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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995



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N E T L E T T E R   >  CANADA   <
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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)


Number 520  Sept 15th, 2000,  We first Published in October 1995



Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson   -      Co-pilot  - Terry Baker


email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. We welcome -
Don Smardon First Officer living on Gabriola in B.C.
Email for Don is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Vicki Skulsky retired from Dorval and lives in Surrey B.C.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. Need to know!
Both Vesta and Terry will be on vacation for the last two weeks of September, so
no NetLetters or communications with us - BUT - don't forget us please.
We would like to get some more stories of experiences during your working at
Air Canada, and those of you from Canadian please.


The ZED fares have been adjusted effective September 1st 200 -
Effective September 1st 2000
CHART-ZED                       FARES IN USD
MILEAGE         (ZL)       (ZM)     (ZH)
ZONE 1          1-450         13         19         25
ZONE 2       451-750         16         25         36
ZONE 3       751-1600        21         30         44
ZONE 4     1601-3200        32         43         68
ZONE 5     3201-4080        37         50         89
ZONE 6     4081-5000        41         59        105
ZONE 7     5001-6100        49         63        113
ZONE 8     6101-9000        57         70        126
FARES ARE CONVERTED TO LOCAL CURRENCY
SUBJECT TO TAXES AS APPLICABLE


Effective November 21, 2000, Air Canada will commence daily non-stop service
between Vancouver and Shanghai. Flights on the new route will be operated with wide
body Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Air Canada flight AC005 will leave Vancouver at 1200 and will arrive in Shanghai
at 1620 the next day. From Shanghai, flight AC006 will depart at 1815 and will arrive
in Vancouver at 1255 the same day.


AIR CANADA DOUBLES U.S. FUEL SURCHARGE TO $54
If you want to fly to the United States when oil prices are soaring -
you're going to pay. That's the message put out by Air Canada Thursday
as it doubled its fuel surcharge on all tickets with U.S. destinations.


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. Nice to know.
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Milton, paid tribute to the diligence
of the airline's employees in response to Air Canada having been named the world's
safest airline. According to an independent study undertaken by air safety specialists,
UK-based FlightSafe Consultants Ltd, Air Canada received top ranking in an analysis
of more than 500 airlines using ten management and environment criteria.
``We are very pleased that Air Canada's on-going focus on safety has been recognized
by this study,'' said Mr. Milton. ``This recognition can be attributed to our employees'
diligence and dedication to excellence. Moreover, we are delighted to be joined by
many fellow Star Alliance airlines among the top rankings.''
In the July 10, 2000 edition of the respected aviation industry magazine,
Aviation Week & Space Technology, Air Canada was ranked as Best Managed Major
Airline in North America. The overall ranking was based on the 1999 financial
performance criteria of asset utilization, productivity and financial stability. In terms of
asset utilization, the publication gave Air Canada the highest ranking of any major
airline in the world.
On July 24, 2000 Air Canada received the Canadian Information Productivity Award
of Excellence for having made innovative and effective use of information technology in
the development of its Express Check-in kiosks.
The kiosks, currently available at Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa
airports, significantly reduce check-in wait time.


Canadian Airlines wins wine awards. Business Traveller magazine has awarded Canadian Airlines two international awards for its choice of Business Class wines in
the Cellar Secrets program. Michael Joss, Director, Catering and Product
Development, and his team placed seventh for their Comte de Lantage Brut from France, in the champagnes and sparkling wines category, and 10th for their 1997 Eaglehawk Shiraz from South Australia in the best red wines category.
Way to go guys!
Employee Communications YULNNAC


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. News from the districts.
Sheila Moscoe told us about the change in venue for the T2 Coffee Klatch in YYZ,
In NetLetter nr 519,   but the date of Oct 2nd is NOT the first Tuesday -
it is the 3rd October!


Albert Sones, President of  Chapter  Six of C.A.I.R.E. sends this -
Canadian Air Line retirees from the Okanagan Chapter Six is having it's first luncheon
ever in Kamloops on  Wed. Sept. 20 at 13.00 hrs.
Then the next month it is in Penticton on Oct. 18 at the Penticton Inn.
If there are any C.A.I.R.E.  around who have not joined our association and would
like to or want information please contact
Abby Sones at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 250 712 1634.


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. While waiting for the next update on CF-TCC, Terry Denny sends this -
Having read in recent issues of the Netletter amusing anecdotes related to flying in
"the old days", I thought I would pass this one along to you.
On May 1, 1986, while flying in CF-TCC as part of the team who took her coast to
coast in celebration of TCA/Air Canada's 50th anniversary celebrations, we
encountered heavy cloud conditions and very "lumpy" air enroute to Prince Albert,
Saskatchewan from Regina. As usual, our little team was busy with the preparations
for the official welcome of the aircraft (this time in the birthplace of John Diefenbaker)
and were not paying much attention to the senior Air Canada representative who was
accompanying us to accept the thanks of the town and to speak on behalf of the
company. While loading my cameras in personal preparation to record the event on
film, I glanced across the aisle and noticed that the VIP was staring out the window
at the solid bank of cloud and seemed to be quite green and in some distress perhaps
as a result of the little aircraft's habit of porpoising somewhat in a following wind.
As we had not seen the ground for sometime, I believe it came as a relief for this
individual to spot a river below us on the port side. I was quickly asked if I could
perhaps identify it but as geography was never my strong suit and as I had hardly
glanced out the window for half an hour or thereabouts, I could not offer a reply.
At this point, I yelled (the standard mode of communication between crew and pilots
on TCC to over-ride the engine noise) to Captain Ray Lank who was flying left seat
at the time and asked if he could give us the name of the river and after a moment or
two of obvious hesitation he came back on the blower remarking "Well, it's either the
St. Lawrence or the Mississippi." The crew found this highly amusing as the banter
between the back end team and the guys up front could always be counted upon to
break us up into gales of laughter. But as I looked over across the aisle I sensed that
the VIP had missed the humour and with a look of doom sensed we might be on our
last flight together.
Following a successful landing and a wonderful welcome (Prince Albert's city council
declared May 1st Aviation Day in our honour) we flew on to Saskatoon where, following
another tremendous greeting by what seemed like half the citizens of the city, the
crew and pilots repaired to the bar to conduct our daily debriefing session.
During my replay of the effect of Ray's comment on the VIP, Ray stated "You know,
Terry, we really were lost there for a while."
At this news, five heads snapped up in  unison and with five sets of eyeballs protruding
and mouths gaping Ray uttered one last word,
"Gotcha".
Terry Denny  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. George Brien sends us this story -
Hi  folks,
Here's   a flash back   from  the past  that I'm sure some of  your readers from
rampside/Operations/or  pilots may relate to.


De-icing  in  the  fifties-
With  these  days  of  "drive  thru"  de icing  systems  with reclaimable fluids, some  of
the systems used back  in earlier  years now  appear  pretty arcade.
Altho  my  experience  only goes back to 1953,   I   suspect  the methods  used  at
the time were  similar to the previous 10-15  years.
As height wasn't  a problem with the DC3,   stations had a good  supply of brooms
and mops  and the wings and control  surfaces would be brushed clean and if necessary
a mopping with  cold  SDF  fluid  would complete the job in most  cases.
An added hi- tech  feature  was the use of a "backpack"  sprayer  which could hold
about 2 or 3 gals of  fluid and with the right tailwind,  the operator could hand pump a tiny
spray four or five feet.   With a head wind, most of it  would end up in his face and clothes.
One  snowy day in the mid 50's,  we  were  having a problem  keeping ahead of the
falling snow on the wings of a  DC3   at YFC so the Capt suggested we  try  the
"wing  covers'".
These  canvas covers were sometimes used  to slip over the wings on an overnight
layover  to protect the  surfaces from   snow/freezing  rain accumulations.  How  this
was going to  get the flight airborne was  a little  vague to us at the time  but the covers
were slipped on and tied down, passengers loaded  aboard,  Capt  requested a startup
and slowly taxied out  for take off  followed by  the ground crew.
When we got the nod,  the  covers were quickly pulled off,  takeoff power was  applied
and  away it went.   I  only  saw  this procedure done  once so perhaps it wasn't  part
of the   "Standard  Operating Procedures"
In the  60's  while  based in   YQI.,  the  DC3  procedure  remained the same  but with
the  arrival of  the Viscounts,  spraying and moping from the  ground  was a poor option.
The use of  a forklift  and basket  made it a little easier but a spray job  always meant
that you were pretty wet when it  was over.
Eventually, they took pity on  us  at the smaller stations and  sent down some
leftover equipment from larger stations..   The  "backpack sprayers"  were  gladly  put
aside and in its place a  odd looking motorized  three wheeled device  was  used.
It must have been designed by "Rube  Goldberg"   as  it  was complete with  a
planetary transmission driven  by  belts and about a 6 hp motor.  It  was complete
with a hydraulic boom and basket and it took a brave man to go up in it to spray  the
tail of  a DC9.  The 45  gal  barrel of  SDF   fluid was strapped under the main machine
with a spray  nozzle  at the basket.. It  was so unstable  that it had to be parked in
position very carefully and then the boom raised.    At  the time,  it was a giant step
forward but the unit was eventually  replaced with a more modern  type.
The only way the   SDF  fluid  could be recycled  in  those  days  was to wring out
your clothes  after you came in  from a  spraying  session.
George  Brien      This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. In NetLetter nr 519, Doug Maclaren introduced his brother Bill, who sends us this -
A short Bio.   Born in Guelph Ontario Feb 25 th 1916.  Moved to Georgetown ,
Ontario in 1920 where attended both Public and High School.  One year at Victoria
College,  U of T.  Then accepted a job offer with Imperial Airways Bermuda Ltd at
Hamilton Bermuda,  when someone told me that "The Future Was In The Air".
Thought I'd give it a 1 year try and if not satisfied would return to University.
Forty years later in August 1977 I retired from British Airways as Finance Manager NA.,
having spent 4 years in Bermuda accounting - posted to Montreal in October 1940 as
Accountant Return Ferry Service an adjunct  of RAF Ferry Command.
The Return Ferry Service operating a fleet of B24 Liberators whose function was to
return Bomber Ferry Crews from Prestwick to Montreal for their next bomber delivery
for the RAF. IN 1948 was posted to New York as Budget Officer North America. Then
took over job of Senior Financial Officer BA in USA.
In 1972 appointed Finance Manger North America.
Achievement in which I take most pride is establishment of British Airways Employees
Federal Credit Union in 1953, which today is a $20million operation with 10 employees
serving 10 foreign airlines and the Cunard  Steamship Lines.
SInce retiring in Aug 1977 have been involved with several volunteer jobs.
Sincerely       Bill Maclaren


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. Terry's travel tips.
Subject: Unbelievable rates from Holland America! Offered through Dargal -
Visit exciting destinations at amazing prices!
20 & 27 Oct - 3, 20, 17 & 24 Nov - 1, 8 & 15 Dec-~ Veendam
- 7 Nights - Southern Caribbean -  San Juan return
Inside $260    Outside $360
2 Nov ~ Volendam  -AND-  24 Oct & 13 Nov - Zaandam
-10 Nights - Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise Fort Lauderdale return
Inside $430    Outside $530
23 Oct & 12 Nov- Volendam-AND- 14 Oct & 23 Nov- Zaandam
- 10 Nights- Southern Caribbean Wayfarer Cruise Fort Lauderdale return
Inside $430    Outside $530
Please note that rates may vary depending on date of sailing.
Rates are quoted in US$ rates/pp dbl and subject to availability and eligibility.
Port Charges & Gov't Taxes are additional.
For more information on these and other specials - contact us at:
DARGAL Interline 1-800-690-3223


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. Smilie.


Aerodrome Information for Arriving Aircraft at Manchester Barton:
"For noise abatement, pilots are requested to avoid flying low over the
cemetery to the northeast of the aerodrome."


Gord Dalial sent us this one -
NEW  YORK --  J F K
A beautiful young blonde woman boards a plane to JFK  Airport, New York with a
ticket for the coach section. She looks at the seats in coach and then looks into the
forward cabin at the first-class seats. Seeing that the first-class seats appear to
be much larger and more comfortable, she moves forward to the last empty seat in first
class. The flight attendant checks her ticket and tells the woman that her seat is in
coach.  The blonde replies, "I'm young, blonde and beautiful, and I'm going to sit here
all the way to New York." Flustered, the flight attendant goes to the cockpit and informs
the captain of the problem.
The captain doesn't want to cause a commotion, and so he discussed the problem with
his co-pilot. The co-pilot says that he has a blonde girlfriend, and that he can take care
of the problem. He then goes back and briefly whispers something in the blonde's ear.
She immediately gets up, says "Thank you so much," hugs the co-pilot, and rushes
back to her seat in the coach section.
The captain and flight attendant, who were watching with rapt attention, together ask
the co-pilot what he had said to the woman. He replied,
"I just told her that the first class section isn't going to New York!"


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