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This, the final in a series, appeared in the "Horizons" magazine issue dated July 1996. Life as a Con by Annette Malvar. For years I refused to travel anywhere on a pass during high season. Call me a chicken, but the thought of trying to get on a very full and very oversold flight is not my idea of fun. Two years ago, I finally had to give in because my grandmother, who lives on another continent, was celebrating her 85th birthday at the beginning of August. Of course, I had to go. My delight at travelling during the high season was doubled because I also had to get my mother on the flight. My mother was oblivious to the strain I was under on that particular day. She dutifully stood beside me and placed all her trust in me. The innocence of it all. Little did she know that the particular flight we were listed on was jam-packed and the con list was as long as my arm. My mother and I, of course, had the lowest priority of the group. If you look up the word "stress" in the dictionary, I honestly believe there should be a picture of a group of cons standing at the 'stand-by desk' in Toronto, all intently listening to the machine gun fire sound of the boarding pass printer. I remember staring at the printed con list I had and counting the boarding passes being printed out. There were 22 cons and only 20 passes shot out. We couldn't get on a flight anywhere that night, and I'll never forget the stunned look on my mother's face as I gingerly led her back to my apartment. I tried to explain the theory of full flights and more senior staff to her, but I don't think she was ever really able to grasp the concept. So, as Air Canada's high season starts, I wish all of you much patience and good luck in your travels! |
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Norm Foster shares another of his memories - We had just levelled off at our cruising altitude of 31,000 feet. The route from Los Angeles to Toronto was clear and the forecast was for a smooth ride. I was in command of the amazing B-747 and was enjoying the ride. Still in the era when visits to the flight deck were allowed, it was rather routine when the in-charge-flight attendant came to me with a request for a visit by one of our First Class passengers. Although not always able to accommodate such requests, this one came with the caveat that the passenger was Wayne Gretzky’s personal manager. Intrigued, I agreed and a few minutes later he was escorted onto the flight deck. Pleasant conversation followed and after about 10 minutes the question came! Could Wayne come up for a visit? I found it humorous when it finally dawned on me that I had just undergone an interview.......and I had passed! Wayne soon replaced his manager on the flight deck and unnecessarily introduced himself. Twisting fully around in my seat to face him, and with firm directions to my 2 other crew members that “You have control!” I spent the next 2 hours in a one on one conversation with 'The Great One'. Inasmuch that this occurred over 30 years ago, I have long forgotten most of the conversation. I do recall that he mentioned that he went barefoot in his skates. Also, he shared his skate size with a good friend, who first wore Wayne’s new skates for a break-in period before sending them on game ready. He also repeated a statement made previously that you would never catch him bragging about a goal but he would talk all you want about his assists. Time flew by and as we neared Toronto, when Wayne began writing something on a piece of paper, “ Do you ever get to spend any free time in L.A.?” he asked, as he handed me the paper. It contained 2 phone numbers and he explained that I was invited to a morning pre-game skate and then the evening game any time I could make it....as his guest. The numbers were his manager’s, who would take care of all arrangements. As he rose to leave, he paused for a moment before requesting the paper back, and added another number. “That’s my number. If you have any problem, call me” and with that he was gone. Cleaning out my flight bag a few years later when I retired, I smiled as I came across Wayne’s note. He had long since moved to St. Louis and then New York, and I had never taken him up on his offer; spending 2 hours one-on-one with a hockey God was enough! Epilogue: Editors' Note: When we asked Norm if he took a photo, this was his response – “Sorry, but that was pre iPhone days and I never thought to carry a camera, Norm”. |
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United Airlines says it will train 5,000 pilots over the next 10 years at its own Arizona flight academy and half of the graduates will be women and people of colour. The airline bought Westwind School of Aeronautics in Phoenix last fall and is turning it into its own private pipeline to fill its cockpits. Many of the candidates will enter the academy with no flight experience and possibly be in the right seat of its single-aisle aircraft in five years. United says it will continue to hire from its traditional sources, like the military and from charter and cargo airlines, but academy grads will be groomed from 'Day One' to be airline pilots. Source: avweb.com/aviation-news |
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Answer for the mystery airline in 'Odds and Ends'. All Nippon Airways' (ANA) Pokémon-themed flights, on a Boeing 747, were introduced in 1998 to delight the young and young at heart. On ANA Pokémon Jets, cabin attendants wore Pokémon Jet Aprons to welcome you aboard, and the ANA Pokémon Jet theme appeared on headrest covers and paper cups. Photo from commons.wikimedia.org |
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During the recent ZOOM session with the UK Pionairs group, members related some stories about using the helicopter service between London Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick airport (LGW). The service, operated by Airlink, was the brand name of a helicopter shuttle service which ran between London's two main airports, Gatwick and Heathrow, between 1978 and 1986. Operated jointly by British Caledonian Airways and British Airways Helicopters using a Sikorsky S-61 owned by the British Airports Authority, the "curious and unique operation" connected the rapidly growing airports in the years before the M25 motorway existed. This photo shows the Airlink shuttle Sikorsky S-61N G-LINK arriving by the old South Pier at Gatwick sometime in the mid 1980's. Previously this service was flown using Westward Airways twin-engined BN-2A Islanders but as the passenger and baggage loads increased the S-61N was used. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airlink_(helicopter_shuttle_service) |
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Here is an aerial view of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) 2021. |
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Carolyn Kennedy Payer posted this variation of a classic joke on the CP Air Facebook web site -
Qantas Airways: Repair Division
Remember, it takes a College Degree to fly a plane but only a High School Diploma to fix one.
After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a 'Gripe Sheet' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the Gripe Sheets before the next flight.
Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humour. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.
- P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
- S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.
- P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
- S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
- P: Something loose in cockpit.
- S: Something tightened in cockpit.
- P: Dead bugs on windshield.
- S: Live bugs on back-order.
- P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
- S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
- P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
- S: Evidence removed.
- P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
- S: DME volume set to more believable level.
- P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
- S: That's what friction locks are for.
- P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
- S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
- P: Suspected crack in windshield.
- S: Suspect you're right.
- P: Number 3 engine missing.
- S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
- P: Aircraft handles funny; (I love this one!)
- S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
- P: Target radar hums.
- S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
- P: Mouse in cockpit.
- S: Cat installed.
And the best one for last!
- P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
- S: Took hammer away from midget.
Editors' Note:
There are numerous variations of this list on the internet.
A non-airline specific version can be found at:
aviationhumor.net/pilots-vs-maintenance-engineers
 Name this airline – answer in Terry's Trivia below. |
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Flying Motorcycle.
Drawings show a heavily faired gas engine-powered motorcycle with conventional throttle, clutch and front-brake controls on its handlebars. It also shows a piggyback airframe component with a pair of wings folded back against the side of the fuselage, each with a propeller driven by five electric motors. Source: www.avweb.com/aviation-news |
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Flying drone.
The first ten aircraft, which will be used to support the company’s small and mid-size markets, are scheduled to begin arriving in 2024. UPS says it has also reserved Beta’s recharging station and intends to land the eVTOLs on-property at its facilities. Beta’s Alia-250 prototype completed its first interstate flight last month, travelling from the company’s test facility in Plattsburgh, New York, to its headquarters in Burlington, Vermont. The Alia-250 is expected to have a cruise speed of up to 170 MPH, 250-mile range, cargo capacity of 1,400 pounds and recharge time of 50 minutes. The single-pilot eVTOL was designed to eventually operate autonomously “as technologies and regulations are established.” Source: www.avweb.com/recent-updates |
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Based out of Thunder Bay, Timmins and Sudbury, we service almost all airports in Ontario and surrounding areas with frequent and reliable flights. We are one of the largest Medical Transfer contractors for ORNGE (Ontario Ministry of Health) and supply charter air service to many organizations in Ontario. We also operate scheduled passenger service to the coast of James Bay, from our Timmins base. Source: thunderair.com/company-history |
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Larry Milberry of Canavbooks sends us his list of aviation books available. The big deal for your people probably is an autographed set of Air Transport in Canada at $65 all-in vs the normal $155++.
Here are 4 titles about some of our favourite topics – bush flying (Austin Airways), the DC-3 (RCAF, aircraft restoration, etc.), RCAF fighters, and Canada in WWII. The Gordon Mitchell book is a real gem in case you already have our own Austin Airways: Canada’s Oldest Airline. Dakota #12253 combines all the valuable info with prize-winning book design. Also … check down below for the best offer you’ll ever see for an autographed set of Air Transport in Canada. Full list at www.canavbooks.wordpress.com |
