Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |\^/| _| TCA |_ _|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R > CANADA < B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S >_./|\._< for P I O N A I R S | Your crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson Chief Navigator - Terry Baker tm number 129 date March 2nd 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to Marina Young long time Secretary at AC's YHZ Airport General Offices. Marina is retired and lives in Dartmouth,NS. Try email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to contact. Bob Walker, retired from Winnipeg after 35 years, nd living in Victoria on Vancouver Island email Bob at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ~-=o0o=-~ . Dates to remember - Saturday March 1, 1997 TBA Earhardts World Flight recreated by YUL Lunch dte/TBA at Curling Club Monday March 3, 1997 LHR coffee at 11am Harvester Pub Ashford Tuesday March 4, 1997 PWK Lunch St Nicholas Hotel Wednesday March 5, 1997 KELOWNA PIONAIR Bonspiel NL120 YHZ Lunch Armdale Yacht Club Thursday March 6, 1997 KELOWNA Bonspiel Contd YUL Lunch Chenoy's Pte Claire ~-=o0o=-~ . Fraser Muir send us an update on the AGM - The AGM '97 package is being prepared for mailing as we speak, it should be in the mail by the next day or two. I think people have already forgotten that we had a change in location from Pheasant Run to Montreal. We had devoted close to six months of planning for Pheasant Run; then had to repeat the same for Montreal, but this had to be accomplished in a matter of six weeks, and that was during the Christmas/New year holidays. Please don't think I'm making excuses, but we did have to work at it, let me tell you. Anyway, I was very fortunate to have a terrific committee, and it was another example of what our association is all about, support, cooperation and fraternity. Yours truly Fraser ~-=o0o=-~ . News from the Districts - The Comox Valley Group on Vancouver Island held their monthly lunch at the Old House in Courtenay on Feb 27th attended by 23 people, including several from out of town and one from the UK. In the absence of Murray Phipps - coordinator, the meeting was chaired by Eric van der Holt. Roger Miners, who was recently returned after doing acceptance flying checks on the A319 in Hamburg, came armed with some liturature and photographs of the range of Airbus jetliners, which he passed around, and answered many questions. Terry Baker spoke briefly about the Netletter and left several copies for the attendees to read. The group tentatively discussed a forthcoming 4 hour cruise during May. The Comox Valley group meet for lunch on the last Thursday of the month. Contact Murray Phipps on (250)334-0807 for details. ~-=o0o=-~ . Dennis Brown sends us these 'Names & Faces' - Here are some of the folks I've run into lately. Fred Spriggs, Aircraft Interiors Engineering, Fred is now fully retired after a second career as a designer and a volunteer AutoCad instructor. He has taken up woodturning with a lathe inherited from his father and has joined the West Island Woodturners in Montreal. John Burridge, retired Sr. V.P. Marketing, Hamilton Standard. You may wonder at the Air Canada connection. John was the Hamilton Standard propeller resident technical rep. at Winnipeg in 1939 for the Lockheed 10A. John currently represents a landing gear service facility from his home in Hartford and calls on Air Canada, Montreal. He supported the CF-TCA project and if pressed will admit to being slightly beyond his seventy-fifth birthday. If I think of more I'll pass then along. Dennis Brown - (Thank you Dennis - eds) And Don Demeza sends us this - It's a small world - Last January 4th June and I were browsing the several shops in Georgetown, a tiny community at the southern end of the Exumas. An interesting spot, about 150 residents but up to 400 yachts per day anchored in the harbour. June met a tall, stately saleslady in the gift shop of the "Two Turtles" hotel. When Belleville was mentioned, she said, "Oh I know where Belleville is - I'm a Canadian - in fact I worked for Trans-Canada Airlines". June replied, "You'd better meet my husband". She turned out to be Betty Hunter, a tall blond agent who worked both at the airport and downtown in Toronto during the 50's. She was so excited to talk to us concerning the old-timers, names such as Ron Reed, Bill Burd, Reg Campbell etc. We spent a delightful afternoon and evening in her company. Betty had opened the Nassau Ticket Office and married a Bahamian from the Exumas. They were establishing a travel agency when he died. Betty is now Elizabeth Young and I know she'd love to hear from her TCA friends of the 50's. Her address is: PO Box EX 29168, Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas Phone: 242-336-2709. Betty is a healthy 76 and says that she'll never leave the friends and support she has in Georgetown - it's now her home. Thank you Don.(eds) . Fred Miller sends us a short bio - Here's the brief history. Born & schooled in Winnipeg, then a brief career in the RCAF, joined TCA as a North Star pilot in YUL. Flew for two years, then furloughed for five, spent two years with Aer Lingus in Dublin, two more at university, one in Flight Dispatch YUL, then back to flying with AC on the usual sequence of aircraft. Transferred to YYZ & moved to Barrie, ON in 1978, then to to YVR & Victoria in 1989. Currently am on GDIIP & have 11 months to go to reach 60; don't know if I'll get back flying! Cheers! Catch Fred on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The latest update to the Air Canada Timetable effective Feb 25th valid until Oct 26th is on web site http://www.aircanada.ca ~-=o0o=-~ . Found on the internet - Registration CF-TCA is assigned to a Boeing B767-365 s/n 24307 operated by - guess who? - CANADI>N! Finland's national airline is expanding its presence on the Internet with the addition of a site designed for the American traveler. Finnair has added its latest site to offer seat auctions for a limited number of round-trip seats to major Northern European markets. On a recent WestJet flight from Vancouver to Calgary, as the plane taxied to the Calgary terminal the following announcement was made - 'Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Calgary. We'd like to tell you about our Star Search portion of this flight. The first person who stands up before the plane comes to a complete stop in front of the terminal building is required to come to the front of the cabin and perform a song for the rest of the passengers. This mornings selection is YMCA, complete with all the actions'. Everyone laughed, but no one moved a muscle! - (Shades of Southwest Airlines? - eds) ~-=o0o=-~ . Smilies found on the internet - SHORT FINAL... By popular demand, here are some more selections from the "Squawk List": Problem: Dead bugs on windshield. Solution: Live bugs on order. Problem: Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent. Solution: Cannot reproduce problem on ground. Problem: IFF inoperative. Solution: IFF inoperative in OFF mode. Problem: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. Solution: That's what they're there for. ~-=o0o=-~ . That's it for this time, please we need your input, send comments and email addresses of any others who may be interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry. -!- Landing on an Island in the Pacific. _____(~)_____ ! ! ! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <<<>>> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ................................................... . GREETINGS FROM . . Vancouver Island . . BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA . ...................................................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |\^/| _| TCA |_ _|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R > CANADA < B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S >_./|\._< for P I O N A I R S | Your crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson Chief Navigator - Terry Baker tm number 128 date February 26th 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . Welcome to James Trembath who can be emailed at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phillip Avis who is an Audio Visual Coordinator with Air Canada at YUL and is handling input for the company archives, and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Frank Takasaki has changed his Internet Service Provider, and is now at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Anyone trying to contact Jack Brown who retired in 1972 from YVR as Manager Avionics can contact him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ~-=o0o=-~ . News from the Districts - OKANAGAN - The second Annual Christmas Party was a popular event with over 70 attendees. The group was joined by members of the 'Okanagan Chardonnays', the new Chapter of the Canadian Maple Wings, an association of T.C.A. and Air Canada Flight Attendants. The Pionairs Curling Kelowna System Championship Bonspiel is due Mar 5/6th at Kelowna Curling Club, Kelowna, BC. Cost CA$32 pp. for curling and dinner. Accommodation at Prestige Inn, Kelowna CA$49.50 + tax for room. Call collect (250)-860-7900 For more information call George Daman at (250)-763-4834 or Ken Britton at (250)-768-4757. If you are wondering about some of your co-workers, these may be some of them - new members of the Okanagan District - Grethen Aird of Kelowna, Doug & Mary Armitage of Peachland, Leo and Flo Breault of Summerland, Irvin Dyck of Kelowna, Ted & Gerry Lloyd of Kelowna, Lucille & Ron Orthner of Vernon, John & Alida Penner of Westbank and Judith Smandych of Creston. The Okanagan District can now boast of having 207 members - retirees and spouses combined!! Don't forget the 2nd Annual Pionairs System Golf Tournament on Jun 17 & 18th at the Penticton Golf & Country Club. Cost CA$60 includes lunch, prizes, trophies, draw prizes, tournament round and banquet. Deadline is May 27th. Call Don Graham (250) 492-6045 for more details. ~-=o0o=-~ . Found on the Internet - JAL Airlines, typically slow to adopt innovations compared with other carriers, is possibly the first airline to solicit bids to buy disposable inflight products via the Internet. British Airways is guaranteeing through mid-May that passengers will find its Club World the most comfortable business class or get a free domestic trip on an airline partner. British Airways will sell its UK Ground Fleet Services to Ryder Plc on Feb 28th. Assets valued at US$85 million includes 500 employees at Heathrow & Gatwick and a fleet of 7300 vehicles. Judgement was given on the court actions to stop ADM (Airports de Montreal, the semi-private administrative body who is responsible for the operation of both airports). ADM does not have a mandate to change the vocation of the airports it operates under its contract. The judge said that not without public consultations and a change in the lease contract with the federal government would the move of intl SCHEDULED flights from Mirabel to Dorval could proceed. The (mostly AC) few flights scheduled to move from Mirabel to Dorval will not do so. This is good news for airlines such as AF and BA who were more than happy with the spacious and uncongested 24 hour airport which also costs much less to land at. Continental Airlines are to distribute a profit sharing cheque to some 37,000 employees, representing approximately 7% of an employees annual wage. The U.S. is planning to reintroduce the 10% tax withdrawn Dec 31st. Virgin Atlantic Airways will operate 6 flights a week in each direction from LHR (Heathrow) to JNB (Johannesburg) starts Mar 1. Belgium regional VLM will take over the Antwerp - LHR route from Sabena, VLM presently operates Antwerp - London City using the Fokker-50. Brit Air of Morlaix, France is the launch customer for the Canadair RJ-700, a 70 seater stretch of the -100 and -200 in the year 2000. The assets of Viasa, the Venezuelian airline will be liquidated. ~-=o0o=-~ . Interline stuff Land packages - Fiji - Hideaway Resort - 6 nights - CA$599 pp dbl Sonaisali Resort - 6 nights - CA$719 pp dbl Rate includes transfers, 3 meals daily & taxes. Valid until Mar 31st. Cook Islands - Edgewater Resort - 9 nights from CA$335 pp dbl includes transfers & taxes. Valid until Mar 31st. Malta - 7 nights - from CA$1006, 14 nights from CA$1596, 21 nights from CA$2133. prices pp dbl includes full board 4* hotel, pos air from Gatwick & transfers in Malta, snacks & afternoon tea, soft drinks, all alcholic drinks. Resort has 3 indoor & 3 outdoor pools, gym, saunas and a full entertainment program. Beijing - fully escorted 8 days departs Vancouver Mar 10 & 17 CA$1399 pp dbl. Includes round trip Air China from YVR, accommodaions and 3 meals daily, sightseeing, shows etc. Call Bonita at 1-800-690-3223 for more details. Panama Canal - Holland America 'Maasdam' 10 nights Acapulco to Ft. Lauderdale sails Jan-Apr 10 nights Ft. Lauderdale - Acapulco sails Nov-Dec Cost from US$700 pp dbl. - Holland America - 'Rotterdam' 14 nights Ft. Lauderdale - Los Angeles 6 nights Los Angeles - Honolulu Sails Apr 1st cost from US$980 pp dbl. Call Dennis at 1-800-547-6586 ext 11 for more details. Visiting St Lucia - area code is (809). Currency Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XC$). Proof of Citizenship required. Vaccination not required. Electric current 220 - 230 volts. Languages - English & Creole. Public holidays - Apr 7 & 8 Easter May 1 Labour Day Jun 1 Corpus Christi Aug 5 Emancipation Day Airport departure tax - XC$27.00 Sri Lanka Interline Club will host the 30th AGM of the World Airline Club (WACA) in Colombo, Sri Lanka from Oct 6-11th. Forthcoming events - Event Host club Date Deadline Banana Bonanza Durban Apr 13-18 Mar 1 US$700 Guanajuato Colonial Leon Apr 17-20 Apr 1 US$250 Caribbean Taste Mexico Apr 24-27 Mar 30 US$250 Iceland Adventure Iceland Apr 24-28 Mar 1 US$395 Int'l Friendship London May 1-4 Mar 1 UKP250 Ahain Wa Sahain Jordan May 7-12 Mar 1 TBA Best of West YVR& YYC May 10-17 Mar 10 CA$710 Call your local Interline Club for more details ~-=o0o=-~ . Smilies found by Terry Another Southwest Airlines saga - On a flight from Ontario to Albuquerque, the SWA flight attendants were in especially great form one night. The lone male attendant gave the safety briefing in a *perfect* Elvis Presley voice, while one of the two female attendants, who happened to be black, wore very dark Stevie Wonder syle sunglasses and did a great act as a blind flight attendant. We all roared with laughter when as 'Elvis' described the emergency exits, our female "blind" flight attendant began pointing to the overhead compartment bins and restroom doors as the emergency exits! Needless to say she did end up pointing out the correct exits when after some time we stopped laughing. . That's it for this time, please we need your input, send comments and email addresses of any others who may be interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry. -!- Landing on an Island in the Pacific. _____(~)_____ ! ! ! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <<<>>> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ... ................................................... . GREETINGS FROM . . Vancouver Island . . BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA . ...................................................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |\^/| _| TCA |_ _|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R > CANADA < B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S >_./|\._< for P I O N A I R S | Your crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson Chief Navigator - Terry Baker tm number 127 date February 23rd 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . Julio Seiz, refering to the information about the Preswick lucnh dates, sends us the following piece of information - On your netletter nr 123 (Fri.14 feb 97) there was a list of people who meet first Tuesday of each month at St.Nicholas Hotel, Prestwick. I am sorry to advise that one of them, Elton Clelford, died last month after a short illness. Elton and I worked together for many years in the Montreal Interline Club and later in the World Airlines Clubs Association (WACA), before he moved to Scotland. ~-=o0o=-~ . Don Demeza mentions a few names which may be of interest to our readers - I keep in touch with quite a few of the people I worked with but Belleville is a bit off the beaten track. Carl Starodub from WG Cargo dropped in last year. Vic Wozniuk is now a VP with Journey's End Hotels - their head office is in Belleville so he has been in but works out of Toronto. Carol Hughes drops by - she's with Ontario Hydro in Toronto. Linda Eunson has been by - she's in the Orient now I believe. My daughter Debra was with Gemini but is now with Greenlight Communications in Toronto. How the world changes and yet remains the same. (Sure does Don. Anyone else out there have any names to pass along? - eds) ~-=o0o=-~ . Phill Pawsey advises that the latest version of the TCA/AC roster is available for "radio amateurs or swl (shortwave radio listeners)". Phil can be emailed at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ~-=o0o=-~ . News from the Districts - Marie Miners sends us an update from the Comox Valley group on Vancouver Island - The Comox Valley Group meet for lunch on the last Thursday of every month. The next lunch will be on Feb. 27 at the Old House, Courtnay at 11.45 am. All are welcome. January the lunch was held at the Kingfisher Inn, with a good turnout of over 30 people. Discussed was an idea of having all-day outings instead of lunch, such as a cruise down the coast and around Denman Island, possibly in April. The cost would be approx. CA$22.00 pp. Bring your own lunch for the 4 hour trip. Contact Marray Phipps at (250) 334-0807 for more information. On a more personal note, Marie tells us that her husband Rodger has done the acceptance of two A319's in Hamburg so far (plus observing the first one in Dec.). Once he's finished, the financial people take over (the aircraft doesn't belong to Air Canada until they've done their job i.e. exchanged money) and then a delivery crew brings the aircraft back to Winnipeg. There will be another early in March and two in April. (Thanks for the info Marie - eds) ~-=o0o=-~ . Found on the internet Vesta found this schedule and passes it on - The United States Navy Blue Angels 1997 Performance Schedule ----------------------------------------------------------- MARCH 15 NAF El Centro, CA Open House 22-23 Mesa, AZ Air Races Fair ----------------------------------------------------------- APRIL 5-6 MacDill AFB, FL Airfest 97 12-13 MCAS Cherry Point, NC Airshow 19-20 NAS Fallon, NV Airshow 25-27 MCAS El Toro, CA Airshow ----------------------------------------------------------- WHATWUZZAT? F-16 FLY-BY'S STARTLE CREWS OF 727, COMMUTER. Whether this one goes down as a dumb pilot stunt or an ATC error, FAA and Air Force officials and airline execs were collectively nonplused by a near miss involving a pair of New Jersey Air National Guard F-16s and a B727 operated by Nations Air enroute to JFK from San Juan. The Boeing took evasive action, diving 4,000 feet and levitating two FAs and a passenger in the process, but no one was hurt. Two days later the military got to be red-faced a second time after a different flight of Guard F-16s had a less-close encounter with an American Eagle SAAB 340 off the Maryland coast. SHORT FINAL... A F-15 was escorting a C-141 into Tel Aviv during the war. The F-15 pilot said, "Bet you wish you could do this!" and moved way out front and did a nice barrel roll for all to see. A little later when the F-15 was back in position behind the C-141, the C-141 pilot said, "Bet you wish you could do this!" After several minutes the F-15 pilot finally radioed, "So?" The C-141 pilot replied, "I just went back to the lav and took my morning relief!". CONCORDE The first Concorde Around the World Golf Tour 1997 was sold out early for the trip Feb 16 thru Mar 7th, The second Concorde Around the World Golf Tour 1998 is planned for Jan 11 thru Feb 1st 1998. The Paris Air Show , the 42nd, is planned for Jun 15th - 22nd at Le Bourget, Paris. ~-=o0o=-~ . Interline stuff GisŠle Fyfe-Burke AC webmaster seeking any info on Bermuda - for May looking for sleeping for 4 with kitchenette very very inexpensive - so far cost was too high - appreciate your help. Email relies to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Irene Vazalinskas of Industry Travel sends us this information - The May issue of Horizons should cover OAL travel, including parents on Continental. Continental Airlines service charges are $50.00 North America and $100.00 international - no change. OAL information will appear in Horizons and during the year for new or revised agreements. With reference to car rentals and hotels these are not part of Industry Travel function. Employees contact these establishments directly and many subscribe to ASU travel guide. The old Employee Travel Guide, ACF853-40, last issued in 1992 by the Employee Relations branch will no longer be updated or reissued. 4 day / 3 night Disney/Epcot area hotel package. Only US$99 for all 3 nights, 2 adults + 2 children. Call 1-800-272-4707 for more details. Julio Seiz sends us the following - The Club Interlineal Mexico asks me to inform all interliners of an all inclusive package at Caribbean Village, Cancun, April 24 to 27,97 at a cost of US$250.00 p/p dbl occupancy. Single room supplement is US$115.00. Contact persons are: Luis Mares, fax 799 16 14, sita MEXKCMX and L.M.Espino, fax 789 87 38, phone 789 89 16. I have a copy of the pkg details which I could fax on request. Julio. Contact Julio via his daughter email at Helene Seiz This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ~-=o0o=-~ . Smilies from Terry Flight Attendant announcement on Southwest Airlines - The captain and cabin crew welcome you aboard this flight. We hope that you will do everything possible to make our flight enjoyable. And another one from Southwest Airlines - As we make our final approach, please fasten your seat belt, make sure your seat back is upright, and open the windows before landing. Someone asks a pilot "When is the last time you had sex?" The pilot replies "1957". "Wow", they exclaim, "That seems like an awfully long time ago!". The pilot, looking at his watch, says, "Not really - it's only 21:30 now". and Bill Sim found this one for us - THE DEVIL~~~ Fellow boards an airliner, red suit, red shirt, red tie, goatee' and little horns sprouting from his forehead. The flight attendant takes the boarding pass and says: "You're in seat 6-A" "I'm the Devil, by the way", he remarks as he passes and she nods. Later she walks the aisle and admonishes him: "Put on your seat belt now, please." and he replied: "--I-- am THE Devil. Do you know that?" The F/A nods and quips: "Yeah." Soon after he summons her with the call button, demands a drink and she advises him that they will serve drinks only when airborne and much later. "You don't seem to appreciate that --I-- am THE Devil, Satan, Lucifier, Evil Incarnate. Do you know that?" She nods apathetically. "Aren't you the least intimidated or impressed with that awesome fact?" "Nah", she replies, "Up front I have two guys, each of whom is convinced he's God. You're no competition." ~-=o0o=-~ . That's it for this time, please we need your input, send comments and email addresses of any others who may be interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry. -!- Landing on an Island in the Pacific. _____(~)_____ ! ! ! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <<<>>> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ... ................................................... . GREETINGS FROM . . Vancouver Island . . BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA . ...................................................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |\^/| _| TCA |_ _|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R > CANADA < B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S >_./|\._< for P I O N A I R S Your crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson Chief Navigator - Terry Baker tm number 126 date February 21st 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . We welcome Linda Reverchon, presently an Air Canada ticket agent at Vancouver International, who is retiring later this year. Her address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Don't forget the System Hockey Tournament at Calgary Feb 25th - 27th. . Arthur Adamson recently took a trip and sends us some of his experiences - First we enjoyed our cruise through the Panama Canal very much and would certainly recommend the Holland American Line. We boarded in Ft. Lauderdale and got off at Acupulco. Stayed there two days, flew to Mex. City on Mexicana, for CA$45.00 on an A320. They have zone fares. Spent two days in Mex. City. We booked our cruise through Darcy at Dargal Interline in Kelowna, 1-800-690-3223. She was able to get us an excellant fare, for some reason better than the local Interline Office, on the same cruise. We arrived home Feb.5 from Mexico City via CA to Houston and then AC via Calgary. Continental was very informative when I phoned to register, about space etc. As a matter of fact, we went out and stoodby for an earlier flight than they suggested, with the hope of getting to Houston in time to catch our Calgary flight. Otherwise we would have gone on CA to LAX and then home. Someone told me they, CA, have a $100.00 fare from VR to Dallas. On the subject of pass travel: There are a lot of zone fares that one only finds out about when you phone the employee travel number. Example; We flew on Mexicano from Acapulco to Mex. City for approx. $42.00. Both Mexicana and CA were very good about giving us information regarding space available. (A full listing of zonal fares is in Netletter nr 125 - eds) Thanks, Arthur, for sharing your information with us. ~-=o0o=-~ . Lawson Tremellen spotted the following on the Internet - Nine Airlines Form Pact to Counter BA-American. LONDON (Reuter) - Nine major airlines are forming a new global alliance to counter the threat posed by the proposed linkup between British Airways and American Airlines, industry officials said Wednesday. The club is being formed by "like-minded companies of similar quality and with a common vision," Zachary Clark, an Air Canada General Manager Sales in Europe, said. Headed by United Airlines and Deustche Lufthansa, the new group will include airlines from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, the officials said. It is part of a huge realignment to become more efficient and boost revenues through closer coordination, he added. Frequent flyer programs will be merged so as to permit passengers to travel and earn miles on the worldwide network of all nine airlines, Clark said. Industry sources said the alliance would be launched in mid-May as an integral airline product with its own brand name. In addition to Lufthansa and United, it will include Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai International and Brazil's Varig. Other carriers such as Japan's All-Nippon Airways, South African Airways and British Midland were likely join to provide wider global coverage, the sources added. The alliance would be aimed at the British Airways-American Air alliance and at countering its domination of key aviation hubs like London and Dallas. The British Airways-American alliance, proposed last June, is being reviewed by regulators. The group's first "universal airport lounge" will be in Bangkok. Similar joint reservations and ticketing offices will be set up around the world, the officials said. Clark said he believed the new group could create a single frequent flyer name, membership card and rewards program. Like other alliances, he said, it was being driven by a "certain degree of paranoia at the prospect of a BA-American partnership." A London-based spokesman for United said, "We think there should be a competitive counter-balance to the BA-American alliance. What BA and American are planning is to monopolize London Heathrow and it shouldn't be allowed to happen." ~-=o0o=-~ . Interline stuff The following question was left on the open line of CIC Daily info. Peter Symes, Retiree: 'I'd like to voice a comment about the wait times with the Employee Call Centre. I've waited between one and three hours for a response, when I get a line. I realise that this problem is causing everyone a great deal of grief, yet, on the other hand, this is not acceptable. The fax requests are a great idea, except for people, including retirees, who haven't access to a fax machine. Is relief in sight?' Carol Zoeller, General Manager, Call Centres responded 'Our service levels are much better these days - there are, in fact, many days when calls are answered within 20 seconds. Later this month, we will be automating incoming teletype registrations which will allow us to handle more calls. There are other enhancements under consideration for future developments for those employees calling from home, such as registration by touch tone phone or voice recognition technology.' Effective from Jan 1st, parents of employees may travel on an unlimited basis on Continental using ZED fares based on mileage. The above was printed in the interACTION published Jan 31st 1997. ~-=o0o=-~ . Smilies from the internet. Sorry about the rough landing sir, but you see, I'm practicing for United Airlines. Next time I'll try to lose your luggage. In China in the eighties. A DC-3 (or similar?) loaded with tourist passagers starts up and is about to taxi. Then the engines are shut down again. The captain leaves the cockpit and addresses the passengers: "This plane ill! We take other plane!" They all walk over to a DC-3 parked across the ramp. Engines started, and shut down again. Captain addresses passengers again: "This plane even more ill! We take first plane!" DCA clearance delivery responded to a request for an IFR clearance with a rapid-fire clearance that went on and on, with various VORs, fixes, altitudes, etc. After a pause, a voice came back, in a slow Texas drawl, "OK, now why don't you'all say that again, real slow, as if it mattered." ~-=o0o=-~ . That's it for this time, please we need your input, send comments and email addresses of any others who may be interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry. -!- Landing on an Island in the Pacific. _____(~)_____ ! ! ! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. <<<>>> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ................................................... . GREETINGS FROM . . Vancouver Island . . BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA . ...................................................