Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

 

Canadian carrier, Air Canada has announced a comprehensive fleet modernization plan that includes a surprising return of the Boeing 767 to passenger service.

 

The airline, which previously retired its B-767-300ER fleet in 2020, plans to reintegrate two of these aircraft by 2025, marking a strategic shift in its fleet composition.

 

 

Extracted from Horizons #878 - November 2000

 

Numbering over 300 system-wide, Stockkeepers across the system play a vital function in helping the airline run smoothly. They work around the clock to ensure parts, engines, nuts, bolts, and office supplies get to you—pronto.

Expediting material, Stockkeepers are responsible for properly packaging items for transport and capturing all information in ARTOS to ensure accurate inventory levels are maintained. From office deliveries to dangerous goods, they keep things on the move.

Here's a sample of an afternoon shift in the life of Montreal Stockkeeper Daniel Beaule. Like an industrious ant, he clocked over 15 km on the forklift and pallet jack, buzzing around Technical Operations collecting and delivering goods.

 

 

Editor's Note by Wayne:

 

Some very good memories for me viewing these photos. The electric pallet jack that Daniel is seen riding was called a 'Walkie Rider' in Toronto stores. I had a lot of fun roaming around the 'DC-8' and 'Check Crew' hangars doing deliveries on these.

 

Our video is posted by the Reel Life YouTube channel of a snapshot of the city of Calgary and its airport circa 1987.

 

Aircraft viewed are two ex-Pacific Western B-737s (by then Canadian Airlines but still in original PWA livery), an Air Canada L-1011-500 and two B-767-200s, a very brief (one second at 7:15) view of a landing Canadian Airlines B-737 in new livery and a Worldways DC-8-63 previously operated by CP Air.

 

The narrator is incorrect re AC operating 12 L-1011s. They had 18 including 6 of the longer range, shorter fuselage L-1011-500s like the one in the video. Those 6 aircraft were sold to Delta Air Lines in 1991.

 

Issue dated November 1982 

 

 

Users learn more about ReserVec.

Some 100 travel agents from Quebec and the Atlantic provinces turned out October 21, 1982 for a ReserVec Il users' seminar held at the Chateau Champlain Hotel, Montreal. The day was sponsored by Computer & Systems Services' Agency Automation division.

It was the fourth such seminar in an ongoing series which has been conducted at various locations across the country for an audience of more than 500 travel agents.

 

The Air Canada staff who helped make the Montreal seminar a success are, front row, from the left: Louise Slattery, Marketing; Susan Ashbridge, C & SS; Anne-Marie Jeannotte, Eastern Region; Guy Maynard, Eastern Region.

 

Middie row, from the left are: Mac Smith, C & SS, Shirlee Schacter, C & SS; Susan Everts, Eastern Region; Lorraine Larocque, Eastern Region; Jeanne Lachambre, C & SS; Richard Gendron, Eastern Region.

 

Back row, from the left are: Doug Stirrup, C & SS; Owen Colliss, C & SS; Henrick Sniecinski, Eastern Region; Dave Livingstone, Marketing. Harry Luxa, Transportation Services, is missing from the photo.

 

 

Issue dated January 1983

 

The company made history in February 1982 as the first airline to transport an RB-211 Rolls Royce engine in the upper deck of a B-747 Combi.

 

The feat was in fact accomplished twice within a few days. And, thanks to advance planning and a well-coordinated effort, the operation, Toronto - Paris return, went without a hitch.

 

The operation was part of Properties & Facilities' project to reduce engine transportation costs.

 

Happy to see the engine securely aboard in Toronto are, from the left: Project Coordinator Fred Stanbra, Station Attendants J. Gould, R. Capogna, R. Murphy and Lead Station Attendant Don Moody.

 

High fliers take a free fall.

A group of Edmonton employees winged their way to Abbotsford, British Columbia to try skydiving last fall.

 

Darryl Lyons, Acting Ramp Service Supervisor, Edmonton, had sparked interest in the adventure when he took up the sport again after a ten-year absence.

Despite the windy conditions, Darryl and his nine cohorts were ready to make their first jump following four hours of training. For most, accuracy (distance from target) was acceptable considering the wind conditions with some students actually landing in the right field.

 

Others paid a visit to the cows next door. Over dinner later, the participants promised themselves a repeat performance. 

 

Looking relieved after a successful jump are, from the left: Kato Tanaka, Judy McInnes, Greg Glover, Herman Vos and Glen Cook.

 

 

Issue dated August 1985

 

Remember the first jet aircraft, but above all, the noise of their engines? If so, you are more than likely to appreciate the quiet cargo DC-8-73 freighter.

 

The aircraft went on display and performed a fly-past at the Abbotsford Air Show this month. The airline's recent re-engining program, a $150 million commitment to its cargo business, was completed in November 1984, when the last of the six Cargo DC-8s rolled out of the airline's Dorval Technical Base.

 

There, the original Pratt and Whitney JT3D engines had been replaced with the new-technology General Electric/Snecma CFM56-2. 

 

The re-engined DC-8, fin #875, was photographed at Montreal by Jim Gregory, Dorval based First Officer.