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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 335 date , 1998 1st Published in October 1995
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. We welcome Pearl Piers who is the secretary/treasurer for the Pionairs
at Halifax. Living in Bruleshore, Nova Scotia
Robert Mitchell retired captain lives in Etobicoke, ON
Doug Nielsen retired captain lives in Lethbridge, AB
Ronald Carradine retired Station Agent lives in London, ON
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. Where are they now?
Carl & Mary Stardub are running off the Florida until middle of March,
contact them on
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. Brian Dunn sends some information from Toronto -
Air Canada's latest DC-9 fleet plan (current to Oct/98) is to "park"
six and offer them for sale (FLN #707,709,712,714,741,742).
This of course is subject to change.
On Nov 19th operated a Honduran relief flight with 747-233B C-GAGA
flying from YYZ to ENQ (Coronel Enrique Soto-US AFB Palmerola Honduras)
with several tons of supplies and about 22 people on board to assist.
After off-loading there the crew and aircraft was ferried over to
Montego Bay Jamaica to spend the night before ferrying back to YYZ on
Nov 20th.
Air Canada announced on Nov 23rd the sale of its remaining
10.2 pc interest in GPA Group plc for a total gain on sale before tax of
$26.3million CAD.
The company also made public and to its employees a
letter dated November 16th from Lamar Durett, the President and CEO to
the Greater Toronto Airports Authority voicing its concerns about the
costs for the new Toronto airport mega terminal. Air Canada strongly
supports the expansion of Pearson airport, but does not support the plan
as currently designed. Air Canada's fees and charges have increased
more than 55% since 1996 and the current plan would further increase
these costs by 95% in the years ahead. Such huge increases will have a
devastating impact on Air Canada because they greatly exceed those of
major hub airports of our North American competitors. "We are asking
the GTAA to work with us, and others, on a new and affordable terminal
redevelopment program which would meet the growth requirement of the
current Plan." "We are convinced there are a number of feasible
alternatives which will provide the same expansion possibilities as the
GTAA Plan, but at half the cost."
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. For those aviation bookworms amongst us!
Ross Smyth sends this -
Just read very interesting book from library, "Troubled Skies" by economist
Susan Goldberg. Mentioned policy differences between Claude Taylor and
Pierre Jeanniot. Also mentioned merger talks. If Air Canada had taken over
a bankrupt Canadian and bought Continental, it would have become one of the
world's larger airlines! Good reading! Ross
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. Vesta sends this story - coming in two parts.
Airlines Soc team make schedule work no matter what.
By PETER FITZPATRICK
So your Air Canada plane is late, marooning you at the Delhi airport
wondering if you'll make a connecting flight in London. Have no
fear. You're not alone. On the ninth floor of a smoked glass and
metallic grey office tower in Mississauga, Ont. Bill Bredt and his
team are worrying too. Mr. Bredt is vice-president at the airlines
System Operations Control and perhaps as near as you can get to a
patron saint of Air Canada travelers. Every minute of every day,
SOCs 210 workers watch over the Watch Keeping watch over the
airline, monitoring the whereabouts and status of each of Air
Canadas 162 jets as they make their 630 daily flights. Among other
things, SOC is responsible for plane departures, crews, the
loading of luggage, technical operations, emergency response, and
assorted cargo from chocolate to horses. "We take the commercial
schedule and try and make it work," explains Mr. Bredt. For a
modern airline, scheduling is crucial because the goal is to
maximize the flying time of each plane so as to get the most work
and money out of it. That means flights are tightly co-ordinated in
an elaborate, global web of interconnected movements. Any flight
failing to reach its destination on time threatens to disrupt the
entire system. "A delay will cascade down the line and our job is to
take that domino out so it doesn't cascade;" he says, citing an
average day's statistics showing a 78% on-time arrival rate. But
even the best laid plans go awry, usually due to weather, disruptions
such as strikes at airports, and mechanical problems.
Today, Mr. Bredt arrives at work to find eight planes scheduled to
fly that day are out of commission. Added to that are the delayed flight
in Delhi, a severe storm in Thunder Bay, Ont., and a
malfunction that could ground a Toronto-Montreal afternoon flight
Around the dimly-lit room, SOC workers are busy at the their keyboards,
talking incessantly on phones to airports around the world.
On their computer screens each plane is represented by a horizontalbar.
The color of each bar denotes the flight's status; blue is
good, showing the plane is en route, while red is bad because it
means the plane is late, and the lengthening red line from the
Delhi plane is a growing source of embarrassment all around.
.... more next time -
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. Bob Carson found these items -
Air Canada and Canadi>n now allowed to code-share with a designated
Mexican airline to and from Mexico City.
British Airways budget airline GO are selling gift certificates for its
flights as Christmas presents.
R.H. Carson
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. News from the Districts.
Montreal Pionairs held Xmas dinner Dec.3 & elected Pam Rosholt to succeed
Herb Guilfoyle as regional director for 2 years.
Had a great time and raised money for charity.
Ross
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. Found on the internet.
HAVE PET, WILL TRAVEL:
A British Airways flight out of Cairo, Egypt, was
delayed recently because of a strange sound that couldn't be traced.
For over an hour the plane sat on the ground while flight attendants
searched for the source. Finally, the cat was out of the carry-on bag
when a Romanian passenger admitted to the crafty kitty caper. He was
given a choice: the flight or the feline. He chose the cat, leaving the
plane to make other travel arrangements for himself and his furry
Egyptian friend.
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. Terry's travel tips.
Hot New All Inclusive Destinations in the Caribbean...
St Lucia & Antigua!
All Inclusive - Club St Lucia 4 Stars
Interline Rates for 7 Nights Accommodation Based on Double Occupancy
Dec 3/98 - Dec 21/98 - from $489us, ppd
Christmas Dec 22/98 - Jan 3/99 -from $699us, ppd
Jan 4/99 - Jan 31/99 - from $499us, ppd
Feb 1/99 - Apr 5/99 - from $619us, ppd
All meals, drinks, entertainment and non-motorized water sports included.
Club St Lucia has just completed renovations this November 1998. Great for
families!
All Inclusive - Club Antigua 3 Stars
Interline Rates for 7 Nights Accommodation Based on Double Occupancy
Dec 3/98 - Dec 21/98 - from $489us, ppd
Christmas Dec 22/98 - Jan 3/99 - from $579us, ppd
Jan 4/99 - Jan 31/99 - from $489us, ppd
Feb 1/99 - Apr 5/99 - from $529us, ppd
All meals, drinks, entertainment, tennis, dancing, bicycling, daily
activities and non-motorized water sports included. Club Antigua is Great
for families with a special supervised Children's Club for ages 4-12 years.
The glistening white sands, emerald waters, warm temperatures fanned with
trade winds makes for a perfect day...a perfect Holiday!
Call Canadian interline Travel to take advantage of this
special rate at 1-800-665-3100!!! and mention Pionairs.
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. Smilie.
SHORT FINAL...
Graffito found in the crew lounge:
"The only thing worse than a captain who never flew copilot is a copilot
who was once a captain."
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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.
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