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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.

Please don't forget that you can print the NetLetter and give a copy to an airline friend that doesn't have Internet access. Also, if this is too fancy to print, you can always print the text only version from our Archives on the ACFamily Network. See the bottom of this email for further details.

We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2700 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter out 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 Safe Unsubscribe. This is nowl 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 (of course) manually if you have any difficulties.

Family Affair guidelines from the employee web site http://travel.aircanada.ca - as of March 10th 2005

GUIDELINES

EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE TO OFFER FAMILY AFFAIR
* Active AC/AC JAZZ/ACV Employees with minimum 6 months of continuous service.
* Retired AC and AC JAZZ employees with 10 years of continuous service.
* Laid off employees and those on a leave of absence for 365 days after date of lay-off or leave.
* Widows/Widowers whose spouse (AC employee) had at least 15 years of continuous service, up until they remarry.

FAMILY MEMBERS ELIGIBLE TO TRAVEL ON FAMILY AFFAIR
For the purpose of Family Affair, we define "spouse" as legally married, common-law (12 months co- habitation) or same sex.
Applicable to the employee and all family members participating in the program.

Applicable to the employee and all family members participating in the program.
* Step, half and adopted family members are to be treated and recognized under immediate family members.
* Children (dependent & non-dependent) as per employee profile (CHIP) and spouse if applicable.
* Grandchildren if still dependent under 21 years.
* For children under 21 years, date of birth is required.
* Brother/sister (and in-law) with spouse and their dependent children under 21 years.
* Parents/grandparents (and in-law) with spouse.
* * Sorry aunts and uncles are not included

RESERVATIONS / TICKETING
* Valid on AC/AC JAZZ, AC* on ZIP operated routes, and on LH codeshare flights YYZ-FRA & YVR-FRA.
* Reservations can only be made within 14 days of outbound departure date.
* Entire itinerary must be confirmed, no waitlists permitted.
* No advance seat selection.
* Tickets must be issued within 24 hours after reservations are made
* Electronic ticketing is mandatory wherever ETKT is available, with credit card.
* Tickets may also be issued by Airport Ticketing Offices within the employee ticketing hours. To be deleted (until 1 day prior to departure)
* Minimum stay is a Friday or Saturday night.
* Maximum stay 30 days to/from Florida, Hawaii, Caribbean,Las Vegas, 60 days for everywhere else.
* Travel must be based on a return trip.
* Non refundable.
* Date and time changes are permitted prior to departure for a fee of CAD $75.00 (converted to applicable local currency) providing that fare rules are met, i.e. apur, min/max, etc.
After departure, tickets remain valid for one year from date of issue. Tickets may only be changed to another Family Affair ticket with same routing as original ticket for a fee of CAD $75.00 (converted to applicable local currency). Otherwise, ticket becomes nul and void.
* Aeroplan mileage can not be accumulated.
* Family Affair Validation form no longer required
* Blackouts do not apply.
* Reservations or inquiries in North America is handled by Call Centers at 1-888 247 2262.
* Same day standby is not permitted for domestic flights.
* Same day standby permitted for transborder flights.
* Customers with a connection to /from the USA may only standby for the transborder segment.

DRESS CODE
Following the Air Canada employee travel dress code would be deemed appropriate. Travelers are suggested to be well groomed and neatly dressed.

FARES
For any Rate inquiries and applicable surcharges, you must the Call Centers at 1-888 247 2262 where you will be quoted the exact rate within 14 days, and an approximate rate only outside of the required 14 days.

Margaret Cantwell sends us this information - First Person.
As a member of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (Sidney, B.C. branch), I recently attended one of our regular luncheons at Mary's Coffee Bar and then went over to the Air Museum for the talk by a veteran. The gentleman gave an interesting talk on how the airlines got started landing on Vancouver Island. It took a long time as they could not land in the area and had to land out in Esquimalt harbour in those days. (early 1940's)

After he had finished, I heard him say something about 95 RAF planes that were stationed here during WWII and that 45 of them had crashed ! I was very interested and asked a friend of mine about it. She said oh yes, they are all buried at Ross Bay Cemetery. I went there but there was nothing.

A week later I spoke to another friend about it and she said they were buried at Royal Oak. I phoned Royal Oak Cemetery and they informed me that they were there and so my granddaughter and I went to see. There, beautifully kept, were some 30 or more graves. All with a nice stone listing name, rank etc. of each of the Airmen whose bodies they had found.

I decided to phone the speaker who had given the lecture and asked him about it. He said he had lots of information but had a close friend who had everything about it. It turned out that the close friend was also a friend of ours and former Air Canada employee too ! Name of George Maud.

George did phone me and was surprised as I was! We arranged to go back to the Cemetery and he brought a huge file with him with all the info in.
In the meantime one of the chaps that were in the 600 city of London Squadron with my husband, and one of several I correspond with regularly in Britain, was so interested and asked me to try and get him the info so it could go in the Museum over in the U.K. I did this and in addition, George did a wonderful thing by having a complete copy made of the huge loose-leaf he had and I sent it over by Fed Ex (great discount !!) to a Mr. Bob Tyson. They were delighted and are tracing any relatives of the chaps lost. I sent pictures of the graves too.

(More next time .....)

From the Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands district.

VICTORIA SPRING LUNCHEON:

DATE: Tuesday April 12, 2005
PLACE: MCMORRAN'S RESTAURANT
5109 CORDOVA BAY ROAD

SOCIAL HOUR: 11:00 AM TO 12:00PM
LUNCH: 12:00PM - ROAST BEEF BUFFET
PRICE: $20.50 PER PERSON

SEND CHEQUE, PAYABLE TO AC PIONAIRS, C/0
MARJORIE THORPE, TREASURER,
1769 ASTRA ROAD, COMOX, B.C. V9M 4B6
BY APRIL 6TH,

THERE WILL BE DOOR PRIZES AND A 50/50 Draw.

BURL - OAK COFFEE KLATCH WELCOMES RETIRED CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEES
Due to the number of recent Retirees from Air Canada Terminals in Toronto, the Burl-Oak Coffee Klatch, which meets on the Third Wednesday of each month, Welcomes all recent Customer Service Retirees.
Location of this Coffee Klatch is Dynasi Family Restaurant, North-side Dundas ( Hwy # 5 ) West of Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario.
All Air Canada Retirees are Welcome to attend. You don't have to be a Pionair Member to attend our Coffee Klatches, but Pionair Membership does have it's rewards.

The Above supplied by Mr. Nick White - Chairman Burl- Oak Coffee Klatch.

SAS simplifies domestic fares, but Air Canada were ahead of the pack. According to Air Transport World, Scandinavian Airlines has unveiled a new domestic fare offering that will provide cheaper and simpler fares in the Swedish domestic market. The airline says that effective March 30, there will be three kinds of ticket types:

TAP Air Portugal has officially joined the Star Alliance as its 16th member.
The Airline Network of Earth now comprise of - Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiane Airlines, Austrian Airlines, BMI, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, SPANAIR, TAP Air Portugal, THAI Airlines, United, US Airways and Varig.
The following regionals:
ADRIA, Blue1 and Croatia,

Swiss International Air Lines would be acquired by Lufthansa but retain its independence "to the extent possible" under a plan being discussed by the companies.

- B737 fin 728 C-FACP c/n 22072 withdrawn from use now at Mojove Dec 16th., 2004
- B737 fin 729 C-FHCP c/n 22024 withdrawn from use now at Mojave Dec 16th., 2004
- BAe146 fin 203 C-GRNX c/n E2130 withdrawn from use.
- BE1900D fin 903 C-GAAT c/n UE217 leased to Exploits Valley Air Svcs Feb 1/2005
- BE1900C fin 214 C-GCMT c/n UC120 leased to Exploits Valley Air Svcs Feb 1/2005

Jet2 , a UK low cost airline
Amsterdam for only GBP9... 1000s of seats Fly to the fantastic city of Amsterdam for these great prices... We have 1000s of seats available for travel this April & May.

Aero-Marine Interline has these deals -

Paris 1st Time
Our most popular guided tour. Includes five nights with continental breakfast, three day museum pass, five day metro/bus pass, airport transfers (not door to door), boat ride on the River Seine, admission to the Eiffel tower, Versailles and four days with our energetic guide.
Dates offered are Apr 23, May 21, Jun 13 (famous Paris Airshow), Jun 25, Sep 10, 24, Oct 8 and 22. A limit of 20 people per tour.
Our Price: $699 pp dbl

Holland Boat Bike

One date one extra special offer - Apr 1 Tulip Tour - two nights of hotel before and after boat trip, four nights on the boat with meals, bike and tour guide. This is a great way to see the windmills and countryside. Enjoy the sights on your bike!
Our Price: $569 pp dbl

China
Tour E - twelve nights includes three nights on the Yangtze River, most meals, guided program (most cases just you and the guide) and first class hotels.
Specific departure dates. Deduct $100 pp dbl

Aero-Marine Interline
voice: 1-800-255-2376

Specials must be booked and paid in full by April 1, 2005.

Most Internet users are familiar with Adobe Acrobat Reader. When web sites (and email lists) wish to share files with their readers it is not practical to have them download files that they are not able to open or which could be infected by viruses.

To solve this problem, Adobe Software provides a "Free" reader to allow anyone that downloads their viewer to read these files.

Click on the "Adobe Reader 7.0" image to download your free copy of Adobe Reader. Instructions for installing it are found using the link below. (The NetLetter does not provide support for installing the reader, but Nerds On Site do.) See the links to them on the left panel.

The mailing and formating of the Netletter for HTML format is provided by the ACFamily Network and Nerds On Site. Content is researched and submitted by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker. Thank you for letting us into your homes!

The archives of the NetLetter are kept on the ACFamily Network Forums area. They are in plain text format so you can print them from there if desired. If you are not a member of the ACFamily Network yet, we encourage you to join us there. Non members can Register here. (It's Free!)