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Since October 1995, Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker have been issuing an email newsletter for those ex Air Canada types who have provided us with their email addresses. The Newsletter was created by Vesta, who gave the name 'NetLetter' and added 'Between Ourselves' - a TCA periodical with which you are probably familiar with from the 50's and 60's. It was then changed to "Between Yourselves" to avoid confusion when "Horizons" resurrected the name. Then finally simplified to just "The NetLetter".

We believe that our NetLetter, which originates from Vancouver Island, was the FIRST to use this medium to disperse information for retirees of Air Canada.

The NetLetter contains airline related information such as anecdotes or stories supplied by some of the recipients, Internet tips, travel news, cheap... excuse me, "inexpensive" accommodations, tours, interline travel, and, in some small way, we help keep our Air Canada family together and in touch.

Our 'NetLetter' is NOT sponsored by any Pionair group, nor are we seeking any financial support, only the Internet email addresses of those who would like to receive our 'NetLetter'. Please forward this to other retirees who can then subscribe right from the forwarded link at the bottom of this email.

In Memory of John D Gallant ... passed away on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 (Notice of death placed in "Journal de Montreal," Wednesday, June 08, 2005)

I'm glad that his friends will know, and if you like you can also state that if they would like to see pictures of his life celebration or any of them have pictures or stories to tell they can visit: www.gadgetmandan.com I understand that this may be more than you're willing to post, but if anyone is interested the site is there.

Take care, have a great day and God bless...
Dan Gallant

For our new readers

We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2700 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter and give them out to their friends.

To get in touch with either the Editor/Pilot or Co- Pilot our email address is still This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To make changes to your e-mail address or to unsubscribe, please see the links at the bottom of the page for "Update Profile/Email address" and SafeUnsubscribe. This is now automated so that you can remove yourself from the list or change your email address (or name) without our assistance. We will still do this manually if you have any difficulties.

Many of our members are having difficulty finding these links. You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page, the link in similar to the following image. (The image below doesn't work but your links at the bottom will).

Thank you

From the ETS http://travel.aircanada.com web site - When booking your travel, keep to one priority. We understand that travelling on standby can be nerve wracking when the flight loads are full or almost full. However, this is one of the prices we pay for the privilege of being able to travel so easily and at a significant saving. It's come to our attention that there has been an increase in the number of employees listing themselves with different priorities for the same flight and date (i.e.: C2/Y10 plus a C1/J10). Registering yourself under two separate priorities is NOT permitted. The final selection of your priority status for personal travel must be completed prior to your arrival at the airport. Airport agents will not make changes to your priority once you are at the airport. Please remember, one of the first rules of employee travel is to ensure the operation is not negatively affected by your travel arrangements.

New non-stop routes across Canada introduced creating more point-to-point service. June 2nd., Air Canada announced the introduction of a series of new non-stop services between Edmonton-Regina, Edmonton-Saskatoon, Hamilton-Montreal, Hamilton- Ottawa, Calgary-Las Vegas, Vancouver-Las Vegas and an improved schedule between Montreal and Las Vegas. The new routes will be operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz

On May 28th., Bombardier Aerospace delivered the first of its new regional jet variant, the 75-seat Bombardier CRJ705, to Air Canada Jazz at the Bombardier Dorval facility, in Quebec, and on the 1st of June, the first Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet 705 in commercial service, operated by Air Canada Jazz, left from Calgary for Houston. The firm order, valued at $821.2 million US and covering 15 CRJ705 and 15 CRJ200 aircraft, was announced on September 27, 2004

On June 6th., Air Canada introduced the first-ever link between eastern Canada and mainland China with its inaugural flight between Toronto-Beijing.

Air Canada plans to introduce year-round non-stop service to Santo Domingo via Toronto beginning November 3, 2005. The addition of three weekly flights to the Dominican Republic capital increases our service to as many as 21 weekly non-stop flights to the Caribbean nation from cities across Canada.

Air Canada is named top airline in North America! Star Alliance also number one. Kudos to everyone! Air Canada has been ranked as Best Airline in North America in an exhaustive worldwide survey of more then 12 million air travellers - ahead of JetBlue and Continental who ranked number two and three respectively. And the good news doesn't stop there - Star Alliance was ranked as Best Airline Alliance.

Cara strike begins in Montreal. Employees at Cara Operations at Montreal-Trudeau Airport began walking off the job following a vote for strike action. Management and support staff from In-Flight Service and other branches from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver have joined Montreal airport employees to support them and our customers and to help ensure all our flights depart and arrive safely and on time.

From the RAPCAN eMailNews issued by Duane Frerichs - Air Canada has generously donated a Boeing 737 aircraft to the Alberta Aviation Museum, located on the City Centre Airport (formerly known as "The Muni", or "The Industrial), in the heart of Edmonton. The airplane was most recently operated by Tango, but is the last Pacific Western Airlines B- 737 passenger version in Canada. It was # 745, registration C-GIPW.

Before it makes its last flight ever, from YEG to YXD, there is still a possibility that the aircraft will be completely repainted in the PWA scheme that a/c 745 sported in the 1980's. Air Canada is still attempting to come to a reasonable agreement with SPAR to do this but logistics and cost may rule this out. If so, Plan "B" is for expert painters from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to remove the Tango markings and put the aircraft into a close approximation of the first paint scheme adopted for the 737 by PWA, except that the vertical fin will be blue, not white. The famous PWA "flying moustache" will be as shown in the photograph.

PWA 737s flew thousands of flights from YXD over the years so it is fitting that this original PWA 737 will form part of the Alberta Aviation Museum's impressive collection of almost 30 aircraft, including a Fairchild 71 that was operated by Canadian Airways. The DC-6 Simulator is also there. The hangar housing the Aviation Museum was built in 1941 for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and was used by PWA in the Dew Line days.

The 737 will be used for training by NAIT, the RCMP, Edmonton Police Service and City Centre High School. All systems will be kept operational but the aircraft will not fly again.

So be on hand to see 745 arrive at XD at 4:50 PM on Friday, June 17th and stay for the Welcoming Ceremony. Wearing of uniforms is encouraged (if possible), but is not mandatory. We also invite our friends who were not with PWA to attend. Then join 15,000 aviation enthusiasts who will attend Airfest at the Museum on Sunday, June 19th. Call the Museum office at (780) 451-1175 for further information. The "Big White Hangar" faces out onto Kingsway Avenue just west of runway 16-34.

This information is being circulated by e-mail -- please advise any of your friends who do not have e- mail.

Thank you, Air Canada!

Tom Heald sends us this information -
Re the C2/Y10 C1/J10 registering.
Had a sample of this traveling from Fort Lauderdale & West Palm Beach the past few months.
Even had one "Gentleman" [five year seniority] go to a phone and change his existing return booking for himself, spouse and three children to C1/J10 to get his family on board to Montreal then he went first before 40 year retirees on the Toronto Flight.

Is it legal to book C2 outgoing and C1 return when first registering?

Regards.
Tom Heald

Nepal-Tibet - Jerry Milek from Toronto sends us these impressions of his recent visit - Recently my wife and I returned from the exciting Asian trip which started on 14 of May when we were greeted at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal by an agent from the Royal Mount Travel agency. They looked after our group visit to Tibet (by Chinese regulations only the organized tours to the Tibet are allowed). After two necessary days waiting for the documents, the agent did show us around the city landmarks and historical sites. From Kathmandu we flew Chinese Airline A-320 to Lhasa with the view of Himalayas and Mt. Everest. It is the only airline on that route and flies only twice a week. The plane is always full and tickets have to be obtained at least month ahead. Tickets are secured by the agency as well and are included as the part of the package.

Lhasa is 3700 m ASL and it is necessary to spend three days adapting to the altitude. There is a program in Lhasa visiting monasteries and sight seeing of the city. After three days our group of 11+1 tour guide boarded three Toyota Land Cruisers on the thousand kilometres long journey back to Kathmandu through the highest pass in the world at 5300 m ASL, to the Everest Base Camp at 5200 m with overnight in Rhongphu monastery at 5000 m.

From Everest we were driving back to Kathmandu through breathtaking views of Kathmandu Valley, arriving May 26 for another two days there, before we departed back to Canada. The cost of the trip was US$ 850 per person.- which included breakfast, hotels, tickets to monasteries. Another US$ 280.- was needed for the air ticket to Lhasa. (Sorry no Zed fare over there).

You will spend about $10.- a day for your meals and bottled water, which you can purchase everywhere on the trip. Do not be afraid if you are older. I am over 65 and my wife young at 63.

The Everest Base Camp on the North Col from the Tibet site is accessible by vehicles and the last 7 km from monastery, you may hike or take a horse n' buggy. You do not have to be physically fit, if you do not want to climb the summit. (By the way the cost of summiting is US$ 40.000 not guaranteed). I usually do not get excited by the service of travel agencies, but the service of the Royal Mount Travel was very excellent. I'd like to share our experience with our community. If you want to have a trip of your lifetime, their E-mail address is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you want more info on our trip, you can drop me a note at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jerry Milek, AC retired, YYZ

Five of the B737's which were returned off lease to Arkia are now being operated by Air Norterra c/n 22729 fin 523/723 C-GKCP November 2004 c/n 22864 fin 524/724 C-GMCP January 2005 c/n 22024 fin 529/729 C-FHCP January 2005 c/n 22072 fin 528/728 C-FACP January 2005 c/n 22728 fin 522/722 C-GACP December 2004

c/n 22761 fin 530/730 CF-CPM returned to Pegasus now with Aerolineas Sur reregistered as CC-CFD November 2004

c/n 22762 fin 531/731 CF-CPN returned to Pegasus now with Aerolineas Sur reregistered as CC-CJP December 2004

c/n 23823 fin 560/760 C-GWPW sold to Kelowna Air Charter now with EAS Airlines reregistered as 5N-BMA

c/n 22259 fin 516/716 C-GCPU returned to Triton Aviation now with Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

c/n 22260 fin 517/717 C-GCPV returned to Triton Aviation now with Jatavu Air reregistered as PK-MBQ

c/n 22276 fin 532/732 C-GQBB returned to Arkia now with Sky Airlines reregistered as CC-CTJ

c/n 22659 fin 534/734 C-GFCP returned to Arkia now with Sky Airlines reregistered as CC-CTI

c/n 22659 fin 521/721 C-GQBH returned to Pegasus now with Batavia Air reregistered as PK-YTN

Virgin Atlantic passengers could be forgiven for meeting Barf Vader during flights from June as the airline is joining in Star Wars mania by putting 100,000 sickbags, which have been specially designed for the new sci-fi blockbuster, on its planes.

Bankrupt United Airlines dodged two threatened strikes recently after one key union group ratified a deal worth USD$96 million annually to the carrier and the leadership of another union agreed to a separate concessions plan.

Star Alliance approves SWISS membership. June 1st., at its bi-annual meeting held in Kyoto, Japan, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance voted unanimously to accept Swiss International Air Lines' application for membership.

Diane Carignan sends us this information -
Aeroplan® partner Starwood Hotels & Resorts offers exclusive discountsworldwide

With over 750 hotels and resorts in over 80 countries around the globe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts invites active and retired ACE Aviation Holdings Inc employees to take advantage of special rates at participating Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection or W Hotels before May 1, 2006. To benefit from this offer-50 % or better off standard rates-you must book on-line at www.starwood.com/AeroplanAL. You'll be asked to present your ID/travel card at time of check-in. Bon voyage!

DARGAL has the following deals -
July 6 Whittier to Vancouver From $947
July 13 Vancouver to Whittier(Anchorage) From $699
July 27 Vancouver to Whittier(Anchorage) From $549
August 3 Whittier to Vancouver From $699
August 17 Whittier to Vancouver From $928
August 24 Vancouver to Whittier(Anchorage) From $749
August 31 Whittier to Vancouver From $833
September 7 Round trip Vancouver From $704
September 14 Round trip Vancouver From $683


Cruises: Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars per person (based on double occupancy). PORT CHARGES ARE INCLUDED. Taxes, fees and Dargal's non-refundable $25 Service Fee per room is not included. All rates are subject to change, availability and eligibility. All offers apply to new bookings only, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice.

For more information on these & other Dargal Interline specials:
Call Toll Free: 1-800-690-3223
International Toll Free:(country code)-800-2832-7425

When Freudian Slips Into The Cockpit.
Miami Center near the Keys on a summer afternoon with large storms...

Center: Cessna 1234, how's the ride at 5000? I can give you 7000 if it helps.

Cessna 1234: Moderate turbulence and looks bad ahead ... but its not gonna be better at seven, I think we will just pray ...
(pause) ... I mean stay at 5000,
Cessna 1234 (Different Voice): Center, I think we're gonna do a bit of both.

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