following the article in NetLetter nr 1307 regarding Heathrow by Jim Griffith, the article below appeared in "Between Ourselves" issued January 1952, and may be of interest
- London Airport by John (Jack). A. Ross, TCA Station Manager - 1950
DICK Turpin, the Highwayman, would get the surprise of his life if he
could return today to the site of a small village he once knew so well as he plied his infamous trade on Hounslow Heath.
The fields, market garden, and gravel pits past which he rode his famous mare have disappeared beneath masses of concrete.
Dick knew Heathrow as well as he knew the grim gibbets that dotted Hounslow Heath, but the gibbets have gone long since, as have the red-coated soldiers who escorted the stage-coach over those lonely miles, the village with its pub, "The Harrow," and the old farm houses and equally, famous Tithe-barn, erected in the sixteenth century.
In its place stands London Airport (LHR), covering about 3,000 acres and growing steadily until it finally covers seven square miles. During excavations for number one runway, remains of a Celtic temple were found and where the marshaling apron now stands, stood Kings' Arbor, Caesar's camping grounds. Also discovered was the small village of Heathrow where Claude Duval, another Highwayman, danced with "a faire ladye." And on the site of runway number five, Perry Oaks was unearthed. Here England's last wolf was killed. Over the site of all this area roamed the Brontosaurus only 100,000,000 years ago.
An old cannon which marked one of the triangulation points of the first trigonometrical survey of Great Britain made by a General Butler was also discovered. The base-line crossed Hounslow Heath and the cannon is still to be seen in Chessington Gardens, but the site is now marked by a brass plate let into the taxi-way parallel to number one runway.
The development of London Airport can be regarded as falling into three stages. First was the three RAF runways built for a transport, airfield in the closing days of the war. The second and current stage provides for a parallel runway system, some development of the central terminal area and completion of the main access tunnel between the central area and the Bath road. Also to be provided are substantial development of permanent aircraft maintenance facilities for the two British Corporations in No.1 maintenance area, together with some development of No. 2 maintenance area for other airlines. Stage three visualizes the addition of two divergent runways north of the Bath road, the eventual development of a helicopter area and such expansion of terminal and maintenance facilities as traffic demands.
By 1960, passenger traffic is expected to rise to about three to three and one-half million passengers a year, involving, in peak periods, an aircraft movement rate of between 55-65 an hour. Main features of current development in stage two are the construction of the tunnel and permanent hangar blocks for BOAC and BEA. The tunnel will be 2,400 feet long and 86 feet wide and will contain two 20-feet-wide carriage ways and cycle and pedestrian paths. It is designed to carry a peak flow of 2,000 vehicles an hour in each direction. The BOAC hangar block will comprise four hangar "pens," each 300 feet wide, 140 feet deep and 45 feet high. Between the pens will be multi-storied workshops, offices and stores.
The BEA hangar block will consist of a double row, each of five hangar pens with workshops and offices at the back, separated by a central road. The pens will be 180 feet wide and 110 feet deep, with doors opening 150 feet by 30 feet high. These permanent hangars are augmented by eight temporary hangars already erected and in use by BOAC. London Airport has a future as impressive as these construction statistics ahead of it.
Jack Ross
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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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 Early photo of Vancouver Airport sent in by Doug Robinson
Vancouver International Airport's new super-jet terminal opened to great fanfare in 1968. The $32 million building served 1.9 million passengers in its first year of operation, and featured gates that allowed aircraft to park at the terminal, and passengers to load and unload via modern bridges. The expansion prompted new carriers, new routes and increased frequencies, including Japan Airlines as the first Asian-based carrier, to operate at Vancouver International Airport.
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 The photo on the left is from the '50s, and the photo on the right was taken in 2006. Sea Island aka YVR was once mostly farmland and a couple of runways on the South side. Today, it's home to an international airport (the Best in North America) that handles millions of passengers a year and where more than 24,000 people come to work every day. (source YVR connections)
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 Val Frost, inspired by the news of the Hamilton Lancaster making a trans-Atlantic trip recently, sent us this information -
Aside from THUMPER in the UK, and VERA in Hamilton, ON, CANADA, who will be meeting up this week... there is yet another LANCASTER Bomber that is sitting totally abandoned in a field in New Brunswick. There is a second Lancaster bomber awaiting a safe and loving home. www.canada.com/news/World+bomber+fighting+survival+Brunswick+woods/8695965/story.html
Read the article please, and let's see if anyone will pick up the cause to save her and cherish her. Perhaps your readers will take heart and contact someone to get her refurbishing started and her homing place found. A war survivor lives quietly alone in the woods near Edmunston, N.B.
It survived 14 combat missions over Nazis Germany, but can it survive another winter standing unprotected in the New Brunswick wilderness?
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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 While waiting at YVR in the check-in gate area for our YYC flight recently, we looked around at some of the obviously over sized carry-on luggage. We thought it about time for the announcement "All carry-on luggage will be checked this morning and over sized luggage will be checked". Well that turned out to be an idle threat. One pax across from us, on the aircraft, had two carry-ons piggy backed, and, when stowed, took up all the over head bin space allocated to four passengers, and another pax was stuffing his over sized luggage into the bin so hard that the outside skin of the aircraft may have been bulged.
With Air Canada's announcement that checked luggage will be charged ca$25.00 for the first bag, either the carry-on luggage will increase exponentially, or there is another opportunity for extra revenue for the company. Perhaps those rusting luggage templates at check-in will now be put to better use.
Airway Vacations - Interline deals on the go -
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Edinburgh and whiskey make the perfect combination! This trip will give you a peek into the centuries old process of whiskey production, while exposing you to the vibrant city of Edinburgh and the picturesque central Scottish Highlands. Come experience the magic of Edinburgh and drink in what the locals call "the water of life." This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.airwayvacations.com
636 536 1119
Fax: 636 536 7760
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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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This cartoon, by Dave Mathias, appeared in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued January 1963.
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The NetLetter is an email newsletter published (usually) every two weeks. It 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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