Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Our 'Featured Videos' are of a group of flights of a variety of aircraft landing at Antarctica on a  'Blue ice runway'.

The first video is posted by Hi Fly Airline of their A340, registration 9H-SOL, in 'C24 / Preighter' configuration landing on a flight from Cape Town on November 2, 2021. 

A 'Preighter', also known as cargo in cabin, is an aircraft originally intended to carry passengers but which is operated temporarily as a cargo aircraft by loading freight in the passenger cabin. This flight was carrying supplies for a seasonal 'adventure tourism' operation. 

Our second video, posted by Extreme Aviation Iceland, is of an Icelandair Boeing 767-300ER landing and departing at 'Troll' ice runway in Antarctica in January 2022.

Our third video is a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Czech Republic-based Smartwings (now the largest Czech airline) landing and taking off January 26, 2022, also at the 'Troll' ice runway, serving the Norwegian research base. 

Toronto's International Terminal - New Concept in Service Efficiency

No longer does Toronto International Airport mean a crowded clapboard terminal and long walks through draughty sheet metal corridors. Instead, there are tunnels under the aircraft ramp, a circular 'Aeroquay', a sunken plaza, a three-legged control tower, reflecting pools, treed interior courts and $150,000 worth of fine art from Eskimo route markers to a Riopelle mural.

But underneath the glamour there is efficiency and functionalism according to a master plan. Everything not directly connected with travellers has been taken out of the terminal and moved into specialized buildings. 

The terminal is reached via a tunnel under the aircraft ramp and aeroquay. Emerging from the tunnel, motorists have a choice of ramps leading to the departures lobby, the arrivals lobby, short-term parking or the parking garage. 

Open observation decks (left) for visitors or passengers are located between the departure rooms on the second floor of the aeroquay. Facilities and equipment for the servicing company aircraft are located under the observation decks (left) in the aeroquay.

The Air Canada Story

DVD available for purchase.

For a six month period, the 'Wings Over Canada' crew was given unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Air Canada. The result would be a first-ever one-hour TV documentary on the history and future of Canada’s oldest and largest airline.

$18.95 CAD for 1 DVD at $18.95, $14.99 for employees of Air Canada (AC) plus shipping & handling (plus applicable taxes). 

Source: wingsovercanada.ca/store_special

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated December 1999

Last flight.

On July 10, 1999 Captain Stirling Lush flew his last overseas flight, AC876, to Frankfurt. For the celebration, the crew decorated the galley.

Back row, left to right: In-Charge Flight Attendant Paul Escott; Flight Attendants Monica Chang, Simona Staronova, Lisa Lacroix, Sophie Palanbo, Diana Christie, Christiane Fehr, Hilary Bell, Genny Fraser, Jennifer Ferguson and Ahmad Elkadir.

Front row, left to right: First Officer Rob McCrimmon and Captain Stirling Lush.

Finance's Interline Accounting in Winnipeg celebrated Halloween on October 29, 1999 with costumes and a smorgasbord.

Back row, left to right: Finance Agents Kathy Kristjansson, Chris Balzer, Cam Marshall, Marla Rochette and Garry Guttek; Manager, Refund Services, Theresa Dudar; Finance Agents Marilyn Robin, Victor Nhan, Karen Dugan and Lorraine Strelezik.

Front row, left to right: Finance Agents Cheryl Santilli, Joanne Feldvari, Marina Paterson, Kim Jolicoeur and Terri Van Nest.

Also, in celebration of Halloween on the same day, much fun was had by all at the Toronto Call Centre.

The best costume winner was Pauline Hodge.

Back row, left to right: Customer Sales & Service Agents Pauline Hodge, Lynne Kirton, Chloe Moreira and Alan Harris.

Middle row, left to right: Customer Sales & Service Agents Jennifer Castellino and Lesley Huether; Call Center Coach Counsellor Mary Manni; Customer Sales & Service Agents Audrey Dedombal, Michele Dedombal, Sheila Kavanaugh, Mark Kossecki and Sean Kinsella.

Front row, left to right: Call Center Coach Counsellors Charlene Shaw, Colleen Sauson and Guylaine Luchman; Customer Sales & Service Agents Diane Knoefel and Carla Cameron. 

Issue dated September 2000

Commissary employees and retirees get together.

On June 24, 2000 active and retired employees, some travelling from Victoria, Kelowna, and Toronto gathered for a BBQ and lawn party at the Benson cabin in Libau, Manitoba to reminisce.

They renewed old acquaintances and shared memories of their time together. A donation on behalf of the group was made to 'Dreams Take Flight'.

Back row, left to right: K. Batt, J. Hreckosy, D. Hamm, B. Pawlyk, K. Watson, B. Alexander and M. Benson.

Middle row, left to right: M. Jarvis, P. Tilbrook, R. Picken, B. Waugh, T. Rutherford, M. MacDonald, B. Ewanika and D. Hannaford.

Front row, left to right: D. Shute, C. McCarthy, W. Steiner, M. Livingstone, C. Homeniuk and D. Mikalajek.

Welkom to Amsterdam.

Flight AC838 links Canada and the Netherlands.

On July 3, 2000 Air Canada launched daily non stop Boeing 767-200 service between Toronto and Amsterdam, Europe's fourth largest travel market. To mark the occasion, renowned diamond cutters from Amsterdam and New York were on hand to certify that 'seeing is believing'.

Before boarding the flight, customers were offered a glass of champagne. Each glass contained a stone, in fact each contained either a cubic zirconia or a diamond. Our experts certified that two stones were diamonds and the rest were cubic zirconia. Two lucky customers boarded our flight with the real thing; authentic quarter carat diamonds, certified by our experts. 

Pictured, left to right: Captain Bob Adamson; Jan Zandboer, President, Netherlands Board of Tourism; Carrie McPhadden, In-Charge Flight Attendant; Guy Lesser of Gassan Diamonds; Steve Markey, Vice President, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs and Captain James Guild.

Here we have a pictorial of historic Wardair fleet.

Source: Air Canada 75th anniversary book.

Bristol Freighter CF-TFX Wardair.

In 1957, Max Ward bought this sturdy Bristol Freighter for his airline based in Yellowknife, to attract freight business from mining and oil companies.

The aircraft later made history, on May 6, 1967, by being the first wheeled aircraft to land at the North Pole flying out of Alert, Nunavut (then Northwest Territories) in support of a scientific expedition.

The following year, it was donated to the city and made into a monument near the eastern end of the airport, honoring Canadian bush pilots.

Source: AirHistory.net

Pictured below: Edmonton airport scene c.1960 showing Wardair’s Bristol Freighter CF-TFX loading a Bell 47.

Happily, “TFX” eventually was saved for posterity. Today, it flies on forever atop its pylon at Yellowknife. 

Source: Larry Milberry blog at www.canavbooks.wordpress.com

From 'InfoCanadi>n' magazine.

Issue dated August 20, 1987

Canadi>n Partners say hello!

All of the employees of Ontario Express Ltd., our Canadi>n Partner airline in Ontario, were on hand for this photo which recently appeared in a Toronto newspaper.

Part of the company's Jetstream 31 fleet is positioned in the background. The company began operations on July 15, 1987.

Issue dated June 16, 1988

New jet-prop on Ontario routes

Canadi>n Partner began ATR-42 operations to Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie, Pittsburgh and Toronto on June 8, 1988.

Expansion due to the $155 million order for eight 48-seat ATRs, built by the partnership of Aeritalia and Aerospatiale, has boosted Canadi>n Partner's employee list to 189 people.

Sault Ste. Marie service will complement Canadi>n's jet operations to Toronto. For Windsor and Pittsburgh, introduction of the ATR-42 will provide additional seating on prime business flights.