The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
November 3, 2012 - Issue 1228
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First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
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NetLetter Past Issues
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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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Sponsors
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Greetings!
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Welcome to the NetLetter!
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!
Terry Baker and the NetLetter Team
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| Our First 75 Years - Compiled by Terry Baker |
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From the Collector's edition and Souvenir copy of "enRoute" magazine.
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Front covers of "Between Ourselves" magazine issue #46, Jan. 1947 through #56, Dec. 1947. |
1974 - July 24th - Airtransit commenced operations between YUL-YOW.
1977 - April 16th - First trans-Atlantic crossing of our L1011-100 aircraft from St. John's Newfoundland to London, England.
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| Air Canada News |
 AAR signed a letter of intent with Air Canada to provide scheduled airframe maintenance and modifications on the carrier's Airbus A320 series aircraft. |
| Women in Aviation - Compiled by Terry Baker |
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 On October 15, 1936 "The Flying Seven", Canada's first all female flying club was established.
The Flying Seven were a pioneer group of elite aviatrixes who together formed the first all-female flying club. The aviation-minded women met in Vancouver and, when they were unable to join the American 99s, they established their own group that promoted womens place in aviation through air shows and competitions.
More information and related web sites are listed on the Canadian Aviation Historical Society website www.cahs.ca and refer to newsletter nr 24. Better yet, why not join the society and get an email newsletter at every issue.
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| Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker |
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 Reader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below have been submitted to us by our faithful readers.
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 Juanita (Scott) Ollivier has sent us these three photos c1953 of TCA staff at Toronto - A hat party. Unfortunately no names available.
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 Here we have the "Dog watch" at the Space Indicator board. Keith Noble is identified third from the left wearing glasses and Juanita is on the phone at the right. |
 This group is in front of the Space Indicator board. Juanita is on the right showing a high heel, and Keith Noble is on the top left wearing glasses. We have no other names.
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| TCA/Air Canada People Gallery - Compiled by Terry Baker |
 Below we have musings from the "Between Ourselves" and "Horizons" magazine, Air Canada publications from years gone by, as well as various in-house publications. The NetLetter has been fortunate enough to have our readers donate vintage Trans-Canada Air Lines and Air Canada publications from as far back as 1941 to share with you. These have been scanned and are being prepared for presenting in a special area of the ACFamily Network for archival and genealogy research.
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 TCA Card given to HC Stone on Flt #3 of the Viscount 31/03/55. (source www.acfamily.net) |
 Reverse of Card for Flight #3 TCA Viscount to HC Stone signed by G.R. McGregor.
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Issue dated - February 1945
From the "Between Ourselves" magazines -
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 Questions are being asked about the trophy in the glass case in the passenger waiting room at Winnipeg airport. The explanation is that the trophy is a replica of the McKee Trophy, the nations highest aviation award. The reason it was residing on TCA property was because the trophy was awarded to all T.C.A. personnel way back in 1938 because they built a great transcontinental airline. It was the first mass award of the trophy made. (Our question is - Where is the replica today? Anyone? - eds)
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Issue dated - April 1947
From the "Between Ourselves" magazines -
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 During 1946, Gordon Morgan, Maintenance Department in Toronto, concocted a plan to enable interested employees at Malton to learn to fly by forming their own club.
Initial membership fee was $2.00 which included flight instruction, ground school training in Meteorology, engines and radio. Dual instruction for $8.00 per hour and $6.00 for solo time. Here is a photo of the first ground school.
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And a photo of some of the flying clubs executive members.
Left to right: Walt Bailey, President; Les Baxter, Instructor; Mr. Dingwall, D.O.T., Honorary Vice-President; Ruth Mossop, Secretary; Jim Gehlsen, Station Manager; Hank Henderson, Treasurer.
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 This is a photo of the Eastern Control staff in 1947.
Front Row: F. Spencer, W. Hynes, K. Alain, A. Smith, J. Duprey, W. Foote, B. MacLeod, M. MacKay, J. Deyman. Second Row: D. McMaster, E. Brown (BU), J. Misener (MI), M, Deal (MU), B. MacConnell, P. J. Laurence (Pl.), A. Depres (BQ), P. Cornelius (CU). Third Row: R. Goldman, C. Manolopoulos, J. Ewell (EQ), A. Lanceleve (AE), T. Olsen (TH), G. Vincent (GV), P. Hamiilon, F. Macklin (HL).
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 This is the Victoria, B.C. staff in 1947.
Back row (standing), left to right: Jim McIvor, Dick Whittall, Bill Rourke, Paddy Lanigan, Curley Pettis, Ernie Mitchell, Pete Turecki, Ted Booth, Lorne Ross, Brad Bradley. Front row: R. I. Williams (CTM), Jim Finlay, Bruce McDonald, Phyl Smith, Velma Gilson, Barb Heim, Marian Aitken, Deidre Jardine, Dora Mainwaring, Dorothy Sparshatt, Jeannie Price. Absent when this picture was taken were: Robbie Arklie, Jack MacLeo and Bill MacNutt.
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Issue dated - March 1976
From the "Horizons" magazine -
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 Passengers have just disembarked from this North Star at Orly Airport following the first scheduled flight between Montreal and Paris in the spring of 1951. Initially, a stop was made at London, England and in the spring of 1958, non-stop service was introduced.
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 So you think you've got troubles! After a hard day of coffee breaks and discussions about various sports at work, this was the scene at the Dorval Base parking lot the day after the big storm of February 2, 1976. While there have been heavier snowfalls in the past, the wind was the troublemaker, piling drifts in all the wrong places. Oh well, spring was just around the corner. This photo by Peter Blyth.
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| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
 Endeaver's Last Flight - submitted by Gord Swanson Space shuttle Endeavour ended its flight career Sept. 21 as it toured California on the back of NASA's modified 747 carrier aircraft, landing at Los Angeles International Airport after its final ferry flight into history.
The four-hour, 34-minute flight began at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base Friday morning, and over the ensuing hours the piggyback pair made low-level flybys over scores of California cities and landmarks, many of which had direct ties to NASA's Space Shuttle Program over the past 40 years.
Shuttle Carrier Aircraft pilots Jeff Moultrie and Bill Rieke, both from NASA's Johnson Space Center, guided the big 747 carrying Endeavour over such landmarks as the State Capitol in Sacramento, the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field north of San Jose during their swing through Northern California.
After passing by Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California coast, they then entered the Los Angeles area, making passes - sometimes several - over such landmarks as Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign, Dodger Stadium, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Malibu and Santa Monica, Disneyland, The Queen Mary and USS Iowa in Long Beach harbor, and several low-level flyovers over Los Angeles International Airport before touching down on Runway 25L at 12:51 p.m. PDT.
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Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker
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 News and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and its "ancestry" of contributing airlines. |
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Issue dated - January 1993
Items from the "Info Canadi>n" magazine -
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 In an effort to reduce the cost of telephone use, the company had a test in the magazine to bring the problem to the attention of employees, with suggestions of how to reduce costs. Here is a photo of Pat Shuflak and Mollie Brand holding up the phone bill for the year 1992.
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Across the top of the planet was an article about flying to the Orient over Russian territory. More Russian controllers would have to learn English, in this regard Canadi>n helped out by sponsoring a program at the University of Alaska where Russian controllers attend to learn English. Also, much of the communications equipment was outdated and the Russians hoped foreign airlines would help pay for the upgrades needed.
Northwest Airlines was the first carrier to fly over Siberia on an experimental basis having received permission after volunteering a B-747 aircraft to test whether the satellites of Russian and American navigation systems would work together.
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 The Toronto-Calgary flight on November 30 carried an excited group of passengers- the Calgary Stampeders. They had just defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to capture the Canadian Football League championship. Canadian Airlines is the official carrier of the Calgary Stampeder Football team. In this photo, Captain Allan Winks, left, and first officer Bob Connell had a pose with the Stamps' prized trophy, the Grey Cup. |
 Also sharing in the excitement were flight attendants, from left: Michelle Viala, Trish Mitchell, and Holly Millar, all from Toronto.
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Issue dated - August 1980
Items from the "CPAir NEWS" magazine -
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September 15th 1980 saw the introduction of "The Company Jet", CP Air's unique business service between Montreal and Toronto. The interior of B-737 fin 706 was redesigned to accommodate 68 passengers instead of the normal 112 on regular flights. The centre seat folded down to form a table.
During 1992, CP Air operated 22 refugee charters from Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur taking the passengers to Edmonton and Montreal.
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 Res office staffers at Winnipeg include, front row from left: Leslie Morlock, Janice Lobson, Bruce Burr and Sandra Whillans. In the middle of photo, from left: Sarah Hardy, Susan Butcher, Debbie Campbell, John McTavish, Cathy Holmes, Susan Machnik and Kathryn Whillans-Dugas. In background is Aileen Fiddler, while Evelyn Yates is seated nearest the back wall. The office handled about 38,000 calls monthly from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the north central U.S.
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 Reservation office secretary Sandy Hezeldine practices a bit of legerdemain, while in the background, left to right, are: supervisor Don Thompson, manager Eric Scher and supervisor Carole Anderson.
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 The better the letter the quicker the sale, so Amy and Doreen type tops for Dale! Amy Burr, left, and Doreen Carpenter with city manager Wayne Dale.
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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.
Here is the conclusion to the ghost story by Bernie McCormack which we started in NetLetter nr 1227:
I climbed through the crash restraining web, pulled the curtain aside stepping up on to the flight deck, closed the curtain behind me and set myself up in my seat again, "I have control" I said to Buck and began to prepare myself for the descent. "Do you remember" I asked him, "the story of the F/O".... and then recounted the story of the lights out happening. He certainly did and in fact knew both pilots quite well. The First Officer had been more than a little frightened and in fact required some time off and professional counseling. I told him that because of that story, I had taken my own light and then mentioned how it had appeared that the crate had an individual's name on it, which I didn't wish to read. It was located just behind our curtain and I wouldn't be too comfortable if it had any dimensions. We agreed that the other crew's story was pretty scary and just a little stupid. We both fell silent contemplating the whole episode and I began the descent.
I disconnected the autopilot, began to pull the throttles back causing us to surge foreword into our seat belts as the four large propellers stopped pulling us and began to drag like large paddles in the supporting air. I pushed the nose down with the control wheel in order to maintain our airspeed, pulled back farther on the throttles and what had been a pleasant reassuring roar of the Rolls Royce Merlin engines became almost silent except for the rushing air over the fuselage. We continued our thoughts in almost silent darkness when directly behind us, behind the curtain and restraining net came a loud THUMP... thump... thump.
A shot of fright went up my back, caused the hair on my neck to stand up and I slowly turned my gaze over toward the Captain looking for some explanation. His head was slowly rotating towards me, his eyes noticeably wider. "What was that?" We waited for a few moments to find out whether there would be any other sounds and then as a good F/O does, I volunteered to "have a look". This time I put all the lights on and slowly, fearfully slid the curtain open. My eyes went immediately to the crated coffin, tag and all [I don't know what I expected to see], then down the walkway to the back of the cabin, then I lowered my gaze down to the aluminum floor. There it was lying just ahead of the step, it was a... the... fire extinguisher?! The large metal cased extinguisher normally mounted on the wall above, had dislodged during the deceleration and bounced on the floor. What a relief, our laughter was just a little forced. We were quite busy over the next 30 minutes, a welcome distraction, and our thoughts were dominated by our communication with Air Traffic Control, repeating clearances, calculating our descent rate and adjusting it to allow us to continue with minimal power up and power downs, planning for the landing runway, tuning in radios on the approach frequencies, flap selections, cockpit check, gear down and then the landing and taxi into the cargo terminal.
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Odds and Ends.
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 Sometimes we receive articles and information that just doesn't fit in our other areas. This is where it goes!
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In the "Daily" issued October 24th was this article:
German Beer brought to you by Air Canada Cargo! A wide array of items gets shipped as cargo, making the air freight industry the invisible force behind so many aspects of our daily lives. This week, Air Canada Cargo shipped over 21,000 kg of hops extract from Washington State to Nuremberg, Germany.
(We had on hand some photos sent to us by Stephen Elmy under a banner "Beer carrying Spitfires during WWII". We thought an alternative method of shipping this life support commodity may be of interest. eds)
During the war, the Heneger and Constable Brewery donated free beer to the troops. After D-Day, supplying the invasion troops in Normandy with vital supplies was already a challenge. Obviously, there was no room in the logistics chain of such luxuries as beer or other types of refreshments. Some men, often called sourcers, were able to get wine or other niceties from the land or rather from the locals. RAF Spitfire pilots came up with an even better idea.
 
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From the "Horizons" issued February 1976 -
Concorde Takes Off
January 21, 1976 was a special day in aviation circles. Two supersonic Concorde airliners took off simultaneously at London and Paris bound for destinations on opposite sides of the globe, amid increasing controversy over acceptability of their noise level. "The day of glory has arrived," proclaimed Air France and British Airways, the only airlines to order the 100-seat Concorde jets designed to fly at twice the speed of sound.
The British aircraft made the 3,515-mile London Bahrain flight in three hours, 46 minutes, a saving of two hours. The French jet completed the 5,260-mile trip to Rio de Janeiro, with a refueling stop at Dakar, Senegal, in seven hours, 27 minutes a saving of four hours, 33 minutes.
The plane, each carrying a full passenger load, 12 crew members and a dazzling array of gastronomic delicacies, took off to the sound of a band playing, champagne corks popping and onlookers cheering. Some members of the audience were not cheering. Anti-Concorde campaigners set up noise measuring posts at six points under the British aircraft's flight path while in Paris, members of the Terre de I'homme (man's earth) organization distributed leaflets condemning Concorde as an environmental threat and a financial fiasco.
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The following is news of the next meeting of the Montreal Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society.
Ron Pickler will speak at the November 15th meeting of the Montréal Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, about his time as a bomber pilot with the Royal Air Force. Meeting starts at 11:00 AM and is at the Royal Canadian Legion, 365 St. Louis Ave., in Pointe Claire. Voluntary contribution of $5.00 is requested to cover the light lunch provided. Anyone interested in the history of civil or military aviation is welcome. For further information call 514-481-8786.
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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 Proposed fees for Canadian passports are 10 year version ca$160 and 5 year version ca$120. This is to come into effect when the new ePassport is adopted in the spring of 2013.
ePassports:
Starting in the spring of 2013, all new Canadian passports issued will be electronic passports, or ePassports. The exact date will be announced later.
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At that time, adult applicants will have the option of a 5 or 10-year ePassport for both first-time applications and renewals, while children's ePassports will be issued for a maximum of 5 years. In compliance with the recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Canada is preparing to start issuing ePassports to Canadian travelers. Considered to be the gold standard of travel documents, ePassports contain an electronic chip that enhances the passport's current security features. Some 95 countries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom, are already issuing ePassports. (source www.ppt.gc.ca)
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Each returning resident of Canada are entitled to one of the following personal exemptions based on the time absent from Canada:
- 24 hours: c$200.00. Not claimable if goods exceed c$200.00 Alcohol and tobacco cannot be claimed.
- 48 hours: c$800.00. This includes alcohol and tobacco within limits.
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| 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.
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 Here we have this cartoon by Dave Mathias which appeared in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued October 1943.
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The NetLetter is an email newsletter published (usually) once a week 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 welcome your feedback 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!
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
Sincerely,
Your NetLetter Team
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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.
E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted) - The historical information as well as any other information provided here is subject to correction and may have changed over time. We do publish corrections when they are brought to our attention.
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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
- Stewardess - Lisa Ruck, Brooklin, 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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