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_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
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Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
http://www.acra.ca/between
number 292 date July 26th, 1998 1st Published in October 1995
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. We welcome another bunch to our group -
Bob Geddes retired storeman living in Richmond BC
Sheila Moscoe retired Customer Sales & Service Agent in YYZ and who has
returned part-time under the phase-in program.
Donald Lynn retired Ramp agent lives in Toronto.
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. Where are they now.
Don Dowie has asked us to put out this APB - "Le Count", Chris de Lavison.
My wife Barbara and I have some very fond memories of a ski trip we were on
with Chris and his wife in 1975 to Serre Chevalier in France and would like
to contact Chris to keep in touch.
Don "Don Dowie" <
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. WHAT'S ON AND WHERE FROM JULY 26th TO 31ST,1998.
Monday July 27, 1998
Farnborough Air Display
Tuesday July 28, 1998
Farnborough Air Display
Wednesday July 29, 1998
Farnborough Air Display
Vancouver Island Pionairs annual Picnic Mt Douglas 11:am
Thursday July 30, 1998
Farnborough Air Display
Vancouver Island Pionairs monthly at Comox Valley Lunch Old House,
Courtenay
Friday July 31, 1998
Ottawa, Pionair KoffeeKlatsches AT 10 AM Weekly,
Family Restaurant, Carlingwood Shopping.
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. Ross Smyth has sent us his bio -
Here is Ross Smyth's bio, sent on his behalf -
A new arrival on the Internet is Ross Smyth of Montreal who joined TCA in
1940 via dirt road to Toronto's Malton airport. Position cargo clerk and
dispatch clerk before transferring to Montreal in 1942 as radio operator.
He also also worked in North Bay and Kapuskasing before transferring to
Moncton as assistant flight dispatcher.
In late 1945 Ross transferred back to Montreal into the first group of
overseas flight dispatchers with the big 10-passenger Lancastrians. He
later became president of the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Assn. and got a
Commerce degree. In 1955-56 V.P. Bill English gave Ross a year's leave of
absence with pay to be president of the Canada Junior Chamber of Commerce
(Jaycees).
Ross transferred in 1956 to management as a public relations supervisor
and later manager. He formed a company speakers bureau which in the 1960s
attained 300 speakers giving 1,000 public speeches annually.
Ross gave about 50 speeches yearly himself.
In the 1970s, surviving a nasty reorganization, Ross edited the company's
management newsletter and was a columnist for Horizons. One column urging
that airlines honestly advise the public why they oversold seats won an
international award. He retired in 1977 winning the Air Canada Merit Award
for his voluntary activities.
Smyth always wanted to fly but his vision delayed him until 1965. After
retirement he became a flight instructor on light aircraft. He ferried six
aircraft from the factory in Kansas.
In 1987 he and retiree Al Blackwood bought a Cessna 172. They made seven
round trips to Florida and flew it across US and Canada. Blackwood was a
radio operator on one of the first three TCA crews loaned to the return
transatlantic ferry service in 1942. Al and Ross won the Governor General's
Cup in an air rally in PEI in 1997, the oldest ever winners!
In voluntary activities Ross is past pres. of the United Nations Assn.
(Montreal) and twice president of the World Federalists of Canada.
He writes frequently on aviation and international politics. A Rotarian for
34 years, he edits the newsletter of the Rotary Club of Montreal.
He recently wrote his first book,
"The Lindbergh of Canada: The Erroll Boyd Story:"
Boyd was not only the first Canadian pilot in 1930 to fly the North Atlantic
but the first in the world to fly it outside the much easier summer season.
Ross believes all Canadians should remember him. Book is available at many
Canadian book stores. Ross recently became a new director on the board of
the Canadian Aviation Historical Society.
Ross feels that Horizons should include more interesting news of employees.
(Your NetLetter editors feel there should be more news for retirees - eds)
There would be lots of space with a less expensive newspaper format.
He also feels Air Canada should employ a full-time historian and librarian!
His "pet peeve": increasing payroll deductions for retiree travel.
Ross Smyth
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. Phil Pawsey sends us this story -
Subject: Will not tell, perhaps this will bring back some memories for
some of the group.
The time and place was July 1944 and the place was temporarily unknown.
One evening about 2000hrs, four people climbed into an Anson Mk5 to do
another three hour navigational training flight out of No. 3 School of
General Reconnaissance at Ancienne Lorette, P.Q. The crew consisted of a
civilian pilot, and three RCAF trainees. The trainees would alternate
from trip to trip from 1st. navigator, 2nd. navigator, and wireless
operator.The weather was marginal and there was some doubt whether it
would be scrubbed or not but the aircraft did take off.
The pilot, who had previously been a bush pilot usually was fully aware
of his position which covered legs such as Charny-St Agathe-Weedon
Lake-Charny. There was considerable cloud this evening and the aircraft got
on top of cloud, between layers and intermittenly contact. After about 2 hrs,
the 1st. nav advised that he was very unsure of his position and due to lack
of radio aids and lack of map reading, the pilot seconded the motion.
Astro was not successful at the best of times, with acceleration errors
usually making the cocked hats larger than the plotting charts, and on this
particular night, stars and planets were not even visible. Time went by and
the needles on the gas gauges had NDP inclinations and were far left.
Parachutes were put on and all eyes were looking forward towards the
ground because now there were intermittent breaks in the cloud. All of a
sudden, directly ahead a lighted runway appeared. The pilot chopped the
power and within a minute or two the aircraft was on the ground.
The right engine quit as power was applied to taxi, and just about then a
jeep appeared with a spot light shining towards the aircraft.
One of the crew came up with the most brilliant remark about their position
since take-off by saying "We must be in the States" because I guess the
association of jeeps with the Americans.
It was only after being towed into a hangar that our intrepid
airmen knew their exact position - Bagotville P.Q.
I will never tell who the crew were, but I was one of them.
P.S. Oh yes, I failed to mention that Bagotville had had a power failure
that night and got it back when we first saw the runway lights.
Phil Pawsey email: <
Packet Radio VE2DTM @VE2FFQ.#MTL.PQ.Can.NOAM
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. Found on the Internet.
DENVER ALL OVER AGAIN?
Some of our favorite stories about DIA's early trials and tribulations
dealt with that multi-zillion dollar, suitcase-chomping baggage system.
Scenes of flung underwear and harried handlers still make us snort. So,
imagine the perverse delight in hearing of similar problems at the new $20
billion dollar Chek Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong.
Tons of seafood and fruit were left rotting, and pax were left seething, as
computer bugs wreaked wholesale havoc with cargos, scheduling, and flight
information systems. Fish wholesalers plan to seek compensation and
newspapers are demanding that top airport officials resign.
Maybe it was just a Y2K dry run?
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. Recently your Co-pilot had occasion to travel from Victoria to Vancouver on
a Dash8 with AirBC.
Amongst the passengers was a large contingent of Japanese, who spent many
minutes clustered around the nose and steps of the aircraft for the
innumerable photo opportunities, despite the ground staff trying to impress
upon them the need to get aboard. Due to space I was offered and took the
jump seat. The seat is not against a bulkhead, but is lowered and fills
the open door area to the cockpit, with the door being the back rest when
it is closed. Apparently, my silhouette caused lots of mutterings and
gigglings amongst the Asian passengers, including several photos - at least
my back is famous!
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. YYZ News from Brian Dunn -
For those of you who have been wondering who would bring the Boeing
777 to Toronto and when.....your wait has ended. Korean Air will become
the first operator of the 777-200 into Toronto on a regular basis
effective September 1st.
In an article in the July 12th issue of the Sunday Times from England
there is a headline called "BA to kill of GBP60m ethnic art tailfins."
British Airways is preparing to drop its controversial ethnic art designs
from the tailfins of planes used on some of its most popular routes. It is
reconsidering the livery after a backlash from American customers and
partners who want Britian's flagship airline to look more British. BA may
replace the designs with the red, white and blue of the Concorde livery.
(Your Chief Pilot suggests, perhaps, the Spice Girls should adorn the fins!)
Voyageur Airways is tentatively expected to launch its new 3rd level
Air Canada feeder service by September 15th with newly delivered Beech
1900Ds.
"Brian Dunn" <
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. Terry's travel tips.
Latest Air Canada flight schedule dated July 21st valid until Apr 3rd 1999
available on http://www.aircanada.ca
Gemma Young shares this information -
We stayed at Country Inn and Suites in Georgia. The stay was extremely
pleasant. The sales and marketing manager has kindly agreed to offer to
Air Canada retirees and employees 50%.
This is what the letter says:
Country Inn & Suites @ Northlake (Tucker) location has agreed upon a
Negotiated Rate with Air Canada of 50% of the rack rate based upon
availablilty. Base rack rates are subject to change without notice.
To make reservations please call (770) 270-9009, and ask for the Air Canada
Rate.
Seleste Miller (Front Office Manager)
Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 2081 North Lake Parkway,
Tucker , Georgia 30084
phone (770) 270-0990 fax (770) 939-0563
It is a 49 room business with complimentary breakfast and warm
atmosphere. Hope it could be helpful.
Gemma Young <
Canadian Interline Travel -
LEEWARD - 4 NIGHT MEXICO CRUISE FROM MIAMI - 11/16, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14
$259PP INSIDE, $309PP OUTSIDE, $349PP DLX OUTSIDE
NORWEGIAN CROWN - ***14-NIGHT SOUTH AMERICAN *** -
DEC 5/98 $1199PP INSIDE, $1490PP OUTSIDE
NORWEGIAN DREAM - EUROPE/BLACK SEA/MED. HIGHLIGHTS/CLASSIC MED./HOLY
LAND/TRANSATLANTIC - CALL FOR THE DATES & PRICES ***GREAT RATES***
SUITES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE NORWEGIAN DREAM AT LOW INTERLINE RATES
NORWEGIAN WIND - 7-NIGHT WESTERN CARIBBEAN FROM MIAMI - CALL FOR DATES
$429PP INSIDE, $499PP OUTSIDE, $549PP DLX OUTSIDE
NORWEGIAN WIND - 5-NIGHT PACIFIC COASTAL - 9/14
$299PP INSIDE, $399PP OUTSIDE, $449PP DLX OUTSIDE
NORWAY - BRITISH ISLES/WINE & ROMANCE/IBERIAN PENINSULA/MED. TREASURES/TRANS
ATLANTIC - CALL FOR DATES - SOME RATES STARTING AT $499PP INSIDE
NORWEGIAN STAR - *** 7-NIGHT TEXARIBBEAN *** - FROM HOUSTON
AUG 2-16 FROM $549PP INSIDE - $599PP OUTSIDE - $699PP DELUXE
AUG 23-SEP 13 FROM $449PP INSIDE - $499PP OUTSIDE - $599PP DELUXE
NORWEGIAN DYNASTY - ***HAWAII*** - MANY DATES WITH RATES STARTING AT
$699PP INSIDE, $799PP OUTSIDE, $899PP DLX OUTSIDE
ABOVE RATES ARE IN US DOLLARS AND ARE BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY.
For Reservations Call 1-800-665-3100 Today!! and mention Pionairs.
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. Smilie.
More from Jenn Callum <
Subject: "Comedy in the air"
"We do feature a smoking section on this flight; if you must smoke, contact
a member of the flight crew and we will escort you to the wing of the
airplane."
"Smoking in the lavatories is prohibited. Any person caught smoking in the
lavatories will be asked to leave the plane immediately."
(Could this be via the 'flush route'? - eds)
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. That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.
/------------------------\ |--\_____/--\__ |
| Between yOurselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ---|/-- |
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Copyright 1998 by Vesta Stevenson & Terry Baker.