Archives 2009

Vesta's Jump Seat

Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us!

Air Canada - our first 70 years

Extract from "Between Ourselves" issue May 1967

May marks quarter century air link with Newfoundland.

Late in the afternoon 25 years ago May 1, a 12-passenger twin-engine Lockheed 14H-2 in the colours of (then) Trans-Canada Air Lines touched down at Torbay Airport at St. John's Newfoundland establishing the first commercial air link between Canada and Newfoundland.The date was May 1,1942 and the flight marked the inaugural of regularly-scheduled passenger, mail and express service between Moncton, Sydney, St. John's and Gander. The inaugural flight left Moncton at 10:00 a.m. arriving in St. John's at 4:15 p.m.
after a stop at Sydney, Nova Scotia. After a short delay for deplaning and boarding passengers, mail and cargo, servicing and other formalities, the aircraft took off again, reaching Sydney at 7:15 p.m. and Moncton at 9:07 p.m.

Air Canada pioneered eliminating the V2's law as a principal of climb out criteria which, in turn resulted in the "rational approach" to climb criteria. Pioneered the multi-channel flight recorder. Introduced the first propeller turbine aircraft in North American commercial airline service, and was the first major airline with an all turbine fleet. Air Canada was the first airline in the world to accept carriage of all first class mail by air.

1967 - Sept 29th - Daily DC-8 service from Montreal/Toronto and Los Angeles due to be inaugurated. due to the late delivery of the new aircraft, the inauguration was twice postponed from July 5th and then August 22nd.

In "Alan's Space", NetLetter nr 1072, Alan told us about a web site with Old Airline advertisements.

Here are a couple more of TCA's

TCA/AC People Gallery

Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.

Musings from "Between Ourselves" magazine issued May 1967 -
Under the heading "Will Not Abandon Routes" Says Seagrim in Lakehead LAKEHEAD STAFF members had an opportunity to meet arid talk with Executive Vice President Herb Seagrim during a recent whirlwind trip in which he also met the local press, lunched with local VIPs and spoke to the Canadian Club.

Some employees who met Seagrim were, from the left:Lead Station Attendant George Lemoy; Passenger Agent Pat Mulvihill; Seagrim;Passenger Agent Irene Haines; and Station Agent Howie Burns.

THE FOURTH ANNUAL CURLING BONSPIEL of the Purchases & Stores Department was held at the Bonaventure Curling Club in Montreal last month, when sixteen teams competed for the H.C. Cotterell trophy.

The winning team, from Winnipeg, is shown, front row from the left:
W. Sinkwich, N. Kerr, Mrs. A. Cunningham (a substitute from Dorval) and J. Bordian. Defeated in the finals were, back row: Doug Mckenzie, Donna Demaine, Dave Douglas, and Jim Ducey.

Consolation winners were, front row from the left: L. Stevenson, Miss G. Kerr, D. Wilkinson, and T. Kerr. In the back row,Miss Simone Girard, Mike Biduk, Al Wilson and Reid Hinds lost out for the Consolation prize.

DELIGHTFUL DOLLS AND DAFFODILS

From the top: Passenger Agents Mary Macintosh, Mary Lamb and Eileen McManus are shown with bouquets of daffodils from a shipment which arrived in Halifax from Vancouver recently.

MONTREAL BOUND

Yvonne Overeynder, Passenger Agent, Amsterdam, center, received the good wishes from her friends when she left the Amsterdam office to take up her duties as a Hostess at the Company's Expo Pavilion. Reminding her that her "uniform" will be waiting for her on her return are, from the left: Sid Dirks, Sales Manager; Passenger Agent Renzo Caisson; Ariane Hendriks, Secretary; and Sales Representative Gus Teixeira, all from the Amsterdam office.

With great trepidation Stewardess Norma Harris of Vancouver holds
two lion cubs prior to their being shipped by air to Toronto .

Pilot Jean-Guy Carriire become the Company's 1000th pilot recently
according to the latest seniority lists for 1967 issued by Flight Operations. Jean-Guy graduated from pilot training in December, and is presently a Second Officer on DC-8's standby duty. Prior to joining the Company, he flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force, operating CF-1O Voodoo interceptors in Air Defense Command.

V FOR VICTORY was the catchword bock in the summer of 1942 when this photo of Company employees was taken at Dorval.
The lads are holding up a flag, promoting the sale of Victory Bonds for the war effort.

In the background is a Lancastrian belonging to the Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic Service.

From the left, front row:
H. Candib; C. T. Palaisy, former Director, Line Maintenance,
M. Taylor, supervisor Fire Prevention Program & Installation, Dorval;
W. McBain, Assistant Foreman, Electrical Unit Maintenance, Dorval
T. F. Edmison, Regional Operations Manager Vancouver; W. A. Lunan, Assistant Foreman Electrical, Dorval; G. K. Heron, A/Senior Qualit technician, Winnipeg; A. Darkes, Supply Manager Toronto;
and G. Dyce, Office Services Supervisor Dorval.

From the left, rear: K. J. Green, Supervisor Budget Analysis (Sales), Montreal; R. Morin retired; N. Pitt, Retired; J. Hughes, Engineer, Dorval T. Watkins, Assistant Foreman, Metal, Winnipeg and J. D. Leigh, Superintendent, Aircraft Support Shops, Dorval.

Alan's Space

Connie Reunion in Rome, NY
(From an email originally written by Bob Bogash)
Last week, I was privileged to host an honored group of aviation veterans, who came to see the TCA Super Connie in Rome, NY, before we dismantled it and brought it out to Seattle. This project is exactly
four years old at this point. This was likely their only chance to see a full-up Super G for the rest of their lives. We did good.

Their ages may have ranged from 75 to 90, but their spirits were in
their mid-20s, as they gazed upon, and sat in, the very airplane they
had spent so many years flying and maintaining. It was an emotional
experience.

From Bob's web site:
"With the day fast approaching, when the restored Trans-Canada Air Lines Super G Constellation CF-TGE would be dismantled and transported to Seattle, I knew there was one more thing that had to be accomplished. A Reunion. A Reunion of Old-Timers who had worked on this airplane, perhaps flown this very airplane, way back in time while she was still in service. People who lived in Eastern Canada - close enough to Rome, NY - but who would be unlikely to make the trip West to Seattle.

Read the whole story, with photos at: www.rbogash.com/Connie/connie_reunion.html

More info and another great writeup at author's Larry Milberry's Blog at http://canavbooks.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/super-connie-field-trip/

(Alan - Great photos and excellent write-up, I'd hate to say it, but it looks like CF-TGE wasn't meant to remain in Canada and it will have a better home in Seattle.)

Note: I worked for Nordair with Jim Dawes as my foreman in YUL in 1973 (I was only there 10 months before joining Air Canada)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Click on image for larger size

Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People

CPAir's first French-Canadian registered nurse stewardess trained in 1945 was Raymonde Ouellette and number 1 in seniority.

Jim Rogers has sent us this information about Honolulu.

Picture CPAL Airport Ticket Counter 1962 to 1972

The office space behind the ticked counter housed the Res and Airport Traffic offices, about half each. Res had six phone position round table, manifest desk, teletype was used by both. The airport side also handled cargo. The Res side was moved to the mezzanine space above the ticket counter in 1969 and then moved again in 1972 to the rear section of much large office spare behind the new ticket counter which is still be used by Air Canada at the Honolulu Airport. The Res office was moved again in 1977 to the Waikiki Ticket Office until it was taken over by offices in Canada.

Here we have a DC-8 engine change at Honolulu airport 1963/4 Gordy Beck Base Engineer and Doug Moore Electrical Engineer plus a couple of YVR base engineers assisting in change in remote ramp area at the airport with the Honolulu Airport Fire Dept Bldg in the back round with another picture with Diamond Head in the back round.

The fork lift driver was John Kalani from UAL who we paid for his service.

He was the one who had the touch and feeling to lift the engine in the cradle on and off the aircraft we many engine changes between 1963 and 1972. Gordy Beck was replaced by Peck Sinai who remained in Honolulu for many years till retired.

Jim Rogers
CPAL Retired

From the March 1967 issue of "Canadian Pacific Airlines Newsletter".

COOPERATION meeting in Winnipeg Feb 22 proved lucky for DSO steno Susan Pierce and psgr. agt. Ian Peacock when they won tickets to any Air Canada destination. Making presentation is Air Canada DSM J.S.Grahame. CPA DSM Ken Wood made similar awards to two Air Canada people.

On Feb 8th 1967, a DC-8 set a record time of 9 hours for the new Toronto to Honolulu sector. The DC-8 crew took advantage of a 50 mph tail wind at 35k ft level. The track was Toronto over Chicago, Sacramento, Oakland and on to HNL. Flight crew Capt. Sandy Tweed, F/O Tony Merry, S/O Garry Gallant and navigator Jack Bowers.

This n That

Now Open: Public Observation Area at YVR.

Unobstructed airfield views and interactive exhibits await visitors to YVR's new Public Observation Area, now open in the Domestic Terminal. Located in the public, pre-security area of the terminal and free for all visitors. Occupying centre space in the Observation Area is a 1.5 by 2 metre scale model of Sea Island, providing a bird's-eye view of YVR's island home.

Information panels along 42 metres of floor-to-ceiling windows tell the story of YVR. Each panel features aircraft silhouettes to help plane-spotters identify different aircraft at YVR. Eight telescopes standing at two different heights along the windows ensure accessibility. These exhibits, along with the new food and beverage concessions and retail shops located one floor below on Level 3, make the Domestic Terminal a destination for people looking for a day out with family and friends.

With the launch of Canada Line rapid transit service between Vancouver, Richmond and YVR later this summer, getting out to the airport to enjoy the Observation Area will be quick and convenient.

Help

Fred has sent us this request.

There were in the past employees with apartments to rent in the U.K. and France. Does anyone know if they still do these rentals ? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neil Burton has sent us this information

If you are collecting information as well of people, Dan Driscoll was co-pilot with Capt. Sheldon Luck on the first airmail run from

Kamloops to Prince George, Fort St. John and on to Whitehorse, for

Yukon Southern Air Transport on a Barkley-Grow "Yukon Queen" CF-BLV - November 1, 1939. This mail run was to be weekly but seems to have been cut short mainly due to inclement weather and scheduling. (Yes, that is 70 years ago). In March 1941, Capt Art Rankin with Dan Driscoll, 1st officer, flew a TCA Lodestar from Vancouver to Lethbridge, with favorable winds in 2 hrs. 11 min. This was a new record for the distance of 469-miles.

Neil Burton

Gerald A. Archambeau, sends us his experience working with Air Canada. A member of the Pionairs and the I.A.M.&A.W. since my retirement in 1993. I was hired by a Mr. Ackerman manager for Air Canada to work as a Station Attendant, at Toronto International Airport in 1967.

After passing my probation period of 6 months, I worked toward becoming the first visible minority to take on the challenge and responsibility of a Lead-Station Attendant, or Foreman. After passing the requirements to take on the job of managing a crew of 4, and being responsible for the aircraft assigned to me prior to arrival. This job was a not meant for all men to do; when it came to marshalling aircraft in tight places, off-loading and loading, all servicing of water, lav and fueling along with signing for the correct weight & balance.

These duties of mine were all carried out by me with the utmost of safety at all times, in every type of our wonderful Canadian weather. Things were not always pleasant from the human prospective, so I pressed on to ask questions about Air Canada and get answers from people like President C.I. Taylor, Vice President P.J. Janniot, Airport Managers C. McDonald and A. Graham, Ramp Manager, Lloyd Constable and Baggage Manager, Gorge Herbrich.

The answers I got from these men were positive, and that gave me the ability to overcome any negative bad behavior that I would encounter from time to time. Today I can look back with pride on my years with AC as a company that opened the door to the world for me, being a proud Canadian today who fought for better attitudes and behavior in the work place.

As a retired Pionair, and a recognized author of "A Struggle to Walk with Dignity" ISBN: 978-0-9784982-0-7, 2nd edition by Blue Butterfly Book Pub. I was able to describe my struggle in detail for all Canadians, to never give up on a dream.

Here we have this photo of Gerald.

John Ohlsson tried to crank his memory looking at this picture

(which we had in NetLetter nr 1079)

He identified:

Front Row from the Left looking at the photo

1st - Hugh McGillagit? - district sales manager

3rd in from Left - Wiltz Himmelman - manager Fredericton

4th in - Rod Grant - flight dispatch

6th in - Bill Hegan

7th in - Williamson

10th in from Left - Gordie Kay - In-flight Services

Hope this helps

Cheers, John Ohlsson

And Jim Henderson pinpoints some of the employees in the above photograph.

Here are some names from the photo starting with the back row

Tom Grant, Mort Taylor, Peter Lees, Rev Coles, Eldon Richardson, Unknown, Lorrain Boudreay, Joe Boudreau,Jean McDonald, Pat Chouinard, Vernon Chouinard, Peg Bulmer, Bun Cavanaugh, Ed McDonald, Shelia McDonald, Unknown, Fran Daigle, Jim Henderson and Ken Sparks.
Second Row
Janice Grant,Joan Taylor, Nancy Lees, Alice Coles, Ernie Crawley, Ms. Boucher, Ed Reid, MaryPurdy, Norm Duffley, Eileen Duffley, Bernie Duffley, Unknown, Unknown, Judy Collins, Carl Collins, Noreen Cavanaugh, Bob Anderson, Howie Bulmer,Thresa Anderson, Bunker McDevitt, Barb McDevitt, Paul Mitchell, Bev Mitchell, Dick Gormley, Entertainer
And the front row goes something like this:
Hugh McElligott, Mary McElligott, Wils Himmilman, Unknown ,Bill Hegan, Bob Williamson, Dot Hegan, Sheldon Drake, Gordie Kay, Tony Bruneau, Bob Lenihan and 3 Avis Employees

May god help me if I got this out of order .
Hope it helps poss it will bring some thoughts from others.

regards, Jim Henderson

Fred Coyle sends us this response to the information by Betty Morgan in NetLetter nr 1079.

In today's issue under Readers Feedback, Betty Morgan asks whether I knew her brother Harry Slipp at MCA, or Art Boudreau. The answer is that I knew both by name but I can't remember their faces, nor
where they were stationed. They were well known names in MCA. But I did know Ed Sword when he was with MCA flying between YQM and YYR on DC-3's. Ed finished up his career as a senior captain for Swissair on DC-10's flying the South Atlantic between Europe and Rio. I also knew Joan Stults (Ed's wife) when she was a teletype operator in YQM for TCA. We have played golf with them and kept in touch sporadically over the years (mostly at Christmas) and have visited them in Naples, Florida. They visited us in Baie d'Urfé one summer for golf at Summerlea when they were at their summer place
in Gananoque.
Kind regards.. I love the Netletter!

Fred

Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips

Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips

The answer to the trivia question in NetLetter nr 1079 about the

initials on the Silver Broom pin is -

A - Air

C - Canada

S - Silver

B - Broom

P - Pond

H - Hoppers

A - And

I - International

C - Curling Buffs

J - Jet

S - Setters

Our winner with the nearest answer is Ray Field.

The letters when stretched out are "Air Canada Silver Broom Pond Hoppers And international Curling Buff Jet Set". This was the first pin of the "Pond Hoppers" club which meets at the Worlds Curling Championship.

Ray

We will be in touch with Ray regarding a T shirt as a prize courtesy of John Rodger.

Terry's travel tips.

Top 10 Personal Favourite airports:

1.     Batman Airport (BAL) Turkey
2.     Useless Loop Airport (USL), Australia
3.     Black Tickle Airport (YBI), Canada
4.     Mafia Airport (MFA), Tanzania
5.     Moron Airport (MXV), Mongolia
6.     Ogle Airport (OGL), Guyana
7.     Brest Airport (BES), France
8.     Eek Airport (EEK), USA
9.     Pickle Lake Airport (YPJ), Canada
10. Raspberry Strait Airport (RSP), USA

For contingent pax who are REALLY on a budget and are looking for a way to skim a few bucks off their travel expenses, why not consider sleeping in an airport?

Best Airports.
Travelers love these airports for their amenities, friendly staff and comfortable seating.

Not a bad place to stay overnight, in transit or stuck in the airport.

1. Singapore Changi
2. Seoul Incheon
3. Amsterdam Schiphol
4. Oslo Gardermoen
5. Hong Kong
6. Dubai
7. Frankfurt International
8. Munich
9. Vancouver
10. Denver

Smilie

In an effort to be more innovative, a well known Canadian airline is planning to have a specialized service for First Class passengers deplaning at YVR during future snow storms. (Click on image below)

Vesta's Jump Seat

Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us!

The first known all ladies International Goodwill visit by air in the history of commercial aviation comprised of members of London's Professional Women's Club was arranged by Stan Blowes District Traffic and Sales Manager for London Ontario, who organized a charter DC-3 CF-TDY to Cleveland.

Our first 70 years.

1948 - May 1st - North Star aircraft began the carrying of immigrants from Prestwick and London the first of 230 charter flights between May and March 1949 as agreed with the government of Canada. Commenced scheduled service YUL to Bermuda with North Star CF-TFK.
June 1st - North Star aircraft inaugurated scheduled service over the trans-continental system. DC-3 service inaugurated to Yorkton and Brandon.
July 1st - Approval for the carriage of first class mail by air received from the government.
Oct 1st - Special winter excursion fares introduced on trans-Atlantic until April 1949. Due to inadequate traffic, service between Deluth and Lakehead suspended. A new Universal Travel Plan (UTP) inaugurated.
1972 - May 22nd - Weekly service inaugurated to Berlin.

TCA/AC People Gallery

With its curvaceous fuselage and triple tail, the Lockheed Super-G Constellation is one of the most distinctive airliners in history.

The Museum took delivery of its rare "Connie" in September 2009. The story of this aircraft will be told in a Jan. 9 program by Bob Bogash, Museum volunteer and retired Boeing engineer, who was instrumental in the plane's acquisition, restoration and transportation to the Museum. The presentation will be illustrated with previously unpublished photographs. Randomly-selected members of the audience will be chosen for an exclusive tour of the aircraft on Jan. 16. The program is at 2 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater and is free with admission to the Museum.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 (on Boeing Field between downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport.) The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is us$14 for adults, us$13 for seniors 65 and older, us$10 for active military, us$7.50 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo.
For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org.

Musings from the "Between Ourselves" magazine.
Issue dated June 1948.

Traffic personnel at Sydney Airport sport their"new look"

Front row B.P.Beers, J. Stuewe Centre C.J.Connolly. Back row
W.H.Holmes, R.Moffat.

Issue dated October 1948
At Toronto Malton airport plans call for the rebuilding of the entire east/west runway in concrete to make it permanently suitable for North Stars. Finished the runway will be 6,000 foot long.
Winnipeg's new runway was officially opened August 12th, probably the finest concrete runway in Canada, it is 6,000 foot long by 200 foot wide.
Windsor airport has been made suitable for North Star by extending the runway by 1,000 foot. Repairs to Calgary's runway to make it suitable for North Star operations is due to open November 12th.

Service to Ireland was inaugurated October 1st, 1947.

Here was what Shannon International Airport looked like in 1948. While on temporary assignment Ardhur House in Limerick was the home-away-from-home for TCA'ers

A group of TCA staff at Chicago celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Sept 1st service to that city.

Foreground: Sophie Schuelke, Ed Deane Left to right: Ruth Balser, Bob Burns, Marji Anderson, Ted Moore, Sylvia Blake, Shirley Steinke, Dick Skidmore, Harry Cooper, Norma Seijna, Don McGregor.

Gleanings from "Horizons" magazine

Issue dated October 1973
The 'Mystery of the burned-out plane' is the way Montreal newspapers labeled it! But it was never a mystery to Air Canada.
A partially-destroyed aircraft fuselage on the tarmac in front of a Quebec government-owned hangar. At Montreal Airport became a curiosity for the many commuters passing the area. What happened to it? Where did it come from?
It is one of the last Company Vanguards sold to a firm specializing in supply aircraft parts.
Workmen hired by the purchasing firm were dis mantling the aircraft when a cutting torch accidentally set fire to it. As of this writing it remains a hulk, but it is expected the remains will be broken up and towed away. (Does anyone have some information on this aircraft, such as registration or fin # - eds)

Issue dated June 1992.
The "Dreams Come True" from Toronto was with a B-727 loaned by Air Canada and crewed by Capt. Earl Cummings, F/O Bob Johnston, S/O Jim Sullivan, and in the cabin were Nancy Brownrigg, Jocelyn Boisvert, Graviella Ciarrocchi, Claire McKenna, Juergen Nikolai, Rosemary Millar all worked the flight on their day off. The "Dreams Come True" was started in 1989 by four Toronto employees - Bob Kent, Kathy Dutchak, Chris Dale and Kent Angus.

Our colleagues in Bermuda were presented with an award.

From left to right: Polly Peters; Rita Johnson, Felicia Pike, Ian Davis, Major Syd Helmkay, Canadian Armed Forces Liaison Officer, who presented the award; Lucy Fox, Marc Rosenberg, Janet De Silva, and Noel Rodriguez.

On time: time and time again.
Mirabel's aircraft maintenance employees breathed a sigh of relief after having not a single delay of aircraft during the entire month of April. This is a noteworthy achievement when you consider that the month included the start-up of Air Canada's three Boeing 747-400s, not to mention 171 consecutive on-time departures from all participating stations.

Pictured in the back row, from left to right are Pierre Bayle, John Marshall, Jean-Yves Gagnon, Kasimir Kusek, Luc Ménard and Emilien Dufour. Shown in the front row are: Real Savard, Pierre Nadon, Pierre-Yves Grenier, Peter Content, Pierre Trudeau and Kenneth Batt.

Issue dated August 1992

Colleagues at Fredricton say farewell to Dennis Graham upon his retirement. Here we have this photo

l to r Mike Graham, Kit Blois, Harvey Muttart, Bertha Bergin,
Dennis Graham and wife Nancy, Liane and Ron Groves.

While on a layover in Glasgow, these three Toronto based flight attandants each celebrated 30 years service, and here they are.

l to r Beryl Smith, Helen Burn and Louise Naigel.

ds)

Where are they now.

B727-200 C-GAAN fin 414 c/n 21102 sold to Federal Express September 28th 1984 registered FE219 has been finally retired and donated to the Technical School at TianJin.

Alan's Space

30 Days on an Airplane
Mark Malkoff, a 32-year-old comedian, writer and filmmaker from Hershey, Pa., stepped onto the tarmac after spending 30 days on board a commercial airliner.

That's about 266 hours in the air, hitting 38 cities across the country, traveling 111,211 miles.
"It was jumping in head on with something that had never been done before," Malkoff said. "I never set out for it to be a world record, it just was."

He once spent an entire week inside an IKEA store in New Jersey. He also garnered some internet cred when he traveled to all 177 Starbucks in Manhattan in under 24 hours. "That took me two weeks of training on a bicycle in New York risking my life," says Malkoff. "I like to put things on paper that look impossible and try to execute them."

A fear of flying is what drove Malkoff into the skies. Hitting almost every major airport in the United States, Malkoff landed, yet never disembarked, in cities including Houston, Moline, Branson, and Chareston. With a video camera rolling, and mid-air wireless Internet available on board the plane, he chronicled this journey for all to see at www.markonairtran.com.

"I don't know how I would have gotten through the month without wifi," explains Malkoff. "I had so much emotional support from people all over the world.

What did Mark Malkoff do to amuse himself? He played Twister in the back of the plane and ran a bingo game over the onboard loud speaker. He got his butt kicked in an RC car race by Danika Patrick and even had a catered anniversary dinner with his wife on the wing of the airplane. AirTran, the accommodating airline, even put his face on a plane.

Once all was said and done, Malkoff had unwittingly secured himself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. "It made me feel good that I kicked the habit when Guinness presented me with the world record," says Malkoff. "Wow, 135 flights. That's more than most people will fly in their entire life."

On how he handled the ordeal and came out in such good spirits: "The whole thing was definitely challenging," revealed Malkoff. "It was this emotional journey of self exploration."

Sp what did he do? Here's a video of what happens when you roll toilet paper down the aisle of an airliner and then flush...

Click on image above for video
(click on HD for full screen)

You can find out more about Mark Malkoff by clicking here

Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People

Here is Mike Shanks manager Marketing Automation with a new machine in the background.

In May 1990, Canadian Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines began code-sharing but, on October 25th 1991 this arrangement was terminated due to poor loads.

From the "Canadi>n AirCargo Annual Report 1991"
In June the Hong Kong staff replaced the local contractor,
here we have this photo

Front row l to r: Raymond Lai, Simon Chan, Dennis Tse, Francis Law, Back row l to r, John Gibson, Terry Wong, Roy Yip. David Chin, Taley Cheung, Salome Yeung, Al Ridgway, Jacob Wong, Tommy Yu, Samuel Lee, Alfred Chui, and Daniel Ngan.

Mark Bright Manager Cargo Sales & Service who relocated to LHR in April.

In April the Vancouver Telephone Sales & Service Centre made the TSSC) network complete together with YUL, YYZ and YYC.
Here we have some of the gang at YVR.

From left to right. Doug Thornson, Hope-Ann Weidman, Fred Whiting, Ian McLafferty, David Knight, Murray Armstrong, Ken Mok. Gillian Brough, and Patrick Cheung.

And from the "Cargo Marketing Bulletin Summer 1992"
we have the YUL Telephone Sales & Service Centre (TSSC)
whooping it up for the Mexico service.

Hiding behind those big sombreros in back row are, from left, Karim Mohsen, Clara Ciampini, Denise Dubois. Jacques Lacas, Mirko Bertoldi. In front, from left, Karola Oates, Norm Pickering, France Pellerin, Alida lannuzzi, Lorna Difiore, and Antonio Sammartino

Here we have this photo of an A320 in the YYC hangar in 1991, probably in delivery colours

Regarding the announcement that Air Canada plans to operate an A319 from YYT to LHR,
William Jesse sends this comment
I still cannot believe they want to fly an A-319 from YYT to LHR. They occasionally fly them from YYJ to YYZ and on the last flight I took the bathrooms had to be shut down one hour into the flight. No fun. When I took that flight it was after a wedding. I don't drink but had consumed a lot of water.
Depends maybe!!!
(Such foresight by Air Canada - Shutting the bathrooms down was probably a trial for the recently imposed rule that pax stay seated for the final hour of flights into the US - eds)

Jack Stephens sends us this photo "At The Blast Fence" painting by Jim Bruce who used to work for TCA, in the Engineering Dept. at Winnipeg, during the Viscount days.

The aircraft depicted is fin #609 CF-TGQ c/n 54

Here we have some more of the story we started in NetLetter nr 1101 which was sent to us by Barry Crawford. I mentioned briefly to you about my northern experiences working at mining site called Asbestos Hill which was located about 300 miles south of Baffin Island in the Arctic.

Here is a northern map which shows you where I worked .....Asbestos Hill/Deception Bay.

When flying to the Hill from Dorval, Montreal we always landed at Fort Chimo. If we were not able to land at either Asbestos Hill or Deception Bay our 2 landing strips due to poor weather conditions then it was up to Frobisher or back to Chimo. A friend who I used to work with sent me some photos from my time when I worked there. I thought I would share those photos with you.

These photos are of the plane (a Nordair B-737 jet) landing on our dirt airstrip.....always a very bumpy landing. In winter like the photo shows.....a red line would be painted down the middle of the airstrip so the pilots would have a visual clue in where to land as everything was completely white in winter. I wonder what the regulations would be today for landing a jet in a similar location? The mine site was a very isolated and desolate place to work. About 400 men worked here at any one time. The site has since closed. I was 20 years old when I first went there to work. I always tell people that I went up a boy and came back a man. A life changing experience that matures a person fairly quickly or you can't adjust to this particular living and work environment.

This photo is of the Asbestos Hill mine site. We all worked 12 hour shifts (nights and days), 7 days a week for 3 months before being flown out for 2 weeks of vacation. Personally I always felt it was a good thing to have kept us busy working as there wasn't really anything much as far as leisure to pass your time for any prolonged amounts of time.

One final photo that I thought you might like and share if you want.

This photo was taken on October 31, 1974. I know because I was being flown out after 3 months of work at the Asbestos Hill mine site. As I mentioned to you before you can see the red markings on the airstrip to help the pilots on their approach.

Hope you like the photos.
They sure bring back memories for me.
Barry

Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips

Here are some of the events arranged by members of World Airlines Clubs Association (WACA) -

Feb 18-21st - Las Vegas Get away deadline Jan 15th 2010 host San Diego Interline club cost us$275
Apr 15-18th Get together and European Regional Meeting at Brighton UK deadline Feb 15th host Gatwick Interline club cost gbp265.

May 16-21st - Vancouver Island Winery Tour deadline Mar 20th host Vancouver Interline Club cost ca$799
Full details at www.waca.org

The results of a survey on the worst airports in the world have been released.
Top of the list is
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) - a repeat of last years position.
Second was
Paris Charles DeGaulle (GDG)
Third was
Los Angeles International (LAX)

At the top of the best airports in the world was
Singapore Changi Airport
followed by
Hong Kong Chek Lap kok
Amsterdam Schipol
Dubai World Central
There was no mention of the criteria used for these findings.

Here is the third installment of the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise October 22nd to Nov 3rd 2009. Our cruise was with Oceania Cruise Lines on the MS Insignia.
started in NetLetter nr 1099
Saturday October 24th

Today we dock at Kusadasi in Turkey.. After breakfast we joined the tour of the ruins of Ephesus. We had Tolsa an excellent guide who provided us with an informative history of Turkey and this area. The Roman ruins we saw were quite awesome, particularly when one could envisage how the area looked in real time - ages ago.

After our tour of the ruins, we were taken to a store which produces hand made carpets. There was a girl demonstrating the art of carpet knotting, and the owner, after offering everyone a choice of drink from tea, coffee, beer or wine, his two assistants rolled out 30 carpets or various designs and quality while the structure and price were explained, either wool, cotton of silk. Needless to say, we did not purchase one. Back on board, we attended a seminar about the Adobe Photo Elements software, before attending the Captain's welcoming get together and a glass of champers.

Sunday October 25th
At Santorini we were tendered ashore.

During the night there was a terrific storm with lashings of torrential rain and a spectacular lightening display plus thunder. Today we are at Santorini and the temperature is 21c and overcast.

We are due to finish our tour with a ride down to dock side on the cable car, but the storm which knocked out most of the power supply to the island changed that. Our bus tour took us up the mountainside via a multifaceted switchback of a very narrow road, which gave us spectacular vistas of the port below us.

Due to the heavy rains during the night, many places alongside the road had piles of lava which had washed down and, at one place, was completely across the road, fortunately not too deep and we were able to drive though it. Towards the top of the mountain we became shrouded in low cloud and were unable to complete our trip to the summit, we barely had room to turn, and the driver was anxious to get back down before other tour buses arrived. At the point of the road which had the lava across the road, we were unable to drive through without the danger of the bus sliding off the road, and the driver and guide got out and leveled off the pile.The trip up and down the mountain provided some great views of the island and beaches.

The guide pointed out the unique way the grape vines grew, instead of the traditional way on a trellis, the vines were twisted into a ring at ground level giving the appearance of a wreath, this gave protection from the constant wind to the grapes which grew inside the ring. However, this method made harvesting very labour intensive.

We were given an hour and half free time at a village called Oyo. Near the car park there was a store which sold pistachio nuts and offered each passenger a sample. The guide told us that we would not get lost as we could follow the trail of pistachio shells back to the coach. We visited a small art gallery which glass and metal combined art, very innovative. We window shopped before returning to the coach and talked with our fellow travelers before leaving. We noticed gas prices at €1.19 a liter.

By the time we returned to the cable car, the hydro had been restored and we were able to travel down on it, which we were happy to do as the descent was via a very steep windy pathway. After supper on board, we spend several hours chatting with a couple from Pennsylvania and watched the electrical storm over Santorini.

Monday October 26th.

Today it was 71f and cloudy when we docked at Crete. As we did not have any optional tour booked for this island, we walked off as the town was just a 100 yards or so away from the dockside. We had planned to visit the museum, but it did not open until 10:00, so we window shopped for a while. We ended up in a store which sold nothing but agate items.

Just wonderful creations and we bought a small item there. Then we visited the museum at €3.00 each. We thought that it was a poorly set up display with hardly any items identified very professionally.

As the sky looked like it would open, we went back to the ship just before the rain started accompanied with lightening and thunder.

At dockside there was a small train which ran on the roadway and offered three tours. One locally around the port, another into the town and the third up into the mountain area. The costs are €11, €12 and €20. We spent the afternoon in the library and on deck, under cover, reading and generally lazing about. Unlike other cruise lines, the library is on an honor scheme, you just borrow the books without having the "check" them out. It was very well stocked and appointed.

After supper I went to the reception to claim a refund of my transfer money from ATH to the docks which we had not used. Happily the credit appeared on my account.
(More next time - eds)

Smilie

Here we have another smilie sent in by Vern Swerdfeger

Vesta's Jump Seat

Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us!

Fred Coyle sent us this information regarding the article in NetLetter nr 1100 - I can tell you and your readers, in case it is out of print, that I got Shirley Render's book "No Place for a Woman" out of the Greater Victoria Public Library. So it may be available in public libraries across the country. It is a great read. They may have it at Aviation Museums as well, in their libraries.

Our first 70 years.

1973
- April 29th - Regular DC-9 service replaced Viscount service at Sept-Iles.
- June 1st - L1011 Tri-star service between Toronto-Halifax-St. John's started.

Air Canada News

Air Canada will begin non-stop, daily flights between Toronto and Copenhagen on June 24, 2010, subject to government approval. The only non-stop service to Scandinavia from Canada will be operated with a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft featuring 24 lay flat bed suites in Executive First and a personal digital in-flight video system, a USB port and a power plug available at every seat throughout the aircraft. Service will operate daily in the summer, with reduced frequency in the winter.

TCA/AC People Gallery

Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.

Sorry readers, but a gremlin stole the photos which went with this article in NetLetter nr 1100, so we repeat it here -

With the introduction of the cockpit DataLink system, passengers will be notified of a baggage mis-handling on board the aircraft before they land.

DataCare enhances the procedure when a station attendant locates a mis-handled baggage.
(No identities were provided - eds)

Here we have the balance of the report by the crew of the TCA North Star involved in the rescue of "Bermuda Sky Queen" which ditched in the Atlantic -

The weather ship was lying sideways to the trough to break the waves as much as possible as KFG came running in on a practice approach. I could not help think that 8 or 9 years ago when I watched Eddie Allen testing the prototype in Seattle harbour, I little thought that I would watch one landing in waves like these in the
middle of the Atlantic.

KFG swung around for the final approach and we placed ourselves in position to keep track of survivors if the aircraft broke up on landing. The big flying boat drew closer and closer. We saw a white plume as her keel struck the first wave. Then a foaming crash as she
disappeared wings and all below the sea. It seemed like minutes before the bow began to show like a giant whale through the foam and the big craft shook herself clear.

The weather ship started full speed ahead when a calm voice said, "We are O.K. and will taxi up to you." The weather ship answered, "O.K we are dropping a 900 ft. line over, supported on life jackets." We watched the plunging Bermuda Sky Queen (for so the radio operator on the weather ship informed us she was) pull slowly up to
the weather ship. Its radio officer called R/O Taman to cheer us on our way and remarked "What a wonderful landing those boys pulled off."

Our thoughts were that we had witnessed the ultimate in handling a big flying boat in such difficult conditions. We had our hats off to the American International skipper and his crew for the calm and magnificent way they handled the situation. It speaks highly for Boeing workmanship and design that the ship lived in such seas.

Musings from the "Between Ourselves" magazine -
Issue dated March 1948 -

THE OLD VERSUS THE NEW "LOOK"
Some of Toronto's personnel display the old and the new in styles for the cameras of New Liberty Magazine.

Left to right: Lorraine Oke, Margaret Walker, Frances Lidstone, Evelyn White, Betty McVey, Margaret Desroches, Joan Vandett, Shirley Dixon, Wanda Pryde

The feminine side of Halifax Traffic at afternoon tea.

Standing, left to right: Virginia Ernst, Marg. Palmer, Ev Ju]ien, Charlotte Smith, Mrs. G. Churchill, Mrs. J. C. Campbell and Mrs. L. Parker. Seated, left to right: Betty Rolph, Mrs. Marg Morgan, Peggy Lawrence, Madeline Power, Lil Mailman, Doris Woods, Jean Bonnezen.

Bert Shenton, Passenger Agent in Winnipeg shows off the new uniforms.

Margaret Taggart shows the feminine attire for Passenger Agents

Issue dated September 1948 -
Mid-Atlantic reunion
A unique reunion, the outcome of a chance remark, science and human feelings took place recently 21,000 feet above the North Atlantic on an eastbound North Star. Stewardess A. Germaine learned from passenger William Shorden that his son was a First Lieutenant in the Navy, serving aboard the Canadian weather ship, H.M.C.S. "St. Stephen," off the Labrador coast.

Slipping into the cockpit, Miss Germaine told Captain S. R. Found, who later made radio-telephone contact with the weather ship and asked for Lieutenant Shorden. Captain Found then invited Mr. Shorden into the cockpit to speak to his son for the first time in two years.

In the Windsor-Detroit report, we learn that Isobel Pearson and Lenora Hues, both radio operators received their five year pins during a TCA Windsor dinner party.

Presentations made by Cliff Anderson Station Manager and Howard Paillefer District Sales Manager.

Gleanings from "Horizons" magazine -
Issue dated July 1973 -
Prior to it's scheduled service to Halifax, the L1011 spent two days at Halifax during which an estimated 10,000 people visited the aircraft which was on a static display.

Helping out with the display are, from left - Gary Hersey, Paul Emerson, Ralph Wilcox, Shirley Hill, Bud Fogerty, Gene Burden,
Charles McLellan, Dave Murdock and Pete McCarthy.

Here we have three employees from the company's word processing centre at P.V.M.

Louise Kerr.

Carol Neeson

Dave Roy Marketing Communication Supervisor

When the DC-9 replaced the Viscount service at Sept-Iles on April 29th, a number of employees showed up for the occasion and are seen in this photo -

From the left - Jean Claude Gaudreau, Eddie Dionne, Richard Bisson, Richard Lariviere, Edward King, Guy Casista and Paul Cormier.

Air Canada and Eastern Provincial Airways staff gathered at Sydney N.S.to discuss their working relationships

Here they are - hard at it! - from the left Keith Miller Exec V.P.(EPA), Naish Batten (AC), Phil Symes (AC), Jack Morgan GM Atlantic Provinces, Audrey Collins and Davey Bates (AC), Howard MacInnes (EPA).

(Looks like EPA are outnumbered here - eds)

Star Alliance news

Transaero Airlines is discussing increasing its cooperation with Star Alliance (it currently codeshares with Austrian Airlines and BMI) and would consider full membership.

Alan's Space

Click on image above for video
(click on HD for full screen)

You can find out more about Mark Malkoff by clicking here

Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People

Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier in-house magazines, should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.

Perusing the "Info Canadian" magazine -
Issue dated October 1991
50 Year Reunion in PEI
Former employees of Maritime Central Airways, formed in 1941, got there for a 50 year reunion in Charlottetown, PEI, recently.

The airline eventually purchased by Eastern Provincial which later merged with CP. The reunion participants pictured are all current employees at Canadian.

From left, Walter Munn, Bill Rhude, John Leger; back from left, Keith Campbell, Jim Bulmer, Cleveland Stewart, and Darrold Tanton.

Issue dated October 1991 -
All dressed up with nowhere to fly
Have we hit a time warp? No, a group of flight attendants celebrating 15 years with Canadian recently threw a party in Calgary. As a party theme, flight attendants were asked to wear an old uniform. Only a few dared to dress up in "vintage" flight attendant clothing:

From left, Debbie Steel, Patty Dickle, Tanis Vallevand, Sue Bowerman, and Lesley Ostrosser, all based in Calgary.

Issue dated November 1991 -
Here we have Sandra Groves UK North of England Sales Manager greeting the Great Britain karate team.

From the left - flight attendants Elizabeth Martins, Barbara MacDonald From the right flight attendants Saskia Vizenm, Norma Kelly.

Fred Coyle makes this comment regarding the service planned to LHR with the A319 mentioned in NetLetter nr 1100 -
I am surprised that the aircraft for the non-stop YYT-LHR service
this summer will be an A-319. I thought that aircraft had domestic range only. That shows how much out-of-date I am after 19 years of retirement!

Brian Dunn editor of YYZNews (www.yyznews.com) has dug up some vintage photos of Toronto Pearson Airport for us to view -

Here we have an aerial view

Barry Crawford has been corresponding with Alan Rust, our NetLetter Flight Engineer, and, although he is not an airline person, Barry has some interesting photos and a story to share with us - " I was born and raised in the Quebec asbestos mining town of Thetford Mines. The Asbestos Hill mine site was owned and operated by Asbestos Corporation from Thetford Mines and that is the connection as to how I got to work up North. I worked at the Asbestos Hill mine site from 1974-1975 and returned as a student for the summers of 1976 and 1977. The Nordair L-188 Electra and the Nordair B-737 were the major workhorses bringing in men and supplies to the site on regular 2 days a week flights.

The photo is of our arrival to Asbestos Hill. I'm in the blue jacket. A young 22 years old at the time taken May 22, 1976. Our flight into Asbestos Hill was diverted to Frobisher because of bad weather. Later that day we were flown back (6 of us) with supplies.

A very cold ride indeed! .........I believe the day before another DC-3 crash landed (not Nordair).

I don't remember any details about what happened. You can see where the propeller cut just behind where the pilot was.

Here is a photo taken at Frobisher Bay.

Loading cargo into a B-737 in 1973/4.

The flights originated out of Dorval, Montreal, Quebec." The Nordair pilots were suburb in flying these aircraft. I remember once we were on final approach to Asbestos Hill in the B-737 when suddenly the pilot began to take us back up to altitude. He circled around and brought us in for a landing. There was another time when we took off from Fort Chimo on our way back to Dorval, Montreal from Asbestos Hill. We were just a few minutes into the flight when we hit some very severe turbulence. It was so bad that our meals were canceled for the entire flight. As I looked out the window at the black clouds I could feel the pilot maneuvering the B-737 away from the storm. We made it safely to Dorval without further incident. I spoke to my brother recently who also worked at Asbestos Hill and he said he remembered once that as the B-737 he was landing in blew a tire. He said the pilots were magnificent in their skills and professionalism in bringing the aircraft to a halt without incident.

Needless to say I can not empathize enough just how good these Nordair pilots were." It would be a thrill to actually speak to one of these pilots someday and tell them how much I appreciated their flying abilities.

Barry
(We have some more next tine - eds)

Alan Rust responded to Barry -
Thanks for the memories, I remember the deflector plate on the nose wheel of the 737 to protect the belly of the aircraft from stone damage from landing on dirt and gravel runways. Hard to believe that they managed to operate on gravel runways with a jet aircraft.

(Note from Alan) - I worked for Nordair between March 1973 and February, 1974 before I joined Air Canada. It was an exciting time for me as I had been working for a Piper Dealership previously and had never been to the Arctic. I was 23 years old at the time. I was sent to Frobisher Bay the first month with Nordair to help bring out a Curtis C-46 that had made a belly landing there. Maybe I'll elaborate on my Nordair experience in another NetLetter.

Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips

Argentina to charge reciprocity fee.
Effective December 28, 2009, Argentina will begin charging a reciprocity fee to citizens of Canada, the U.S. and Australia arriving at Ministro Pistarini de Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires.
The fee does not apply to any other port of entry by air, land or sea.

The fee will apply as follows:
Canadian citizens: $70 USD (valid for one entry only)
U.S. citizens: $131 USD (valid for ten years)
Australian citizens: $100 USD (valid for one entry only)

The fee does not apply to Canadian, Australian or US citizens with legal residence in Argentina, who hold a passport with an Argentine consular visa, who hold an official or diplomatic passport.

The fee will be payable in cash or by credit card, traveller's cheque or ARS (Argentine Peso) upon arrival at booths positioned in the immigration arrivals hall. Travellers should consult their local Argentina consular representatives before departure for entry requirements as they are subject to change.

Further details may be obtained from:
Consulate General of Argentina in Toronto www.consargtoro.ca or
Department of Immigration, Government of Argentina www.migraciones.gov.ar

The Canada Line is Vancouver's new rapid transit rail link connecting YVR to downtown Vancouver in 26 minutes and to downtown Richmond in 18 minutes. It's a fast and easy way to get to the city centres.

You can conveniently access trains from both the International and Domestic Terminals.Canada Line's YVR-Airport station is centrally located between our International and Domestic Terminals. As you exit the train, turn left for domestic flights or right for U.S. and international flights.

Flying in to YVR from within Canada?
If you're picking up checked bags, you are at Arrivals, level 2 of the Domestic Terminal. Go to Level 3, and walk toward the Link Building (located in between the International and Domestic Terminal). Follow the signs marked Canada Line

Arriving from the U.S.A or an international destination?
Once through the customs and immigration arrivals process, walk toward the exit to our International Arrivals Greeting Area. Exit the building following signs marked Canada Line. Before the parkade entrance, an escalator and elevator will take you up to the
Canada Line platform.

Have any questions? Look for our Green Coat volunteers who can help point you in the right direction

Here is the second installment of the -
Eastern Mediterranean Cruise October 22nd to Nov 3rd 2009
Our cruise was with Oceanic Cruise Lines on the MS Insignia.
started in NetLetter nr 1099 Thursday October 22nd Breakfast consisted of mushroom omelet, hash browns, tomato, and a fruit cup.
We arrived in Frankfurt at .13:40, where we are bussed to the terminal - which seems to be a retrograde step for such a huge and modern airport. This airport is not just big, not even huge but humongous. Why airport planners provide such a labyrinth under the
terminal for the large buses to negotiate heaven knows.

Our connecting flight for ATH leaves at 21:00, so we have a few hours to kill, but we are getting used to that now. We found a nest of about a dozen chairs which had extensions for our legs, and got quite comfy and were able to stretch out. Our lunch consisted of a bottled water and sandwich. The water was €2.45 and sandwich €2.10. The water had a €0.25 deposit, but many threw their empty bottles into the recycle bins, which were promptly inspected by people who seem to roam the airport collecting such items, and claiming the refunds. A non taxable income perhaps!

At 20:00 we locate our departure gate A22 for our A321 flight of 2.5 hours to ATH. As the flight was only 50% full, we could stretch out. On board meal was pasta, chocolate bar, juice.Then we managed to sleep - pillows and blanket supplied free!!!

Friday October 23rd
We landed at 01:10 - there was an added time difference of one hour. We wandered around until we found some chairs. Not too many chairs vacant as there seem to be lots of people waiting for early morning flights. Tea cost €1.60, later we found another restaurant which had a deal of espresso coffee and tea for €1.00 each. In the airport on the upper level, we located a small museum which artifacts which had been unearthed during the excavations for the airport. The items go as far back as 3000 BC. so wandering through this museum passed some of the time. At the end of that level there was a McDonald's, but the set up was not the traditional McDonald's, there were couches and small round tables all overlooking the ramp and runways, so we spent time here in relative luxury over a cuppa €1.00 and muffin €2.00.

We checked in for our flight at 10:20, well before the deadline fortunately because, when asked about our luggage, we told the agent that the luggage had been booked right through to Mykonos. No so, we were informed, as there is no customs facilities at
Mykonos, the luggage would be held by customs at ATH. We had to get a permit which allowed us to re-enter the arrivals area. This permit we obtained from the Information desk at Exit 3. Armed with the permit we went to the door marked "Delayed Baggage" and
hammered on the locked door and peered through the window until we could attract the attention of someone, who opened the door and inspected our permit and passports before directing us to the lock up. We located our luggage and went to the customs area but there
was no one there, but an agent looked out of his office and waved us through to the exit - a smugglers delight!. Back to the check in agent, we rechecked our luggage, got our boarding passes and we were done. Relieved to know our luggage had gotten this far.

At the gate B11, we had to go through security again, removing watches, belts, money, jackets but not shoes. Then found some seats and waited for the flight.

We and several other passengers did not realize the flight had been called, and when we heard that the flight was closing - that got our attention. Anyway, the A320 was only filled with 25 passengers, but we were served a soft drink beverage, tea or coffee from the normal trolley. The flight was only 25 minutes duration, so we don't know how well the service would be if the flight were ever full.

We landed at Mykonos, collected our luggage and tried to find the Oceania representative, without success, so we got a taxi to the port. There is an old and new port but the driver did not know which one to take us, but they were relatively close together, and he dropped us at the old port. There was no sign of a cruise ship, so we dragged out luggage over an uneven water front, which had lots of restaurants and cafe's with outside tables and chairs until we got next to the pier. I left my wife with the luggage in the shade of a building and went to locate the ship. I threaded my way through a labyrinth of tiny shop in various alleyways until I got to the headland and, there was the ship anchored in the harbor.

I waited until a tender appeared and, thankfully, it headed my way. I managed to find my way back to where my wife was and there was the tender just at the pier. I approached a crew man and told him I had missed the cruise in ATH and he said "Oh yes, your Mr Baker and
you live in Canada, came from England and born in Bristol, I have come to collect you.".

I was astonished that he would know such information, and he said we were expected. He sent a crew member to help collect the luggage and we had a 160 passenger tender to convey us to the ship where there was a welcoming officer who conducted us to our
stateroom. After three days traveling, we felt quite scruffy, so the first thing was for a shower.

The airports we visited did not have the normal north American electric outlet, but had two round prongs, so it was nice to have a shave. Then unpack and fall into a decent bed for several hours. Later we prowled the ship to orientate ourselves.
At last, our cruise had started.
(More another time - eds)

Smilie

Here we have another smilie sent in by Vern Swerdfeger

Vesta's Jump Seat

Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us!

This is a photo of Jessica Jarvis circa 1935 , she was one of the first females to qualify for a commercial license. One of the first books to be written on Canadian pilots "No place for a Lady" was authored by Shirley Render and spans the era from 1928, when the first female was licensed until 1992.

Some of Air Canada's female pilots were among those featured and TCA-Air Canada pilots were among those interviewed. (source "Horizons" # 788 1992) Published by Peguis Publishing Ltd ISBN 10: 0969426429 may be out of print, but second hand copies may be available.

Our first 70 years.

1947 - July - Porquis Junction taken off line, as transcontinental now flying over the Great Lakes.

1992 - Sept 15 - DataCare was introduced allowing for information regarding mis-handled luggage to be conveyed to the passenger via the flight deck.

Air Canada News

Air Canada announces daily non-stop seasonal service between St. John's, NL and London Heathrow. This will be the only daily non-stop service between Newfoundland and Labrador and London Heathrow between May 27, 2010 and September 26, 2010, using newly refurbished 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft in a two-cabin configuration offering a choice of Executive Class and Economy service.

TCA/AC People Gallery

Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.

Musings from the "Between Ourselves" magazine

Issue dated February 1948
The former staff at Kapuskasing. Now reduced to three, as the station is no longer on the mainline, most of the group have dispersed to other TCA points.

Front row, left to right: Leo Clermont, G. Waite, A. St. Onge, W. Watt, J. York, B. Creighton, B. Hudon. Back row, left to right: D. Widney, B. McCormack, D. Calder, W. Baker, J. Mclvor.

Issue dated March 1948

From Toronto, hub of the Central Region, come these photos of the special ceremony attending recent ten and five year service awards.

E. Patrault, Maintenance Superintendent, presents Walter McDevitt Toronto, and Morris McDevitt Crew Chief London with ten year service pins. (Are these guys related? - eds)

John Scott, Storekeeper, Toronto, does the honors as a ten year pin is awarded to Doug Kyle, Stores Department.

Teletypist Ruth Berkey, Radio Operators Rita Schefter and Irene Williams receive their five year pins and bouquets from genial Steve Himmelman, Station Manager.

Proving themselves to be as much at home on the airwaves as on the airways, Stewardess Muriel Peacock and Capt. Ruben Hatfield face the CBC "mike" for a coast to coast broadcast.

Rita Bourque of Chicago receives her 5 year pin.

Left to right H.J.Cooper, D.E.Moore, and H.Aitkin.

Here is an incident reported by Sydney staff.
On the evening of December 30th 1946, as a party was held, two DC-4's, of Atlantic Northern Airlines and Seaboard and Western Airways, were on the ramp in front of the International Terminal Building. The wind, blowing at about 40 mph when the ships landed, suddenly increased to a maximum of about 65 mph in gusts, and when the excitement was over, the big Martin passenger stand was firmly wedged under the wing of the Atlantic Northern aircraft and the plane itself was about 15 feet further down the ramp, all without turning a wheel. No damage was suffered, either to the aircraft or the stand but the nerves of the Shell Oil man, on the wing, were a trifle shaken when he saw his truck disappear into the swirling snow and felt the aircraft dip and sway under his feet.

In an earlier NetLetter, we gave details of TCA's involvement in the rescue of the PAA "Bermuda Sky Queen" which ditched in the Atlantic. From the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued December 1947, we give the account as written by the crew of the TCA aircraft involved.

In October 1947, the crew on a TCA North Star, Prestwick bound from Montreal, took part in the rescue of passengers and crew from a flying boat forced down in the Atlantic.

Captain George Lothian, Chief Pilot, trans-Atlantic service, who was aboard the North Star, gives us this eye-witness account of the rescue at sea. It was a beautiful morning on the North Atlantic, the North Star was humming along in a spanking tailwind. The sun had been up for about an hour showing the weather clear with the breakers rolling along from the west. First Officer A. Pavey was nudging the ship along on the gyro-pilot and Captain S. Albulet had just returned from paying his respects to the passengers. Suddenly Radio Officer K. Taman spoke up. "I have just contacted aircraft KFG and relayed his message to Gander that he has 2.75 hours fuel left and is returning to the weather ship NMMC. He is sending the stand-by emergency signal 'XXX'."

We checked our position with Navigating Officer J. K. Fraser which showed us at 52:00 north and 37:41 west, 90 miles from the weather ship. We requested R/O Taman to keep contact with KFG and try to raise the weather ship on Very High Frequency. The weather ship answered immediately. They were informed of the emergency and that KFG had stated he was 100 miles west.

By this time we were closing with the weather ship and he had us on his radar screen. We arrived overhead and could see him rolling in the heavy seas. We told him we would stand-by overhead and if he located KFG on his radar he could track us to him and we would escort him in.

We stood-by for 10 minutes and then saw the large Boeing flying boat arrive over the ship. The weather ship called and gave us a the information that KFG had 62 people on board and would land in 20 minutes as they were securing the passengers.
(The rest will be in another NetLetter - eds)

From the same magazine.
Ten-year men at Montreal are pictured with Mr. Symington and W. F. English, after receiving their pins.

Left to right: F. T. Wood, C. Van Der Linden, F. M. McGregor, J. D. Leigh, J. L. Scott, T. L. Keillor, Captain J. L. Rood; Mr. Symington; C. M. Adams, Mr.English; Captain G. B. Lothian, S. Reid, G. W. Roper.

Gleanings from the "Horizons" magazine

Issue dated September 1992
With the introduction of the cockpit DataLink system, passengers will be notified of a baggage mis-handling on board the aircraft before they land. DataCare enhances the procedure when a station attendant locates a mis-handled baggage.
(No identities were provided - eds)

We have this photo of the Winnipeg Pensions and Estates Admin Office.

Back row l to r Verna Blais, Karin Beauchemin Front l to r Bernice Paul, Alexandra Sohor, Delores Blaquire, Mary Polonuk, Wendy Weibe, Larry Pitre.

Some of the La Guardia Customer Sales staff gathered to say goodbye to Irene Bye upon her retirement.

Wishing her well left to right - Renee Heiser, (kneeling) Barabara Cronin, Maria Vocilla, Nancy Porterfield, Regina Geber, Suzanne Cummings John Ring.

Star Alliance news

Air India expects the carrier will become a Star Alliance member sometime between June and October 2010.

Alan's Space

Tennessee Ernie Ford
Since this is our last NetLetter before Christmas, I thought I'd send you this YouTube clip of Tennessee Ernie Ford doing a Christmas Song on his television show called "The Ford Show" sometime between 1956 - 1981. He used to end each show with a religious song, and this is quite good.

Ford's experiences as a navigator and bombardier in World War II led to his involvement with the Confederate Air Force (now the Commemorative Air Force), a war plane preservation group in Texas. He was a featured announcer and celebrity guest at the annual CAF Airshow in Harlingen, Texas, from 1976 to 1988. He donated a once-top-secret Norden Bombsight to the CAF's B-29 bomber restoration project. In the late 1970s, as a CAF colonel, Ford recorded the organization's theme song "Ballad of the Ghost Squadron."

In the video below, which is quite funny, watch the young boy on Ford's right hand side (looking up in the screen shot below). He's quite a character and was evidently Ford's son.

Click on image above for video
(click on HD for full screen)

You can find out more about Tennessee Ernie Ford by clicking here

Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People

Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier in-house magazines, should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.

Heather Johannson sends this.
Thought you might like this picture of our Kelowna "Good News Bear" and the history behind him.
CHBC TV in Kelowna commissions "Good News Bears" which they award to people who enter the contest through a donation to our Food Bank Organizations buy a bear which is custom made to their specifications.

CAIRE, (Canadian Airlines International Retired Employees) in Kelowna, has had a variety of bears made over the years. This year our bear "Arnold" was designed after retired station attendant, Arnie Krezanski.

Ron Lingwood has dug out some photos for us.

Canadian Pacific Convair 440 complete with four ghosts,

Canadian Pacific C46 CF-CZL fin #256.

Canadian Pacific DC3 with Bobby Randall Dawson City YT Feb 1955.

Canadian Pacific DC3 with Norma Johnson Mayo YT Feb 1955.

Canadian Pacific it must be summer, unidentified mechanic.

Canadian Pacific C46 engine change the hard way.

C46 engine change.

In NetLetter nr 1099 we published some photos sent to us by Steve Polak, here is the reaction from Cheryl Chung (now Cheryl Morgado)

OMG!! Someone just forwarded the Netletter Number 1099 to me dated December 12th. I almost fell over when I saw the picture of me, taken by Steve Polak at least 21-22 years ago. Yeah that's me sporting the old fashion. Although I am feeling a little dated today, it was wonderful to view.

Thanks for the memories.
Cheryl (Chung) Morgado
Cargo Training Instructor/ ACRA President YYZ

Brian Dunn editor of YYZNews has dug up some vintage photos of Toronto Pearson Airport for us to view -

Here we have a photo of the first landing at Malton Airport in 1939

Trans-Canada Air Lines Vickers Vanguards at YYZ in 1965.
An aerial view

A scene on the ramp - is that a North Star next to the hangar.

Stephen Elmy has sent us this information.
The "YVR Old Farts" just held their 9th Christmas luncheon in Vancouver on Thursday, December 10th, 2010.

This group was formed in 2001 by Stephen Elmy (AC/QF/SA) and Leonard Zurkowski (CP/QF), shortly after the worst aviation event in history (9/11) and is now the largest industry gathering in Vancouver. The group has grown to such an extent that we now have two (2) luncheons per year, with a membership approaching 250 members. The only stipulation is that the members are at least 50 years young, and have worked in the travel industry for a minimum of 25 years. The membership covers every aspect of the travel industry in BC, with AC having the most members in the group. Active and retiree members come from Victoria to Toronto, as well as Nebraska and California in the USA. We even have a member in Nairobi Kenya.

Membership is open to anyone who fits the above criteria.
The website is located at www.yvroldfarts.com and our Christmas luncheon is held the same week as the AC Pionair's luncheon, so many of our members attend both functions.

Stephen included the following photos.

Sandie Dexter and Bill Rowe

Bob Horsman

Glen Steeves and Sandie Dexter

George Martin and Dave Cornock

This n That.

American Airlines said its proposed $1.1 billion investment in Japan Airlines could be increased, while the troubled Tokyo-based carrier was buoyed when its retirees indicated they would accept significant pension cuts.

(We hope this does not become an industry trend - ed)

Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips

Scottish discount airline Flyglobespan, which operated seasonal service between Hamilton, Ont. and British destinations, has filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations.

Go AC - Travel Discount Program for employees, retirees, family and friends extended until January 2011. Go AC, the new employee discount program launched last August for employees, retirees, family and friends has been a resounding success.

Now, as of December 16, you can start offering discounts for travel for all of 2010! This time, Go AC will provide 10 unique promotional discount codes to each employee/retiree, which can be applied to their own confirmed travel or that of family and friends.

Go AC promotion codes will discount Canada and U.S. fares by 10% and all other routes by 15%. Each promotional code can be used for one booking of up to six passengers. The offer is available on flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz and is valid for all one-way or round-trip tickets booked on www.aircanada.com starting December 16, 2009 with all travel completed by Jan 15, 2011.

Once booked passengers are treated as revenue customers, so family and friends do not need to be accompanied. Employees/retirees will be able to obtain codes as of today, through the Employee Travel Site. So pack your bags, tell your friends and get ready to "Go AC."

South Pole by A380
On New Years eve, a QANTAS Airbus A380 will operate a sightseeing flight to Antarctica. This will be the first commercial flight by an A380 over the south pole region.
Passengers will be over the "ice" at mid-night and be the first in the world to see the light of the New Year. The aircraft will be over the region for up to 4 hours.

British Airways faces a Christmas crisis following December 14th's announcement that 92.5% of voting flight attendants represented by Unite are in favor of a 12-day strike beginning Dec. 22, British Airways has obtained a court injunction blocking a planned cabin crew strike, after the initiating ballot was declared illegal.
(as of December 17th - eds)

Smilie

Here we have another smilie sent in by Vern Swerdfeger

Vesta's Jump Seat

Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us!

I dug another photo out of my private collection. From my 1983 retirement party held at the Bond Plaza Hotel, Toronto in April 1983. That's my friend, Mrs Bill Cole on my left, her husband was a flight dispatcher in Montreal and Toronto.

Air Canada - our first 70 years

1964 - July 21st

Victoria BC opens new terminal at Patricia Bay.

Oct 13th British Royal family returns to London on a DC-8 after their Canadian tour.

Nov 21st New Telecom. system able to switch 3,000 teletype messages installed in the HQ of CNT in Toronto to be the nerve centre of Air Canada.

1995 - Apr 25th Direct service between Vancouver and New York introduced.

TCA/AC People Gallery

Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.

Musings from the "Between Ourselves" magazine
Issue dated September 1964
With a banner reading "Fly with the Birds to Victoria" the official opening of the new terminal at Victoria (YYJ) on July 21st, took place.

Jim Carnie celebrated his 23rd service anniversary by helping with the move.

Issue dated October 1964
Under the title "Queen selects Air Canada for return home" is an article with details of this flight on October 13th under the command of Capt's. A.S.Ander, E.T.Leek, I A March Navigator was P.G.Powell. Chief purser was Francois St. Hillaire who happened to be celebrating his 40th anniversary on this date. Other members of the crew were Rudolf Roth, George Smith, Joycely Lacroix, Kathlene McIntyre and Hilda Neilsen.

An Air Canada DC-8 arrives at YUL before it left Tokyo! One of the longest non-stop flights in commercial aviation history, 12 hours 24 minutes. Departing Tokyo at 9.02 am and arrived at YUL 8.37 am.

This was a chartered flight and we have this photo of the crew.

Issued dated October 1964
The Annual System Golf Tourney was held at the Pine Valley course Toronto.

Here we have a photo of a group, probably exchanging tales about their lies - on the score card that is.

And here is a photo of Mike Power who got the elusive "hole in one".

Issue dated November 1964
A new era at Prestwick on September 22nd when the new terminal was officially opened by the Queen Mother. The first flight to use the new facilities was Air Canada charter from LHR-YYZ-CLE, a DC-8. Several employees were formally introduced to the Queen Mother including Rosemary Ross, Passenger Agent Prestwick, Stan Hewitt
and John Gilmore.

We have this photo of the new terminal.

And this photo of the first passenger to use the new facility here with Don McLean DSM Glasgow and Rosemary Ross.

Issue dated February 1965
Unstripped DC-8 fuselage is x-rayed - Air Canada pioneer a new technique. The unstripped fuselages of two DC-8's were completely x-rayed by the company's Non-Destructive Test Centre at Dorval Base. One of the first airline to use this process.

Here is a photo of Frank Murphy and Frank Lovat.

Issue dated March 1995
In February, a group of employees from Maintenance, Flight Operations, Station Services and Flight Test Engineering attended a course at Long Beach to review the workings of the DC-9.

Here we have this photo of the group prior to leaving Dorval as they pose beside a DC-8.

This group in the photo are preparing for the Vancouver - New York service.

Introduction of the DC-8 service is due April 26th

These employees attended a one day employment interviewing training session, held in Dusseldorf and conducted by Gordon Mortimer and Dick Findlay.

Employees came from Dusseldorf, Zurich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart.

Star Alliance

This was a recent heading on an article Lufthansa sees heavy first-quarter loss, but traffic decline may have 'bottomed out' (As Lufthansa is in the business of supplying seats for "bottoms", we are not quite sure what they mean - eds).

This n That

Bill Wood sends us this information
SNOWBIRDS AIRSHOW SCHEDULE
http://www.snowbirds.dnd.ca/v2/as-sa/sch-cal-eng.asp

The first unofficial airmail was flown about 100 miles in a balloon on July 4th 1853 by Richard Clayton from Cincinnati to Waverley, Ohio.
The first official air mail was on August 16th 1859, again in a balloon, by John Wise and Jake La Mountain from Lafayette to Crawfordsville, Indiana..

Ray Backwell has sent us these two photos

This flying boat never got in to service, had six twin prop proteus engines.This picture is when it was going through the trails. never made it into service. This picture was taken in 1951 off Cowes Isle of White southern England. This was built for a range of 5000 miles, 380 miles an hour, two story aircraft.

British Airways was to take these aircraft but the cost made the Ministry of Supply cancel the project, aircraft was 140 tons.

More information can be found on this web site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_Princess

Alan's Space

I came across an attraction that I'm hoping to visit sometime in the near future. It's near Orlando, Florida in a place called Polk City. It's called Fantasy of Flight "An Attraction On a Higher Plane"

From their web site: "Our stunning art deco facility is home to over 40 rare and vintage aircraft many of which have been restored to flyable condition. But that is just the beginning - we offer a variety of guided tours including visits to our working restoration and maintenance areas. You can climb inside the cockpit of a Corsair fighter for a battle over the Pacific and then take a spin on our state-of-the-art hang glide simulator in our Fun with Flight area.

If you are looking for a real experience, real fun, and real takeaway - something the entire family can enjoy, Fantasy of Flight is An Attraction on a Higher Plane."

See: www.fantasyofflight.com

If you have any comments regarding this attraction (good or bad) please respond to us an let us know at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People

Here we have this photo of the happy employees waiting to receive the flights. (Obviously prior to recent events - eds)

Canadian last served Mexico City from 1953 thru 1981. The 3 oldest DC-10-30 aircraft have been sold to Potomac Capital Investments Corp.The aircraft will be delivered in May, June and October 1991.The fin nr 910, 911 and 912 were obtained from Pakistan International Airlines.

Issue dated November 14th, 1990.
Canadian's first B747-400 had its first test flight November 7th.

Here she is. This the 100th B747 built by Boeing. YYZ-LHR Dayliner/Starliner service will be discontinued January 6th 1991.

Issue dated November 28th 1990.
Service between Vancouver and Taipei effective December 5th with DC10-30 equipment.

Issue dated December 17th 1990
Regional airline company formed named Canadian Regional Airlines Ltd, which will comprise of Time Air, Calm Air, Ontario Express and Air Atlantic.

Issue dated January 9th 1991
Canadian Airlines UK Sales Marketing team meet for their regional sales meeting at Manchester UK.

We have this photo of the group.

Issue dated April 10th 1991

Here we have this photo of the employees at Melbourne.

Issue dated April 14 1991
Effective April 27th Canadian suspended service to San Juan, Puerto Rico from both YUL and YYZ.

Issue dated July 18th 1991
Aircraft Fin #807 landed at Halifax International Airport on June 27th to mark the introduction of A310 service from Toronto.

Issue dated August 15th 1991
Defence contract is Canadian's largest ever. The contract, for passenger services is the largest in the history for Canadian to become the Department of National Defense preferred carrier for years 1992 and 1993. The DND contract is one of two big accounts won over from Air Canada. The other is with Esso, worth about c$18 million.

Issue dated August 29th 1991
Under the banner "Try us - I guarantee you'll like us" gave details of the money-back guarantee offered for first time business customers. The no-strings attached concept was introduced during the spring and is extended to the end of 1991. If the new business customer does not like the experience, their money will be refunded No red tape, no forms,no hassles. (What a way to get a free trip - eds)

A report on the ever popular "Amenity Kits" given to both first and business class passengers has been over whelming since introduction in March. It is reported that male clients ask for a female kit as a present for their wives, this means that half a years supply of the female kits have been passed out. As the number of kits offered is much higher than the number of paying passengers the indication is that employees are also enjoying this offer.

Checking through the "Blue Skies" magazine
Issue undated but probably 1978
The CP Air Communications Advisory Group met at the Airport Inn to discuss the upcoming advertising campaign.

Here is a photo of the group.

The CP Air Melbourne Australia office is very cosmopolitan and this photo tells all. (Standing l to r) Bram Wright English from Manchester, Graeme Cunningham from Melbourne, Danny Wong from Hong Kong, Hugh Scott from Nandi.
(Seated l to r) Cliodna McAleer-Rae from Co.Tyrone Ireland and Lynne Damaschun from New South Wales.

From the second undated issue
July 13th 1949 CPAir inaugurated its service to Australia. Flight time in the Canadair IV was 37 hours 18 minutes.

Here we have this photo of the crew (l to r) F/O C.N.Sawle, Capt. J.K.(Bud) Potter, Helen McCracken and Pamela Hookham

Bill Sim has sent us a set of photos of the retirement of Aircraft Maintenance employees in 1983 representing some 900 years of service. Unfortunately, we have very few identities, and hope some of our readers can supply them and let Bill know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Terry's Travel Tips

Below is the next segment of the "Round the world" trip by Sheila Moscoe we started in NetLetter nr 1064

Caesar Hotels Airway Vacations
1 800 422 3727
Serving the interliner since 1970!

British Airways has just announced Positive space air for interliners traveling to any of its world wide destinations. Call today for pricing!

Hawaii Summer Vacations
"Travelers who postponed the traditional family summer vacation to Hawaii last year due to higher prices should plan and buy their trip today," "Prices, have come down between 40% and 55% due to reduced airfares and exceptional hotel values that are available now." Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Carnival Cruise line announces new Interline Family and Friends Offer, book your interline reservations between May 1 and May 31 and book 2 additional cabins for your famly and friends at the same discounted interline rate on the same ship and sail date.
Valid on most ships and sail dates through April 30, 2010.
Try this sailing!
Carnival Splendor
7-night Pacific Coast/Canada - Los Angeles (Long Beach) round-trip
Sails May 3, 2009
Inside from us$159
Outside from us$179
Balcony from us$199
Itinerary:Los Angeles, San Francisco, At Sea, Victoria, Vancouver,
At Sea/ At Sea, Los Angeles
Call today 1 800 422 3727

Just a reminder for those golfers wishing to attend this years
Pionairs National Golf Tournament in Victoria June 2/3. For registering go to our website www.pionairs.ca and click onto the golf ball in the right hand corner. You will then be guided through the registration form allowing you to pay by cheque or credit card.
Trevor Baron
District Director

"Round the World" with Sheila Moscoe

Here is the next segment of the "Round the world" trip by Sheila Moscoe we started inNetLetter nr 1064

Well, hi everyone again!

Let me tell you about our first few ports that the Royal Princess sailed into. So, grab a map or an atlas and let's go for a cruise. We left Hong Kong in the early evening and we were dazzled with the sound and light show that we had seen while on land. We couldn't hear the music, but watching the strobe and lasers lights was spectacular.

For 3 nights/2 days we sailed the South China Sea along the east coast of Vietnam with lovely warm temperatures between 22C and 30C with slight sea breezes. We had some time to explore the ship and enjoyed relaxing on the deck and the balcony. Our first port of call was Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), which is the largest city in
Vietnam (country population of over 85 million). Saigon is about 1,094 miles (1,760 km) south from the capital Hanoi. It is written "this is a city that churns, ferments, bubbles and fumes". The streets, where much of the city's life takes place, are a jumble of street markets, shops, pavement cafes, stands-on-wheels and vendors selling wares spread out on sidewalks". Get the picture?! We had a day to explore on our own. Since we didn't book an organized tour, we took advantage of the free Princess shuttle from the port to the Rex Saigon Hotel.

You might remember this hotel as the news reporting centre during the Vietnam War. We had quite a time trying to cross the streets with motor scooter traffic and vehicles zooming along. The first attempt we were guided by a local. The object of the game is not to get hit, so we had to step out in the street and start dodging the traffic without looking left or right. We knew that no one would hit us!

Phew, what an ordeal. By the time we left Saigon we were pros!!
The Ben Thanh covered market had the most eclectic selection of merchandise, food stuffs, meats, fishes, that our heads were buzzing with what to buy! Managed to pick up a few souvenirs and got a cold can of coca cola and took lots of pictures.After having a fabulous late lunch, with a few beers each, in an air conditioned elegant restaurant and paying about $10USD each, we were brave enough to cross the streets again! But, this time we were in the new part of
the city, which had traffic lights, so no problem. We bought some local beer "333" which is "ba ba ba" in Vietnamese and we headed back to the ship. My seat mate on the bus was a fellow who had been in the Vietnam War, so he and I had a good old fashioned chin wag about my days traveling (in the early 70s) in this part of the world and his experiences as well.

Vietnam is definitely on my next trip list.

(We will continue this trip report in the next NetLetter - eds)

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