 The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(part of the ACFamily Network)
July 23, 2011 - Issue 1174
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First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
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Donation Information
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Send cheques payable to "ACFamily Network" to:
ACFamily Network
#800 - 15355 24th Ave, Suite 523
Surrey, BC V4A 2H9
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| 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
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| CAHS Upcoming Events - Compiled by Alan Rust |
 The CAHS (Canadian Aviation Historical Society) meetings and events will be back in September. If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, then we encourage you to attend a meeting or visit their web site at: www.cahs.ca |
Pionair Meetings and Events - Compiled by Alan Rust
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 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.
Most meetings are suspended for the summer, see the website for details.
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ACRA Upcoming Events- Compiled by Alan Rust
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 Retirees Welcome!
The following events are available for retirees through ACRA, the Air Canada Recreation Association. |
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Where: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
When: Thursday, September 29 to Saturday, October 1, 2011
For more inforation visit: www.acrabadminton.org.uk
Retirees Welcome!
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 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)
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| Dreams Take Flight Golf Tournament |
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Dreams Take Flight Golf Tournament - Carlisle, Ontario
When: August 31, 2011
Contact: Josie Canning
Phone: (905) 457-1847
Click on image at left for poster and further info.
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| Our first 70 years - Compiled by Terry Baker |
1956 - May 9th - Placed an order with Douglas four DC-8 for delivery in 1960.
1973 - October - Company signs with Marathon Aviation Terminals Ltd at Mirabel Airport for cargo space facilities.
1974- May 1974 - ReserVec for E.P.A.
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Star Alliance News - Compiled by Terry Baker
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 Lufthansa adds service to London Gatwick this winter; From October twice-daily non-stop service from Frankfurt / Roundtrip fares from as little as 99 euros. This winter Lufthansa is launching flights to London Gatwick. Beginning October 30, 2011, the German flag carrier will serve the UK's second-largest airport twice daily, connecting it with Frankfurt and then throughout Lufthansa's global network. The route will be operated by a Boeing B737-500 with 120 seats in Business and Economy Class. (Source: Lufthansa)
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| 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. |
 During a recent visit to the BC Aviation Museum, Al Catterall handed over several photos of people, but they were unidentified. The photos were taken in February 1964 and we publish them in the hopes someone can identify them. |
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 Barry Crawford sends us this email and photo;
I made my 15th tandem jump from 15,000 feet on July 1st for Canada Day 2011.
In the photo is my instructor. I was aboard their King Air 90 ... beautiful plane. Took 14 minutes to reach 15,000. What else can I say than ... I can't wait for my next jump in 2012! Every jump is simply amazing! The majority of your readers flew on planes ... I like to jump out of them.
Barry
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| 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.
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Issue dated - February 1956
Extracted from "Between Ourselves" magazine -
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 ONE FOR THE BOOKS - or - what's going to happen to flight 403? This chalked-up flight forecast board is located in Halifax reservations office and depicts a situation that was prevalent on six separate days in January.
The "weather-hound" passenger agents are, on left from the front: Misses E. McManus, C. Creaghan, L. Wardrope and Mr. W. Martel. Right, G MacNeill, Mrs W McFatridge, Miss M Malloy and B Yuill. About to make another chalk run is C Flynn.
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 THE FIRST GROUP OF NEW Billers who will work in various Air Freight offices across the system are shown above following the completion of a recent Basic Air Freight Course in Montreal. They are, .
From the left, standing: W. Schuck, New York, M. L. Weir, Training Assistant; R. Bell, Winnipeg. Seated: J. Burghardl, Montreal (AtI.); R. Barschow New York; W. McDonald, Ottawa; and G. Waldo, Vancouver.
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 THE FIRST BILINGUAL graduation class of stewardesses is shown above following the completion of their five week course.
The new stewardesses will be based in Montreal, serving the company's new Quebec routes. They are, front row, from left: Jean Pelletier, Stewardess Instructress, Michelle Reid, Lucette Beland, Georgette Deschenes, Gizele Lachance, Jeannine Morin, Lucille Courtemanche, Jeannine Lapointe, Yolande L'Homme. Back row: Clementine Michaud, Soulonge Normandin, Lorette Hamonic, Mr. D. V. Miller, Supervisor of Training, Geraldine Mann, Louise Viau, Patricia Tanner and Louise Normandin.
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 AN INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES COURSE was held recently for personnel from various stations throughout the system. The program included instruction on the processes of learning, and was provided so that the people could return to their stations and carry out local Training programs.
They are shown from the left, standing: M. Kennedy, Ottawa: D. Morrison, Sydney; S. Drake, Halifax; K. York, Toronto; J. Sfeczkiewics, Montreal (Aft.); E. Roleau, Montreal (Dom.); L. C. Evans, Training Assistant.
Seated: R. Beaudry, Training Assistant; E. Bean, Montreal (At!.); A. Garwoad, Fort William, and C. Dovis, Calgary.
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 PERSONNEL WHO COMPLETED a course on the loading, handling and securing of Cargo in Montreal recently are, from the left, standing: D. S. Winders, Vancouver, W. Burden, Windsor, C. Prosser, Training Assistant, K. Henderson, Montreal (AtI.).
Seated: B. Lefebvre, Montreal (Dom.), W. Baer, Winnipeg, D. S. Armstrong, Regina and K. Herchmer, Montreal.
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Issue dated - October 1973
Found in the "Horizons" magazine -
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 The 'Mystery of the burned-out plane' is the way Montreal newspapers labeled it!
But it was never a mystery to Air Canada.
A partially-destroyed aircraft fuselage on the tarmac in front of a Quebec government-owned hangar at Montreal Airport became a curiosity for the many commuters passing the area. What happened to it? Where did it come from?
It is one of the last Company Vanguards sold to a firm specializing in supply aircraft parts. Workmen hired by the purchasing firm were dismantling the aircraft when a cutting torch accidentally set fire to it.
The aircraft is/was CF-TKM fin 913. The photo above of the burnt out hull is from the Vickers Vanguard web site at www.vickersvanguard.net
 Taking time out between a relay race and a soft ball game during the Chicago district's first ACRA picnic are members of the Board of Directors of the newly formed recreation association.
Seated, left to right are: Sandi Thuy, Social Director; Dan Rowe, President and Anne Marie Black, Reservations Representative.
Standing are Jim Fisher, Cargo Representative and Frank Cunnius, Treasurer.
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| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
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| Alan Rust |
Virtual Tour of the National Museum of the US Air Force
- submitted by Rob Hemmett.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the service's national institution for preserving and presenting the Air Force story. Each year more than one million visitors come to the museum to learn about the mission, history and evolving capabilities of America's Air Force. The museum is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum featuring more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display amid more than 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. Thousands of personal artifacts, photographs and documents further highlight the people and events that comprise the Air Force storyline, from the beginnings of military flight to today's war on terrorism. Below we have a link to Virtual Tour of the Museum which is very well done. For those of you that would like to visit the museum but can't, this is the next best thing!
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| Click on image for Virtual Tour |
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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. |
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Issue dated - May 1982
LGathered from the "PWA Flightlines" magazine -
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 On the occasion of the retirement of Captain Bob Hayes, a good turnout of staff were there to greet him on Flight 302, April 18, 1982.
Pictured left to right, F/O Bob MacPherson, F/O Jamie Mitchell, Capt. Dennis Mockford, Capt. Gordon MacKenzie, Capt. Hazen Clarkson, Check Capt. David Geekie, Capt. Rick Simons, F/A Brenda McLean, Capt. Glen Delaney, F/O Ken Wichers, Capt. Clare Evans, Capt. Gord Russell and Capt. Terry Champion.
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 Graduating Reservations class held at the Winnipeg Training Centre
Left to right: Brent Lobson, Jeff Hornsby, Richard Clark, Rick Shawcross, Ray Ross
Front row: Richard Zilke . Rick Gustafson (Instructor), Drew Hanson, and Andy Boyce.
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 Left to right, back row: Lawson Hewlett, Greg Amborsky, Doug Taylor, Boris Konowaichuk, and Bobw: Lee Chan (Instructor), Carol Robinson, April Morrison, Lisa Graceffo, and Al Karlenzig.
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| 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.
Pam Ashton sent us this information -
Hello, I am Milt Ashtons (founder of Trans Air with his partner Roy Brown) granddaughter and fell upon your page quite by accident! Very nice. If anyone would like to contact me and talk about Transair's beginnings I would be more than happy to hear from you! Thank You, Pam Ashton This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In NetLetter nr 1172 under "Odds and Ends" was an article regarding the " Greenest Airlines". Brian Walsh has kindly dug out a web site with complete details -"The stats are divided into three categories by length of flight <800 km 800-3800 km >3800 km AC is 47th overall. In the three categories AC ranks: 46th 50th 21st Here is the link to the details of all airlines: http://cdn.atmosfair.de/atmosfair_Airline_Index_2011_en.pdf Cheers, Brian Walsh, Victoria
Carol Vickers had her memory cells prompted by the photo in NetLetter 1171, and shares the memories with us. Thank you so much for keeping us informed of current news and sharing memories with us. Yes, I remember the 'Planemate' first introduced at YYZ in 1973 as 'mobile lounges' but were shortly thereafter referred to as the now known 'planemates.' I was the first Customer Sales and Service Agent chosen to introduce them to the first plane load of passengers disembarking here to be transferred to Terminal II. In attendance was our Sales Duty Manager (the late) Barbara Martin and Ramp Supervisor Bill Albers. There may have been The Airport Manager (perhaps Dave Taylor) but I don't recall.
I was a bit nervous as I was assigned with little preparation time. However, once my welcome message started it was full of enthusiasm and well received. The passengers applauded and Management complimented me so I guess I did okay. Our guests seemed rather pleased to be aboard our first transfer from aircraft to terminal in our newly introduced 'Mobile Lounge.'
With the royal tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge currently taking place, I'd also like to relate the following memory of Prince William's birth...
I was working a flight departure in a Terminal II lounge the day Prince William was born. When the news came up on the computer from the STOC Centre, I made a public announcement within the lounge area that Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles were the proud parents of a new baby son. It pleased me that I had chosen to do so as all of our passengers applauded. Thanks for the memories! Regards, Carol Vickers (formerly Carol Yates then Carol Colamatto - now my maiden name) Bolton, ON
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Odds & Ends - Compiled by Terry Baker
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 In the market for a new set of wheels? Here is the latest list prices issued for Airbus. A318 - $65.2 A319 - $77.7 A320 - $85.0 A321 - $99.7 A330-200 - $200.8 A330-200F - $203.6 A330-300 -$222.5 A350-800 - $236.6 A380-800 - $375.3 Did we mention the currency is US$, but then the exchange rate with CA$ is in our favour, Oh and the prices are in millions. Discounts are available for bulk purchases though. Worlds busiest airport with passenger traffic -
- 2009 - Atlanta, Heathrow, Beijing, Chicago
- 2010 - Atlanta, Beijing, Chicago, Heathrow.
No Canadian airport for either year in the top 30.
Worlds busiest airport with traffic movement -
- 2009 - Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas FW, Denver
- 2010 - Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas FW, Los Angeles.
Toronto in at number 18, up from 20 in 2009.
(Source Arliner World June)
July 22 , 2011 marks the 80th anniversary of YVR.
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July 22, 2011 marks the 80th anniversary of YVR.
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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| Terry Baker |
ACV Summer Specials: great deals. Be sure to check out ACV's specials for travel this summer. Remember, ACV packages feature confirmed air (no stand-by worries!) and hotel. More information can be obtained on the Portal > Employee Discounts, or on ACV's employee site, accessible via the Portal > My Travel > Employee Travel > ACV Vacations.
For those of you who are train buffs -
Ed Mitchell ex Air Canada retiree from LHR who now resides in Pretoria, South Africa, works for Rovos Rail
and if you would like to experience an affordable 3-day journey from Pretoria to Capetown, Durban, or Victoria Falls, then email him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.and he will be able, space permitting, to offer you an AD50 on these routes. Rates include transportation in a spacious luxury suite, the 24-hour services of your personal butler, all gourmet meals and snacks, premium alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, and of course all off-train tours.
(source UK Pionairs newsletter 231 July 2011)
Travel insurance now needed for some European countries
If you're traveling to Europe this summer, Canadians are being urged to carry proof of travel insurance. Several European countries now require proof of travel insurance from visitors. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) website lists medical insurance requirements under Entry/Exit Requirements of each country's page. Requirements can change on a regular basis so travelers are advised to consult the site before booking their travel.
Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine as specifically requiring Canadian citizens to be prepared-in some cases required-to show proof of medical coverage while visiting. Not only do these countries require proof of insurance, but they may also state a minimum coverage requirement
ZED E-Ticketing will be available for Royal Jordanian (RJ) as of Monday, July 11th. Paperless ZED E-tickets will be available on the Employee Travel Site for Royal Jordanian (RJ). The other carriers that currently accept ZED e-tickets are: Air Creebec (YN), Bearskin Airlines (JV), British Airways (BA), British Midland (BD), Brussels Airlines (SN), Canadian North (5T), Central Mountain Air (9M), First Air (7F), South African (SA), Swiss (LX), Qatar (QR), United Airlines (UA), US Airways (US) and Virgin Atlantic (VS).
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Smileys - Compiled by Terry Baker
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As we surf the internet and back issues of airline magazines we regularly find airline related jokes and cartoons. Below is our latest discovery.
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 Garnered from "Between Ourselves" issued January 15th 1956. |
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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.
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We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
Sincerely,
Your NetLetter Team
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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.
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