Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

 

 

A reminder:

 

 

Allowed Items:

Exceeding these limits may result in customs duties starting at 19% of the item’s estimated value, with some cases reporting fees as high as 200%.

 

Source: interlinetravel.com

 

 

Founded at Ottawa International by Canadian aviation pioneer Russell (Russ) Bradley and started operations as Bradley Flying School in 1946, changing the name in 1950 to Bradley Air Services, concurrent with a move to Carp Airport.

 

First Air started scheduled operations in 1973, between Ottawa and North Bay. This service was operated with an eight-seat passenger plane.

In 1995, First Air acquired Ptarmigan Airways, and in 1997 Northwest Territorial Airways (also known as NWT Air), both merged into First Air. 

In early 2015 First Air announced strategic agreements with Cargojet Airways and Summit Air. On April 21, 2015, First Air's Hercules, C-GUSI, flew the final civilian L382 flight in Canada, bringing to an end over 45 years of commercial Lockheed Hercules service.

 

L382 Hercules operations in Northern Canada were begun during the 1960's by Pacific Western Airlines.

 

Editors' Note: On September 28, 2018  Makivik Corporation and the Inuvialuit Corporate Group (ICG) signed a definitive agreement to merge Canadian North and First Air. The new airline would use the new First Air livery, but would operate under the name "Canadian North". Following government approvals, the merger transaction was completed on July 10, 2019 and the airlines began operating a combined schedule on November 1, 2019. Operations were fully merged under a single operating certificate on May 26, 2021. 

 

We asked photographer, Adrian Romang, for permission to use his photo of C-GUSI. He generously gave us permission and shared his personal memories of this aircraft. 

 

 

I keep C-GUSI in very good memory! Back in 2007 and 2008, I was in Yellowknife a few times on business and during one of those visits had the chance to ride along on C-GUSI during a supply flight to the Diavik Mine some 160 Miles Northeast of Yellowknife.

 

It was a night flight and quite impressive to say the least. The photo (above) was taken prior to that flight when the aircraft was being prepared and loaded at minus 30 degrees C.

 

Being a freelance aviation journalist and photographer, I actually wrote a report about this experience in one of the Swiss aviation magazines (unfortunately, the report is in German).

 

FYI, I'm a Swiss helicopter pilot / mechanic working as international technical manager for foundation Helimission. We operate eight AS-350 helicopters all over the world, which is why I have a chance to travel a fair bit.

 

Everything connected to Canadian aviation is of interest to me, I actually have a few Canadian friends sharing the same passion. Gary Vincent, a former Air Canada B-767 pilot is one of them. Not sure if he is on your distribution list, sometimes the aviation world is small.

 

 

Editors' Note: Gary Vincent is a NetLetter subscriber and has frequently granted his permission to use his photographs. We are happy to say that Adrian Romang has also joined our subscriber list.

 

 

Found while scrolling though the Whitehorse Star newspaper -

August 2, 1940 - A new service is being inaugurated on Yukon Southern Air Transport's twin-motored Barkley-Grow airliners operating on a twice-weekly schedule to the Yukon, the Peace River area and the British Columbia interior from Edmonton and Vancouver to Whitehorse. Beginning July 24th, the company will serve lunches to their passengers in flight.

 

 

Issue dated August 1997

 

Our Manila downtown staff.

 

Standing, left to right: Len Rivera, Sales; Joel Aquino, Sales; Bochie del Rosario, Administration; Ana Abela, Reservations; Maritte Encarnacion, CTO; Sally Pineda, Sales; Malou Dulay, Sales; Don Sarmiento, Sales; Sheila Mendiola and Anggie Tagura, Reservations and Graham Perkins, Country Manager.

 

Sitting, left to right: Sunshine Mirabueno, CTO; Sol Abelardo, CTO and Liezl Magtibay, Reservations.

 

Missing: Jep Arenas, Sales.

 

 

Eastern shuttle makes its mark.

 

Work being done by employees involved in delivery of the 'Shuttle' product seems to be paying off. The Shuttle team has forged strong relationships between mainline and Regional. Full implementation of the F28 Eastern Shuttle in May 1997 has resulted in a significant reduction of operating costs on the route.

The Shuttle Team met in Toronto to update the project plan, which was 25 per cent complete, at the time, and discussed accomplishments and issues.

 

Clockwise from left:  Val Findlay, Customer Service Manager, YYZ; Lorne Key, Project Manager, Properties & Faculties; Jim Burden, Line Maintenance, Regional; Jill Morison, Manager Shuttle/USA Marketing; Al Ross, Flight Operations, Regional; Antoinette Carnevale, Analyst, Marketing Planning & Development; John Cook, Analyst Product Planning; Paul Troyan, Analyst, Scheduling Design; Ric Bentkowski, Customer Service, Regional; Bob Robertson, Manager, Line Maintenance; Helen Donovan, Account Executive, North American Sales; Shelley Sackney, Inflight Services, Regional; Diana Ward, Media Manager, Corporate Communications; Sylvie Carrier, Customer Service YUL and Leanne MacMaster, Manager, Image and Product Design. 

 

 

Issue dated October 1997

 

Smithers, B.C. (YYD) plays host.

During 1997, flight CP560 Vancouver - Prince Rupert - Terrace - Vancouver went mechanical and made an unscheduled stop in Smithers.

After rousting the YYD staff out of bed to open up the facilities, the Flight Attendants used the airport cafeteria for a galley and served up eats for the stranded passengers.

 

From the left, back row: First Officer Larry Bingham and Captain Mike Wilson.

 

Front row, Flight Attendants Gillian Robertson, Fred Hofer, Linda Edwards and Lea Stout.

 

The Canadian Flyer magazine thanked Gillian Robertson for submitting the photo.

 

 

Terrace employees raised $1,400 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation the summer of 1997 in the annual Big Bike Race. Customer Service Agents, Ramp Handlers and their spouses raised a minimum of $60 each.

 

Top fundraiser was Anna Blazosek, who raised $450. The team included Customer Service Agents Donna Folmer, Yvonne Workman, Diane Moroskat, Jacquie Terpstra, Doreen Goodwin, Debbie Minhinnick, Anna Blazosek and team organizer, Gail Morrison.

 

IAM members are Jutta Smeltzer, Ernie Hidber, Jason Elis, Andrew Simpson and Norm Stack. The challenge went out to other bases to participate in next year's event.

 

 

Issue dated November 1997

 

Canadian North managers plan for the future.

Managers from Canadian North gathered in Kelowna for their annual management seminar. Because of the isolation and distance between northern bases and management in the South, the seminar is an excellent opportunity for team-building, sharing successes and concerns and addressing specific northern issues.

 

Front row, left to right: Glenda Hayes, Pricing & Yield Management, DEW; Val Gibson, Sales Rep NWT/Alberta, YZF; Mary Dewar, Secretary, YZF; Bob Davies, Regional Manager Commercial Operations, YEG; Emanuela Cucinelli, CSM, YEV; Paul McCurry, Marketing Analyst, YYC; Kelly Kaylo, Regional Director, Sales & Government Relations, YZF; Reynold Icart, CSM, YFB; Michael King, Manager, Marketing and Division Sales Support, YYC.

 

Middle row, left to right: Damaris Neumann, Sales Development Co-ordinator, YYC; Marlene Pipella, Senior Secretary, YEG; Randy Miller, CSM, YRT; Barry Rempel, VP Cargo and Canadian North, YYC; Barby Johnston Gilroy, CSM, YVQ; Barrie Mindus, CSM, YZF; Rejean Pitre, CSM, YTH; Suzanne Bulmer, Administrative Assistant, YYC.

 

Back row, left to right: Cathie Edgar, Ramp Services Manager, YWG; Dan MacMillan, Cargo Sales Rep., YEG; Dave Hanas, Training & Logistics Coordinator, YEG; John Delaney, Director, Cargo Services, YYC; Jay Garlough, Budgets Administration Manager, YYC; Dan Kane, Sales Rep Nunavut/Northern Manitoba, YZF; Bill Shanks, member of Canadian North Business Advisory Board YTH and Keith Argo, Lead Agent, YFO.

 

Editors' Note: YZF = Yellowknife; YTH = Thompson; YFO = Flin Flon; YVQ = Norman Wells; YRT = Rankin Inlet; YEV = Inuvik; YFB = Iqaluit.

 

 

Extracted from the 'Canadian Flyer'
magazine issue February 1998.

 

By Andrew Geider, CP Air Corporate archives.

Mel Knox was a true aviation pioneer and a man of firsts.

 

His Induction into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame states "He was responsible in great measure for this nation's first commercial air link with Asia, a service of outstanding benefit to Canadian aviation." 

 

1947, July 1 -

 

Trans-Canada Air Lines began new DC-3 services with stops at Sault Ste. Marie and Port Arthur/Fort William, and a new service to Medicine Hat and Swift Current.

 

Also, on July 1st, a new TCA route linked Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton.

 

Source: CAHS Regina Chapter archives

 

Issue dated September 1982

 

While in Edmonton, Pierre Jeanniot, Executive Vice President and Chief of Airline Operations, took time out to discuss the Air Canada Challenge with staff at various company locations. Here Jeanniot takes a coffee break at Maintenance.

 

Seated, from the left, are: Don Harbarenko, Mechanic; Jeanniot; Mechanics Bob Kozak, Hideo Okuchi, Lyle Sorenson and Nester Malowany.

 

Standing, from the left, are: Mechanic W. Jack Ewing and John Linstrom, Ramp Equipment Maintenance Foreman.

 

 

At the Commissary Jeanniot is shown with Melody Deck and Rajani Rukshana, right, Commissary Attendants.

 

At the gate, Jeanniot chats with, from the left: Passenger Agents Samir Ghossein, Lindy Brown and Marg McLean.

 

 

Issue dated October 1982 

 

Montreal heads of competition at soccer tourney.

A record number of teams participated in the seventh annual System Soccer Tournament held September 17 and 18, 1982.

 

Teams from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, St. John's and London, England converged on Montreal with 130 players and guests turning the Airport Hilton Hotel into their tournament headquarters for the weekend. In the final match Montreal edged out Toronto in a 6 to 5 scoring spree.

 

The 1982 System Soccer champs from Montreal are, kneeling from the left: Jim Ryan, Victor Cerpa, Bill Badra, Cam McGowan, Harry Van Zyl, Greg Iwanivk, Bill Dickson and Gunter Voss.

 

Standing are: Ian Tyer, Adam Ritchie, Rui Ribeiro, Dave Groom, Martyn Reed, Jim Coote, Howie Thompson, Bill McLelland and Carlos Araujo.

 

Absent were: Dave Kelly, Angel Matamal and Conrad Aleong.

 

 

Issue dated November 1982 

 

 

It's something to crow about.

Air Canada became the first carrier outside the United States and the first airline in Canada to take delivery of the B-767. Our first aircraft arrived in Montreal on October 30, 1982.

 

First flight makes a big impression. A number of employees representing a cross-section of occupations were invited to participate in the first delivery flight as guests of the company, and for them, it was an event to remember.

 

Shown with President Claude Taylor in front of one of the B-767's huge engines are, from the left: Shirley Campbell, Secretary, Halifax; Larry Murch, Station Attendant, Toronto; Doug Slade, Cargo Agent, Vancouver; Taylor; Pierrette Venturini, Passenger Agent, Montreal: Marc Lefebvre, Certificated Avionics Technician, Dorval; and Marlene Godber, Flight Attendant, Calgary.

 

The cabin crew members who worked the delivery flight of the B-767 posed with President Claude Taylor during a pause in their duties.

 

From the left, back row are: Flight Attendants Jurgen Odefey and Marlene Godber; Taylor and Flight Attendant Cory McAdam.

 

In the foreground are: Leonard Lafleur, In-Charge Flight Attendant and Flight Attendant Helen Reagh.

 

Except for Leonard, the other flight attendants formed part of the galley design committee who worked closely with the manufacturer during the construction phase.