 The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(part of the ACFamily Network)
July 16, 2011 - Issue 1173
|
|
| |
|
First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
|
Donation Information
|
Send cheques payable to "ACFamily Network" to:
ACFamily Network
#800 - 15355 24th Ave, Suite 523
Surrey, BC V4A 2H9
or
Pay by Credit Card
|
| Sponsors |
 |
|
|
| Greetings! |
We welcome you to allow the NetLetter to be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC, Wardair. etal. and share your experiences with us!
The NetLetter is an email newsletter published every weekend and contains a mixture of nostalgia, current news and travel tips. We encourage our readers to submit their stories, photos and/or comments from either days gone by or from present day experiences and trips. If we think that the rest of our readers will enjoy it, we will publish it here
We also This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in regard to anything we post here. Many readers have commented with additional information, names and personal memories from the photos and articles presented here.
The NetLetter, which is free, is open to anyone that wishes to subscribe but is targeted to retired employees from Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and all the other companies that were part of what Air Canada is today. Thanks for joining us!
Terry & your NetLetter Team
|
| CAHS Upcoming Events - Compiled by Alan Rust |
 We have a listing below of all the CAHS (Canadian Aviation Historical Society) upcoming events that we are aware of. If you are at all interested in Canadian aviation history, then we encourage you to attend a meeting or visit their web site at: www.cahs.caMonthly meetings start again in September.
|
| Women of the Year Nominee - Compiled by Alan Rust |
 |
| Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail |
It's still not too late to vote for Danielle for Chateline magazines Women Of The Year -
You can help get the word out about Canadian Aviation History and the CAHS by voting for Danielle!
 Have your say in determining Canada's 2011 Women of the Year. If you would like to cast your vote for Danielle, you can do so by clicking on this link. |
Pionair Meetings and Events - Compiled by Alan Rust
|
|
 The Air Canada Pionairs have ongoing Coffee Club Meetings in the following Districts; Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Okanagan, Edmonton, Calgary, Man-Sask, SW Ontario, Central Ontario, Ottawa, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia - P.E.I., Newfoundland, UK - E.C. and the USA - Caribbean. For full information, click here.
Meetings provide an opportunity to meet old friends, learn the latest news regarding Air Canada and your pensions or hear a variety of guest speakers speaking on topics of interest to retirees.
Coffee meetings start again in September.
|
ACRA Upcoming Events- Compiled by Alan Rust
|
 Retirees Welcome!
The following events are available for retirees through ACRA, the Air Canada Recreation Association. |
|
Where: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
When: Thursday, September 29 to Saturday, October 1, 2011
For more inforation visit: www.acrabadminton.org.uk
Retirees Welcome!
|
|
ACRA Toronto Annual Golf Tourney CANCELLED. The ACRA YYZ Golf Tourney scheduled for July 25th has been cancelled due to lack of interest. ACRA Toronto would like to thank all its members for their continued support and look forward to serving their interests in social or sport events. ACRA YYZ welcomes suggestions for future events.
|
|
 Are you aware of an ACRA Event that is open to retirees? Please use the online form by following this link to submit your ACRA Event. (ACRA Events only please)
|
|
|
| |
| Our first 70 years - Compiled by Terry Baker |
1973 - December 8th - Inaugurated service L1011 YYZ-TPA
- September 10th - New training area for Flight Attendants opened in Dorval
1974 - January 25th - L1011 service inaugurated YUL-YYZ-LAX
|
| Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker |
 Reader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below was sent to us by our faithful readers. If you would like to send us some old photos you have lying around. we will consider them for publication in a future NetLetter. We prefer good quality airline related photos, with descriptive text included with the submission. |
|
 Arnold Broese-van-Groenou sends us this email -
I enjoy your letter. Thanks for the fine work. I have pictures, taken over the years, and here are some of them you may find a use for. They are taken in and around the simulator building, and one can see how much has now changed since then.
Regards Arnold, Broese-van-Groenou
The photos were taken in the late '70's.
The photo above is the simulator building.
|
 727-200 simulator.
|
 747 simulator.
|
 Simulator, employees not identified.
|
|
Shirlee Schacter has sent us these photos and information -
Jannet Tricarico, Air Canada Pionairs National President, was the keynote speaker at the Central Ontario District Pionairs Spring Luncheon on June 8th, 2011, held at Casa Mendoza in Toronto. As usual, there was good attendance for this annual event and Jannets informative presentation received a very warm reception.
 Photo: Valdy Prieditis Social Events Chair, Doug Orvis past District Director.
|
 Bob Newson Membership, Jannet Tricarico Pionairs National President, Ed Storrie District Treasurer.
|
 Some of the attendees at the lunch.
|
 David McNeilly District Director, Jannet Tricarico Pionairs National President.
|
 Ed & Lois Storrie, Lynn & David McNeilly, Jannet Tricarico, Doug Orvis. |
 Jannet Tricarico Pionairs National President.
|
| TCA/Air Canada People Gallery - Compiled by Terry Baker |
 Musings from the "Between Ourselves" and "Horizons" magazine, an Air Canada publication from years gone by, and various in-house magazines.
|
|
Issue dated - January 1st 1956
Extracted from "Between Ourselves" magazine -
|
 Proud father Captain Jack Wright pins pilot's wings on Pilot Officer son, John Wright, November 24th 1955 in a ceremony at RCAF AFS, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. |
|
Issue dated - January 15th 1956
|
|
 OUR NEW YORK AIR FREIGHT staff is shown here during a lull. They are from the left, back row, Marcy Guiterrez, Charles Lohlein, Nick Vero, Rolf Eng, Jim Paulos, Bob Barschow, George 0 Hanlon.
Front row: George Hoban, Ernie Blackburn, Emily Marco, Jack Dorsch (Chief Cargo Agent), Chuck Eisenberg, Bill Schuck, Frank Brosan.
|
|
 IF THERE'S A BETTER WAY, let's do it: That's the theme of this get-together in London of our Operations and Traffic Supervisors.
From the left they are: Steve Anderson, Regional PRO, W. C. Murdoch, Airport Counter Supervisor, E. J. May, DTSM, R. Grant, Chief Dispatcher, D. J. Wiley, Asst. Regional Supervisor of Maintenance, A. J. Summers, Chief Clerk, A. J. Wotton, Manager, Passenger and Cargo Sales, W. A. Reid, CTM, J. A. Ross, Station Manager.
|
|
Issue dated - February 1st 1956
|
|
 SENIOR STATION PERSONNEL at new ports of call in Northern Ontario and Quebec are shown above.
They are from the left, back row: G. Vanasse, Station Manager BG, A. Cote, Operations Agent BG, E. L. Bourgeois, Operations Agent YV, J. B. Doutre, Operations Agent QB, M. Weir, Training Assistant UL, L. P. Leroux, Operations Agent QB.
Centre row: J. G. Somoisette, Station Manager YV, L. W. Tardif, Station Manager QB, R. J. Brady, Station Manager UY, R. P. Mirault, Station Manager VO.
Front row: J. C. Thibodeau, Operations Agent YV, L. Comeau, Operations Agent BG, G. G. Nye, Operations Agent VO and C. H. Butters, Asst. Station Services Supvr., Central Region, YZ.
|
|
 PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST Prestwick ten-year pins was made recently to Miss Marion McDonald, Clerk-Stenographer, and James Douglas, Lead Storeman.
A small party was held on the occasion and the presentations were mode to Miss McDonald by K. A. Herchmer, Station Services Supervisor, and to Douglas by T. Carr Hodgson, Purchasing Agent, London.
Shown are, from left (back row): Hodgson, J. R. Gilmore, Station Manager, Herchmer; (Front row): Miss McDonald, Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Douglas.
|
|
Issue dated - October 1973
Found in the "Horizons" magazine -
|
 Bob Dailey, Cargo Facilities Technician, Matton sent us (the editors of the magazine) this photo, courtesy of a neighbor, Jack Hunter "who has been in Air Transport since Pontius was a pilot". It was taken at Cranbrook, B.C. in the summer of 1938, and shows a Lockheed L10A with, from the left: Barney Rawson, Ron George, unknown, unknown, Waiter Fowler, and ? Coulson. Oldtimers will no doubt recognize the unknowns. |
|
 Twenty-five year men Tom Lawson and Reid Hinds congratulate each other in the presence of Purchasing & Facilities colleagues.
From the left are: Wally Haverstock, Buyer; Lawson and Hinds; Jack Stephens, Director of Aircraft Spares Procurement and Ron Clarke, Buyer.
|
|
 Celebrating his 25th anniversary with the Company, and the winning of a suggestion award worth $294, while surrounded by pretty girls wasn't hard to take for Pat Tessier, Customs Refund Agent, Dorval.
Fellow workers in the P & F Customs Section gathered to congratulate him.
From the left are, seated: Nadine Diezmann, Ray Shea, Pat, and Bob Needham, Director, Supply Services. Back row are: Pam Corcoran, Barbara Brooks, Mary-Linda Macdonald, Gillian Greaves, and Margaret Lavigne.
|
| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
 |
| Alan Rust |
Vintage Wings Web Site and Vintage Wings of Canada
Although we have referred to the Vintage Wings Web site in the past, we never really highlighted it in an article. I guess it's time.
The site is very well layed out, it's Canadian through and through and has great photography, articles and information, their website is at: www.vintagewings.ca
Aviation Museum - The facility is located in a 23,000 sq ft (2,100 m2) hangar that was designed to resemble a wartime military hangar. The hangar is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for public visitors. As well, the facility is host to group tours, aircraft fly-ins and visits by veterans with prior arrangement.
Vintage Wings is a flying museum, which displays its aircraft in the air and on the ground at many airshows and other events such as Royal Military College of Canada graduation parades, Battle of Britain Sunday parades and many other air shows in Canada and the USA. In particular, Vintage Wings participates in the Classic Air Rallye air show organized by FlightWorks and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum held annually at Rockcliffe Airport. Vintage Wings of Canada is an aviation museum of historically significant aircraft, organized as a charitable foundation. The facility is located at the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport, Quebec, Canada. It was founded by former Cognos CEO and philanthropist Michael Potter. Most aircraft in the collection are in flying condition and are frequently flown.
Below is a photo and link to a very interesting article called "In Praise of the Squadron Dog" Take a look, I think you'll find it interesting, especially if you like both dogs and aircraft. (doesn't everybody?).
 |
| The Squadron Dog |
|
Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker |
 News and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and it's "ancestry" of contributing airlines. |
|
Issue dated - May 1997
Found in the "Canadi>n Flyer" magazine -
|
 Load Control Agent Rusty Schmit co-ordinates the weight and balance for the aircraft to make sure it departs with the correct trim. |
 Station Attendant Sergio Zenone ensures that connecting baggage is routed correctly. |
 Last minute change of a seat cover by Groomer Sam DePlares, one of the many chores to get the aircraft ready. |
 Aster completing their checks and assisting passengers on board, CSD Gerry Schaper and Flight Attendants Thomas Chan and Caroline Powell are eager to get flying. |
|
Issue dated - May 1970
From the "PWA Keeping Posted" magazine -
|
 On April 27th 1969, PWA took over the routes through Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Cranbrook.
Here we have this photo of the staff house in Inuvik. |
 Capt. Laidman flew the fourth B737 on its delivery flight into YVR May 1st 1970. |
| Reader's Feedback - Compiled by Terry Baker |
Every week we ask our readers for their stories or feedback on what they have read here in previous issues. Below is the feedback we have received recently.
|
 Neil Burton has sent us this information -
Just going through Vancouver Sun files of 1946 and happened on the this material of 65 years ago.
Neil Burton
Under the heading "Wonders of modern travel" was this photo. This was taken at Vancouver on July 10th 1946 upon the arrival of TCA flight which had left Prestwick on July 9th and took 28 hours, after a refueling stop at YUL.
The crew consisted of Capt. George Lothian, and F/O C.M.Harper, Navigating Officer was P.G. Powell. Other members of the crew were Radio Officer Al Blackwood, F/E Sam Ried and Purser D.V. Miller. |
 Here we have the article. |
Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
|
 |
| Terry Baker |
Wings Vintage Wings based in Gatineau Quebec have initiated a cross Canada expedition to commemorate the British Commonwealth Air Training Program, where Canada played such an important part during WW2.
Vintage Wings have five aircraft, a Harvard, Cornell, Stearman, Fleet Finch and a Tiger Moth all participating in various degrees in a cross Canada flight stopping at various fields and events during June, July, August and September.
They will be traveling from coast to coast. Please have a look at their web site www.vintagewings.ca and Blog for aircraft and scheduled stops.
Also included is a plan to have passengers taken on demonstration flights. (Source RAPCAN Newsletter)
|
Smileys - Compiled by Terry Baker
|
As we surf the internet and back issues of airline magazines we regularly find airline related jokes and cartoons. Below is our latest discovery.
|
|
 Reprinted from "Between Ourselves" issued January 1956 -
ANOTHER HUMOROUS ITEM comes from Vancouver Traffic. John MacLean, former Telephone Sales Supervisor (now Sales Rep., Seattle) submitted the following:
"During a very heavy period of weekend traffic to Victoria, the Optimist Club of Vancouver was endeavoring to get an 1800 departure to Victoria on a Saturday night. We were finally able to confirm them by converting a DC-3 to North Star equipment. No other space was available.
"All the calls pertaining to this group were handled by one PA (Tel) on the Friday preceding, and as a result, the departure time of 1800 hours on Saturday was firmly embedded in his mind as being the Optimist group.
"On Saturday morning, this same PA (Tel) received a call from a passenger desiring to go to Victoria at 1800 hours on Saturday. The agent, almost without a second thought said: 'Are you an Optimist, sir?'
This cartoon by Dave Mathias is from "Between Ourselves" issued February 1st 1956.
|
|
|
Disclaimer: Please note, that neither the NetLetter or the ACFamily Network necessarily endorse any of the airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers. We would be interested in any feedback (good or bad) when using these companies though and will report the results here. We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link.
|
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
Sincerely,
Your NetLetter Team
|
First published in October, 1995
- Chief Pilot - Terry Baker, Nanaimo, B.C.
- Co-pilot - Alan Rust, Surrey, B.C.
- Flight Engineer - Bill Rowsell, Londesboro, Ontario
To contact us, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
|
|
| |
|
