~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|\^/|
_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
|
Our crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
number 190 date Aug 17th 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
. Welcome to Ron Miles who retired in 1983 after 38 years service
and lives in Sun City, California along with
three other retired types. All are ex
Canadian individuals moved by TCA to the
U.S.A. during the early days of our
careers.
Email Ron at
~-=o0o=-~
. We welcomed Dennis Brackman in NetLetter nr 187, and he sends us
his autobiography -
I was born in London, England in the district of Whitechapel
within the sound of Bow bells - this makes me a Cockney, but
people have no problem understanding me. (grin :-))). I remember
living in the East End and Hackney and after the war we moved to
Eastcote and Edgware, both in the County of Middlesex (doesn't
exist anymore). I came to Canada November 1963 and worked for a
large retail chain's service centre for home entertainment
products until I joined Air Canada.
My Air Canada career started in 1968 as a Mech-1 and ended with
my retirement in 1997 as an Avionics Specialist-2. I started in
the Avionics shop at the Dorval Base testing and repairing various
Black Boxes. Through the years, I moved around to do other
interesting work within the Avionics shop. Areas such as the
Calibration and Test Equipment section and the Fabrication section,
where our group designed and built test panels for the Avionics
shop to test the L-1011 and B-747 Black Boxes. The most exciting
challenge was joining the A.T.E. (Automatic Test Equipment) section
in 1979. Testing Black Boxes using real time computer controlled
test equipment was necessary for the new technology digital
avionics. In 1982 the A.T.E. section prepared for the future.
The Aerospatiale Airbus A320 was coming and with it the ATEC-5000
A.T.E. The ATEC-5000 was the most interesting to work with because
it made use of my experiences in the electronics and software
fields. I was with the ATEC-5000 up to the time of my retirement.
I have many good memories of the people I worked with and also of
those that I met from other departments in the course of my work.
I had a great time at Air Canada mainly due to the co-operation of
all those people.
My interest in electronics started when I was about 10 years old.
I used to listen to a detective program called *Dick Barton,
special agent* which I think was broadcast on the BBC Light program
around 07:00 PM. Anyone out there familiar with this program?
Anyway, my mother didn't want me to stay up late to listen to it
because I had to get up early for school. We never had the luxury
of more than one wireless so I wasn't happy missing this program.
After the war, we moved to Eastcote and I went to a school in
Ruislip Manor also in Middlesex. In this area, there was a shop
that was selling scrap military radio equipment, I think it was
called Bulls Radio. They sold plans and parts to build a crystal
(cats whisker) set radio. I saved my birthday and pocket money and
bought the plans, parts, headphones and 100 feet of aerial wire.
I built it in a cigar box and took it to school to show the science
teacher. He explained that you have to find the sensitive spot on
the crystal otherwise it won't work. That problem solved, I strung
out the aerial from my bedroom window to the backyard fence and
fiddled with the *whisker*. It worked! I was anxious to get to
bed early that night to try it out on Dick Barton. The beauty of
this radio was that my parents were unaware I listened to my
program because I snuggled under the blankets with the headphones
on. The only precaution was to disconnect everything from the
aerial during a thunderstorm. As I got older and saved more money
I built my first one *valve* (tube) battery radio. That's how I
started learning about electronics. When I did my National
Service, I was lucky to be in the R.A.F. to continue my studies in
the radio field at the Air Wireless School in Yatesbury, Wiltshire.
After my 2 years were up, I left the services with the rank of
S.A.C.
I'm married to a Winnipegger for 26 years and she is a CFL Blue
Bomber fan.
I root for the Ti-Cats just to bug her! We have one son and live
in Chomedey, Laval, Quebec.
My hobbies are a little bit of gardening (ouch my back!),
computers, cycling, collecting stamps, action and sci-fi movies
and X-Files - my son got me hooked on that.
My computer is the equivalent of the crystal radio. It is a
Commodore C-128 connected to all Commodore stuff. A model 1670
1200 baud modem, 1571 disk drive, 1902 RGB monitor and am MPS-1000
printer. My ISP has the Lynx browser so I can use the WWW and
e-mail but no piccies. It is slow but it works - for now.
Anyone out there use the same or similar slow gear?
Regards, Denis Brackman
~-=o0o=-~
. News from the Districts -
Vancouver Island Summer newsletter -
Victoria Fall Luncheon planned for Oct 23rd and will be held at
McMorran's restaurant 5109 Cordova Bay Rd, for a sit down roast
beef dinner. Start 11:30 for chitchat - drinks then 12:30 for
lunch. All this for CA$16.00 per person.
Cheques by Oct 16th. Guest speaker will be Olie Moore, National
President of the Pionairs.
Call Bill Fisher for more information (250)656-7936.
Visiting retirees and Pionairs most welcome.
Victoria Christmas Luncheon this year will be at Dunsmuir Lodge
December 10th start at 11:30. Price CA$25.00 per person. Seating
is limited to 80 persons. Don't wait until it is too late,
cheques by Dec 3rd is a must, but call Bill and reserve as soo
as possibe.
Comox Valley group hold their monthly meetings on the last
Thursday of each month, and the June meeting attended by
29 Pionairs held at the Salmon Point Resort.
During July, the group went on a boat trip around Denman Island
which lasted 4 hours.
~-=o0o=-~
. The British Columbia Aviation Museum is located on the east side
of Victoria International Airport on Vancouver Island. The annual
open house is planned for Aug 23/24th. Admission is by donation.
The evening of the 23rd is the 2nd annual Hanger Dance with music
by the Swiftsure Big Band and admission is CA$10.00 per person.
The band is a 16 piece band plus vocalist, and all the music is
from the WWII years 1939-1946. All Pionairs and friends are
welcome. All tickets will be pre-sold.
The museum has some very interesting exhibits, and several local
Pionairs donate their time and efforts.
Call Bill Fisher at (250) 656-7936 for more info.
~-=O0O=-~
. Interline stuff.
Canadian Interline Travel Hot Deals!
====================================
COSTA CRUISES - Italian Style
=============================
The Best of Europe at Special Interline Rates
- From Europe's #1 Cruise Line
*********************************************
- Greek Isles/Turkey - 7 Nights
Ship: CostaVictoria Dates: September 14 & 28, 1997
Sailing for seven nights from Venice, Italy to Bari, Katakolon,
Kusadasl, Volos & Piraeus (Athena)
Inside Cabin: US$799 pp* Oceanview Cabin: US$899 pp*
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- Eastern Mediterranean - 7 Nights
Ship: CostaClassica Date: September 1/1997
Sailing for seven nights from Venice, Italy to Bari, Katakolon,
Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, & Kithera
Inside Cabin: US$799 pp* Oceanview Cabin: US$899 pp*
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- Special Voyage - 9 Nights
Ship: CostaAllegra Date: September 6/1997
Sailing for nine nights from Amsterdam, Netherlands
to Dover (London), St. Malo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga
and Genoa (disembarkation port)
Inside Cabin: US$999 pp* Oceanview Cabin: US$1,149 pp*
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- Baltic & Russia - 7 Nights
Ship: CostaMarina Dates: August 31, September 7 & 14/1997
Sailing for seven nights from Copenhagen, Denmark to Stockholm,
Helsinki St. Petersburg, & Tallinn
Inside Cabin: $899us pp* Oceanview Cabin: $999us pp*
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
All prices are pp dbl.
Call Toll Free at: 1-800-665-3100 and mention Pionairs.
~-=o0o=-~
. Smilie -
Vesta found this in Readers Digest.
A Passenger Agent's tale.
At Sudbury airport in northern Ontario where she was a passenger
agent, a flight arrived from Elliot Lake enroute to Earlton
during a terrific thunderstorm.
A young lady marched up to her and asked for a refund on the
Sudbury-Earlton portion of her flight. When she asked her why
she was deplaning in Sudbury, she exclaimed: "That aircraft was
bouncing all over the sky! I prayed to get it on the ground.
" As it happened, the captain of her flight was standing behind
her. "I wish they wouldn't do that," he said, shaking his head.
"I'm up front praying I can keep it in the air!"
~-=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.
/------------------------\ |~~\_____/~~\__ |
| Between Ourselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ~~~|/~~ |
\------------------------/ ()
Air Canada Pionairs ~Between Ourselves-Netletter~
http://www.mortimer.com/acra
mailto:
mailto:
...................................................
. GREETINGS FROM .
. Vancouver Island .
. BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA .
...................................................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|\^/|
_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
|
Our crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-Pilot - Terry Baker
number 189 date Aug 15th 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
. In NetLetter nr 188 we mentioned that we had lost contact with
Jim Billwiller - apparently he snuck off to Penticton as this
message from Alan Rust tells us -
Hey! I know him! He has just retired and moved to Penticton
and had to change his ISP, his new address is
Oops - I NetLetter nr 181 we told you about the new email for
Charles and Diane Shnider - but we got it all wrong as
we hear from them -
'We are back home after a three week plus trip by auto to
Ywg and Grand Forks N.D. really enjoyed it all but glad to
be home.
The above bulletin lists our new email address but miss
-spelled the surname. it is SHNIDER (no "C") so the correct
email is:
Charles and Diana Shnider.'
~-=o0o=-~
. News from the Districts -
From the US District, Mac Francis sends us this -
Any Pionair is welcome to the US meeting.
WHEN: November 11, 12, 13
WHERE: 8801 Apartment Hotel, 8801 Collins Avenue, Surfside, Fl.
(mid-way between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale)
AGENDA: Tues, Nov. 11,
hospitality suite open in Ian McMurray's room
Wed. Nov. 12,
General Meeting in AM,
Health Committee meeting in PM
Thurs. Nov 13,
BAR-B-Q dinner by the beach at the hotel.
COST: US$15.00 pp to be collected before dinner.)
RATES: 2 bedroom apartment - US$100.00 per day
1 bedroom apartment - US$75.00 per day
efficiencies - US$60.00 per day
All apartments have full kitchen,
2 bedroom units have 2 full baths,
1 bedroom units have 1 and 1/2 baths
Rate is good for length of stay, so you may arrive a day or
two early and leave a day or two late.
RESERVATIONS: make direct with Hotel, identifying yourself as
an Air Canada Pionair:
Telephone - (305) 865 7451
FAX - (305) 868 5911
Mail - The 8801 Apartment Hotel
Attn: Patricia Gonzalez
8801 Collins Avenue, Surfside
Miami Beach, Florida 33154
Advise type of unit desired, number of guests, when checking-in,
when checking-out, credit card name, credit card number
and expiration date.
MAC FRANCIS.
~-=o0o=-~
. On August 20th 1937, Group Captain Zebulon Lewis Leigh from the
Canadian Airlines was the first Canadian pilot hired by
Trans Canada Air Lines. Sadly, Group Captain Leigh passed
away December 22nd 1996 aged 91 years old.
~-=o0o=-~
. Found on the Internet.
Air canada successfully provided 747 service for this year's Hadj
transportation program. From Mar 6 to May 22nd, the company
wet-leased fin #307 to provide service from Indonesia to Saudi
Arabia. On each flight Air Canada provided cockpit crew, one
supervisory flight attendant and one Technical Operations
representative. Due to Air Canada's expanded international
network they were even able to operate the positioning flights
via London, England and New Delhi on a profitable basis. Next
year Air Canada are hopeful at leasing up to 4 aircraft to
optimise deployment out their wide-bodied fleet.
The engine that powers the Boeing 727 has been in production
for 33 years. Pratt & Whitney started building the JT8D with
a thrust of 14,000 lbs and built 11,845 of that model.
A derivative JT8D-200 with a thrust of 21,000 lbs has 2,705
versions built. The engines have flown over 500 million hours
and 400 million flight cycles. These numbers equate to 50% of
the worlds flight hours and 60% of all flights on existing
commercial aircraft.
~-=o0o=-~
. Interline stuff.
"Tom and Bev Anderson (Ottawa) are planning a cruise
on the Sky Princess from Hong Kong to Singapore this
November. They would like to hear from anyone who has
taken this cruise and also anyone who can recommend
a hotel in Hong Kong and also one in Singapore. They
can be reached through e-mail:
Canadian Interline Travel Hot Deals!
====================================
Royal Caribbean International
*****************************
Interline Rates! - 8 Night Repositioning Cruise!
One date only! - September 4/1997
- From US$63 pp per day
-(actual fare is US$499 Inside Cabin)
-(US$599 Outside Cabin up to category F)
- Includes Port Charges
Ship: Nordic Empress
Itinerary: Thurs - Port Canaveral, Fri - Nassau, Bahamas,
Sat - At Sea, Sun - Labadee, Haiti, Mon - At Sea
Tues - Philipsburg, St. Maartan
Wed - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Thurs - St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Fri - San Juan, Puerto Rico
(Usual Terms and Conditions Apply)
**********************************************************
ALASKA Cruises on Royal Caribbean from only US$799 pp dbl 7 nights.
Legend of the Seas or Rhapsody of the Seas. From Vancouver
return to Vancouver. Price includes port charges.
Vancouver, Victoria & Whistler hotel packages available from
US$135.
BERMUDA Cruises on Royal Caribbean from only US$549 pp dbl 7 nights.
From New York return. Price includes port charges US$115.
3 night New York Hotel package available from US$149.
Call 1-800-665-3100 for details and mention Pionairs.
~-=o0o=-~
. Smilie -
Alan Rust sent us this -
Commandments of Helicopter Flying.
1. He who inspecteth not his aircraft giveth his angels cause to
concern him.
2. Hallowed is thy airflow across thy disc restoring thine
Translational Lift.
3. Let infinite discretion govern thy movement near the ground,
for vast is the area of destruction.
4. Blessed is he who strives to retain his standards, for
without them he shall surely perish.
5. Thou shalt maintain thy speed whilst between ten and four hundred
feet lest the earth rise and smite thee.
6. Thou shall not make trial of thy centre of gravity lest thou
dash thy foot against a stone.
7. Thou shalt not let thy confidence exceed thy ability, for broad
is the way to destruction.
8. He that doeth his approach and alloweth the wind to turn behind
him shall surely make restitution.
9. He who alloweth his tail rotor to catch in the thorns curseth
his childrens children.
10. Observe thou this parable lest on the morrow thy friends
mourn thee.
~-=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.
/------------------------\ |~~\_____/~~\__ |
| Between Ourselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ~~~|/~~ |
\------------------------/ ()
Air Canada Pionairs ~Between Ourselves-Netletter~
http://www.mortimer.com/acra
mailto:
mailto:
...................................................
. GREETINGS FROM .
. Vancouver Island .
. BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA .
...................................................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|\^/|
_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
|
Our crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
number 188 date Aug 12th 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT'S ON AND WHERE?
Wednesday August 13, 1997
Niagara Falls & Niagara-0n-the-Lake Bus
Tour from Toronto
*** REGINA AIR CANADA'S 60TH
ANNIVERSARY,water slides and BBQ: time 12:00 - 21:00
at Maxwells Amusement Park.
Friday August 15, 1997
Ottawa, KoffeeKlatsches, Family
Restaurant, Carlingwood Shopping
Saturday August 16, 1997
***LAGUARDIA AIRCANADAS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
PARTY, 17-2200 hrs Manhattan Cruise
***MONTREAL AIRCANADAS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
PARTY 10-1600hrs Air Canada hangar
Wednesday August 20, 1997
Burlington&Oakville Coffee @ Pig &
Whistle Burlock Dr & Lakeshore Rd 11am
Friday August 22, 1997
Ottawa, KoffeeKlatsches, Family
Restaurant, Carlingwood Shopping
Saturday August 23, 1997
tba Halifax BBQ
Thursday August 28, 1997
VanIs Fall lunch @Kingfisher, Courtenay
guest speaker Al Thompson President AirBC
Friday August 29, 1997
Ottawa, KoffeeKlatsches, Family
Restaurant, Carlingwood Shopping
~-=o0o=-~
. For some time now, we have been unable to get our NetLetter to
Jim Billwiller at email:
~-=o0o=-~
. Tom Martin sends us this comment after reading NetLetter nr 184 -
Thanks for the plug for the Cranbrook Airshow.
My interest is because our daughter is responsible for the 200 plus
volunteers and son in law, who made the web site, is treasurer and
they both seem to be doing a heck of a lot besides. It is now so
entrenched that they no longer have to go after performers,
instead they are contacted and this year is the biggest yet and
they hope to get 8000 visitors to help pay the costs.
Lots of work.
~-=o0o=-~
. AIR CANADA - A pocket Guide, a complete historical & fleet guide
of Air canada from the early days of Trans Canada Air Lines. The
only guide available covering Air Canada's history from beginning
to present.
Available at Aviation World, 195 Carlingview Dr, Rexdale, On,
M9W 5E8. (416)674-5959 or
1-800-668-1987.
~-=o0o=-~
. In October 1997, 125 special needs children nominated from
charitable organizations in B.B. will board an Air Canada B767
at Vancouver for Los Angeles for a fun-filled day at Disneyland.
This, the fifth annual 'Dreams Takes Flight' is organized by
Air Canada employees, with the help of retirees, in Vancouver.
To help with the fundraising to cover the costs, and for each
CA$100 donation, you will enjoy a scenic tour aboard TCA's
1937 Lockheed Electra 10A aircraft restored to its original
operating condition. Flights depart Aug 13 - 17th from Air canada
747 Hanger, 5530 Miller Road, Richmond, B.C. Contact 643-5757.
~-=o0o=-~
. News from the Districts -
London England Monthly newsletter -
Forthcoming events -
Sept 7th trip to Cadbury World has been cancelled due lack of
support.
October (TBA) - ACRA Theatre trip 'Buddy'
Nov 2nd - London - Brighton Rally.
Dec 1st - ACRA Christmas Dinner & Dance.
Dec 7th - Pionairs Christmas lunch at Four Pillars Hotel,
Osterley.
A dog is for life - A dog can be just for the weekend at
Ettington Park (Four Crown) near Stratford-on-Avon. Digby and
Snoopy, two soppy black Labradors, have been rescued from the
local animal shelter and entered on the payroll as 'Canine
Service Managers'. A spare lead is left in every room so that
even city people can experience country walks with canine
companions.
Okanagan Newsletter -
Upcoming events -
Wine tasting tour & Luncheon Monday Sept 15th at 11.00 with
lunch at 12.00. Place: Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, Hwy 97 South
Summerland. Cost: CA$11.00 per person includes gratuities and
tax. Limited to 60 persons, sign up by Sept 8th, first come
first served. Call Bernice at (250)492-6976.
Third annual Christmas Party to be held Dec 1st at 11.30 for
cocktails/cash bar, then 12.30 luncheon, followed at 14.00 with
entertainment. Place Ramada Lodge Hotel, Kelowna.
Cost CA$17.00 per person includes gratuities & tax. A donation
of a non-perishable item for the food bank would be welcomed.
Reserve by Nov 24th. Call Bernice at (250) 492-6976.
Visiting Pionairs welcome.
Pionairs meet for coffee and a friendly chat the first Tuesday
of each month .. 10.00 at The Muffin Break in Kelowna and
Vernon. Penticton Pionairs meet at Tim Hortons, Penticton.
~-=o0o=-~
. From the British Airways News -
A passenger who attacked 3 people on a BAA flight recently is now
serving a 4 month prison sentence. His travelling partner was
fined UKP240 for being drunk and disorderly on the same flight.
There have been 10 successful prosecutions since the introduction
of the Disruptive Passenger Policy last year and 8 more people
are awaiting trial. BA is determined to support crews and ground
staff in all they do to ensure the safety both of customers and
staff.
British Airways plans to keep the Concorde going for a least
another 5 to 10 years. The life expentancy of the fleet was
30 years and the aircraft were built from 1975 to 1981.
~-=o0o=-~
. Found on the Internet.
American Airlines is likely to recruit 360 new flight attendants
in the coming year.
It was a flying strip show for the passengers on a Canada 3000
flight last Spring. The ladies enjoyed it, but the guys didn't
because the stripper was male. The aircraft diverted to
Newfoundland and the exhibitionist was deplaned.
An airline at YYZ recently received a box marked "Perishable'.
The agent did the logical thing and placed it in the cold room.
Problem was the box contained an Iguana - a rather frozen one.
Western Pacific Airlines has acquired Frontier Airlines.
Rumour has it that Ansett and Air new Zealand will become members
of the Star Alliance.
Northwest Airlines have ordered (50) A319 from Airbus Industries,
TAM of Brazil received (5) A330-300's and Monarch Airlines have
ordered (2) A321 and (2) A330's. Finair has ordered (12) A320's
with options on a further 24.
~-=o0o=-~
. Interline stuff.
Edmonton Airport departure tax is CA$10.00, except for travel
within Alberta when the charge is CA$5.00
Don't carry more than 10 sticks of gum when entering Singapore,
it could cost you a year in jail.
If you are planning a trip using the great discounts available to
Pionairs with either Dargel Tours or Canadian Interline Tours, be
sure to identify yourselves as a Pionair as the National Office
of the Pionairs receive a commission for each booking.
~-=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.
/------------------------\ |~~\_____/~~\__ |
| Between Ourselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ~~~|/~~ |
\------------------------/ ()
Air Canada Pionairs ~Between Ourselves-Netletter~
http://www.mortimer.com/acra
mailto:
mailto:
...................................................
. GREETINGS FROM .
. Vancouver Island .
. BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA .
...................................................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|\^/|
_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
|
Our crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-Pilot - Terry Baker
number 187 date Aug 8th 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
. If you are having a problem locating Art Adamson, try his new
email Arthur Adamson <
. Welcome to Mac Francis retired as Cargo & Sales Manager-SFO,
living in Walnut Creek, California, has an
short bio -
Worked 30 years with Air Canada in New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hawaii and enjoyed every
minute of it. Am married with one son, Devlin;
wife Louise, Cat Tabatha and enjoy a fairly good game
of golf. Love travelling.
Denis Brackman retired and living in the Montreal area,
email is
Jacques Gaucher who is the editor of the Montreal
District Pionairs newsletter "Sentinel'.
Jacques bio reads like this -
I started in 1956 as a Passenger Agent in Quebec city.
From there I became a supervisor at the City Ticket office then
supervisor at the Quebec airport until 1969 when I was then
transferred to Montreal as an instructor, teaching their trade
to travel agents as well as Travel Agency owners.
In 1972 I was transferred to the Personnel Branch (now Human
Relations) as an Insurance Specialist. In 1976 I became
Manager of Working Conditions and Employee Benefits where I
stayed until I retired in 1984.
In all this, there were happy as well as miserable periods
depending on who my bosses were but all in all, I' m happy I
did it and have no regrets.
Regards! Jacques G.
(Those 'bosses' or anyone wishing to give input to the
'Sentinel' can email Jacques at
~-=o0o=-~
News from the Districts -
Vancouver Island Pionairs will have their Up Island Luncheon,
held at the Kingfisher, Courtenay, start 11.30 for 12.30.
on Thursday Aug 28th. Cost is CA$15.00 per person, friends
and visiting retirees are welcome. Guest speaker is Al Thompson,
CEO AirBC.
Cheques PIONAIRS to Bill Fisher, 2120 Malaview Ave # 21,
Sidney, V8L 3E4 as soon
as possible to get a count.
Montreal District Pionairs - Bill Sims reports -
With regards to the article in NetLetter nr 186 and the planned
trip to France. Sorry to tell you this event was canceled due to
lack of lead time. We hope to get things going for next year
Michel was disappointed. There was a lot of money up front the
Executive and the Committee thought we better make it next year.
This morning, I spent a few hours at the Montreal Airport, on the
phone calling retirees on behalf of the Air Canada 60th birthday
celebration committee. Person in charge Lynn Haroon 514 422 2165.
Our Director Herb Guilfoyle called in the troops to man the phones.
Family Day Air Canada is celebrating its 60th birthday.
Come and join us for our Family Day. This family day is free and
full of activities for all ages with hot-dogs and ice cream for
everyone!
All active and retired employees are more than welcome with their
family (children must be accompanied by an adult).
Date Saturday August 16,1997
Location 747 Hangar Dorval Base Time 10:00 to 16:00 hrs.
We are looking for volunteers to help organize this event.
We are searching for singers, clowns, musicians (band) anyone
with artistic or musical talents to make it fun for everyone.
Volunteers please. Come one Come all.
For more information call Lynn Haroon at (514)422 2165
~-=o0o=-~
. Tom Grant reminds us that Wed, 06 Aug 35 years ago TCA
"dayflite" same day return tickets YVR-YYJ went on sale
for CA$9.00.
~-=o0o=-~
. Found on the internet.
Virgin Airlines ordered (16) A340-600 from Airbus Industries as
launch customer, to accommodate inflight bedrooms, showers and
exercise areas.
ASIANA recently received (1)B767-300 and (1)B737-400.
United's Chicago to Hong Kong route, which takes 16 hours is
possibly the longest non-stop schedule in the world. 3 meals
and 3 movies help pass the time.
Luxury specialist Francois Arpels of jewelry and fragrance giant
Van Cleef & Arpels has set up an all first class airline called
Fairlines. The airline, which is to start operations in October,
will be based in Paris (France) and offer flights to Europe's
capitals with a fleet of MD-80 series aircraft.
All 72 seats on each aircraft will be equipped with state of the
art information systems providing weather report, customized news,
duty-free shopping and on-demand movies.
CONTINENTAL, CUISINE AND CLEANLINESS:
Honest. We don't make this stuff up. We must offer still more
proof that airline food is not all it can be. It seems the Food and
Drug Administration wrote a warning letter to Continental Airlines
saying that the carrier's catering facility -- already on
"provisional" status resulting from previous violations -- was
"unsanitary" since some foods were not being stored at proper
temperatures. In the meantime, we'll pass on the potato salad.
WAI DOUBLES MEMBERSHIP
Women In Aviation, International (WAI) has doubled its membership
in one year. Initially announcing the new organization at the March
1995 Women in Aviation Conference, membership grew to 1,000 in 1996
and has doubled to 2,000 by mid-1997. "The role of Women today in
the Aviation industry, particularly the visibility gained by such
notables as new FAA administrator Jane Garvey and Secretary of the
US Air Force Dr. Sheila Widnall, has a significant impact on the
continued success of women in aviation" said Dr. Peggy Baty,
president and founder of WAI.
Linda Finch may conduct a sequel to her World Flight 1997.
~-=o0o=-~
. Interline stuff.
AIRLINE EMPLOYEES BUSTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING:
Free air travel is just not enough of an employee benefit for some
airline workers. Eighteen of them were either indicted or arrested
last week -- twelve in San Juan and six in Miami -- on charges that
they were involved in smuggling drugs into the U.S. from South
America. The drugs came in either as cargo or secreted in various
compartments (including the cockpits) of passenger jets arriving
from Colombia.
EUROPE 97 FLY/DRIVE
7 days/5 nights include 6 day rental car with unlimited mileage
and 5 nights accommodations with bath.
Great Britain from US$649 pp dbl.
Ireland from US$549 pp dbl.
France from US$579 pp dbl.
Germany from US$639 pp dbl.
Switzerland from US$719 pp dbl.
GREEK ISLAND CRUISES
Aegean Discovery -
3 day cruise, 7 day/5 nights from US$879 pp dbl. Visit Mykonos,
Patmos, Kusadasi, Rhodes & Pireaus.
Aegean Adventure -
4 day cruise, 8 days/6 nights from US$1029 pp dbl. Visit Mykonos,
Heraklion, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Patmos &
Pireaus.
Mediterranean Odyssey -
7 day cruise, 11 day/9 nights from US$1489 pp dbl. Visit Istanbul,
Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Heraklion,
Santorini and Pireaus.
Call 1-800-422-3727 for more details.
~-=o0o=-~
. Smilie
Vesta found this one -
It's an apocryphal story that allegedly happened late one night
during bad weather, as heard over the tower radio by a Search and
Rescue pilot at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, Quebec.:
Helicopter Pilot: "Roger, I'm holding at 3000 over <such-and-such>
beacon".
Second voice: "NO! You can't be doing that! *I'm* holding at
3000 over that beacon!"
(brief pause, then first voice again):
"You idiot, you're my co-pilot."
~-=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.
/------------------------\ |~~\_____/~~\__ |
| Between Ourselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ~~~|/~~ |
\------------------------/ ()
Air Canada Pionairs ~Between Ourselves-Netletter~
http://www.mortimer.com/acra
mailto:
mailto:
...................................................
. GREETINGS FROM .
. Vancouver Island .
. BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA .
...................................................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|\^/|
_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
|
Our crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Chief Navigator - Terry Baker
number 186 date Aug 6th 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
. oops - Tom Martin points out that the Abbotsford Airshow,
according to our previous NetLetter, lists it as taking place
Aug 6, 7 & 8 whereas the TV and radio ads say its the
Aug 8th, 9th, and 10th. Cheers - Tom
~-=o0o=-~
. Welcome to Daniel Moss lives in the Montreal area and uses an
email of
~-=o0o=-~
. News from the Districts -
Anita McConnell of the Okanagan District reports on a recent
event - Subject: Kettle Valley Trip - Summerland
Monday, July 7th, proved to be a warm, sunny day as forty (40)
Pionairs got together for our second annual train ride along a
preserved section of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway followed by
a picnic at Sun-Oka Beach in Summerland. Egg races, balloon toss
contests, bocci and lawn darts highlighted the afternoon.
From the London England Monthly Newsletter -
From the 1st November, the UK airline passenger duty tax will
increase. The current charge of UKP10 will double to UKP20 for
International departures and the current UKP5 will be UKP10.
Montreal Pionairs are planning atrip to France from Oct 6 - 20th
It is a 15 day excursion and costs approximately CA$55 per day
which includes 3 meals and wine. The trip is being organised
by Michel Beriau and can be contacted through the Montreal
District Pionairs.
~-=o0o=-~
. Tom Grant sends us this -
"Mississauga. Ont.
An international consortium has been selected to design and
manage a $3.5 billion redevelopment of Lester B. Pearson Int'l
Airport. Moshe Safdie Assoc Ltd/ Sidmore, Owings & Merrill will
share design responsibilitiy; Adamson Assoc will produce
construction drawings.
Terminals 1 and 2 will be replaced by a single horseshoe-shaped
terminal built around a parking facility. Initial design begins
in July and construction begins next summer on the site of an
administration building that will be demolished.
Terminal 3 is not affected."
~-=o0o=-~
. Found on the Internet.
AIR CANADA PLACES NEW ORDER.
Air Canada ordered 3 A330-200s and 5 A340-300s to replace 6 B747
Classics and 2 leased A340-300s. Options on A340-500s and
A340-600s are intended to replace its B747-400s.
If you are confused about the model numbers, here's a brief
description:
A340-300 ~295 pax ~7,300 nm - competes with B777-200IGW
A340-500 ~315 pax ~8,500 nm - competes with B777-200X
A340-600 ~375 pax ~7,300 nm - competes with B747-400 and
B777-300X
A330-200 ~265 pax ~6,500 nm - competes with B767-400ER
1. AC's order is not a big surprise, even though there were
rumors that AC might order the B777. With AC's current fleet,
the A340 makes sense. However, Air Canada is replacing the
old B747s with the much smaller A330-200 and A340-300,
especially the A330-200 which is about 60% the size of a B747.
EC SIGNS OFF ON BOEING DEAL, SOLE-SUPPLIER CONTRACTS SACRIFICED
They were dancing in the streets in Renton, Kent, Long Beach and
St.Louis while a more subdued reaction emanated from Brussels after
the European Commission gave its tentative approval to the proposed
merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas.
Boeing agreed not to enforce exclusive contracts for new aircraft
it had negotiated with AA, DAL, and CAL.
Boeing cautions that market demand will "determine whether the
company continues to produce and offer the MD series of jetliners
after current orders are filled," including the MD-95 transport.
THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION? MORE BEER!
Boulder, Coloradans Ben Henderson, 26, and Ben Cahan, 33, were
returning from a weekend fishing trip in a Cessna T-210 June 25
when -- wouldn't you know it -- the gear failed to lower. The pair
added the only fluid they could find -- three Redhook beers --
eventually landing safely on the 210's nosewheel and belly. After
Cahan telephoned Seattle-based Redhook Ale Brewery to thank them
for their product, the brewery gave the pair a gift of three cases
of Redhook Ale -- one for each can.
NO, I THOUGHT *YOU* DID THE PREFLIGHT:
Any good lawyer would sue the airplane owner for not properly
placarding his airplane over this one.
It seems two men recently decided to go for a joy ride in a Beech
Baron 58 but the twin used all 7,198 feet of Runway 17L at Oklahoma
City's Wiley Post Airport, then continued 600 to 800 feet through
the perimeter fence. Investigators discovered that the elevators
had been removed from the aircraft for maintenance.
~-=o0o=-~
. Interline stuff.
Secrets of the Nile.
Fares from US$879 pp dbl for an 8 day deluxe cruise/tour package.
add US$365 pp domestic air on Eqypt Air. Includes 3 nights in
Cairo, daily breakfast in Cairo, 4 night cruise Luxor to Aswan
with full board and nightly entertainment on board. Full day visit
to Pyramids and museum with lunch. All transfers & port taxes.
add US$20 for enterance visa upon arrival.
Mysteries of the Rio Amazonas.
Fares from US$799 pp dbl - 7 days cruise/tour package. Itinerary
Iquitos-Pevas-Caballococha-Leticia/Tabatinga-Cayaru River-
Tarapoto Lakes-San Pablo-Bora-Huitoto. Includes all meals buffet
style, transfers, daily excursions, port taxes and English
speaking guides. A visa is required for Brazil and a tourist card
for Colombia.
Cruise on a new ship of Royal Caribbean to Alaska -
from only S$799 pp dbl and this INCLUDES US$135 port charges.
Legend of the Seas - 7 nights departs each Sunday until Sept 14
from Vancouver return.
Rhapsody of the Seas - 7 nights departs each Sat until Sept 6
from Vancouver return.
Both itinaries include Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and more.
Call 1-800-665-3100 for details and mention Pionairs.
~-=o0o=-~
. Smilie.
Heard on the frequency at BNA (Nashville, Tennessee):
A/C: "Hey, that altimeter setting we got put us 15 feet
underground!"
TWR: "Well, up-periscope and taxi to the ramp!"
Vesta dug this one out of the Readers Digest -
LEG STRETCH EXERCISE.
A friend had travelled to Toronto for an operation on her knee.
She limped onto the plane when she was returning home and handed
the stewardess two boarding passes. "Where's your companion?"
She explained that she was alone but because her leg had to be
elevated, she needed two seats. The only problem, she discovered,
was that the seats were separated by the aisle. <g>
~-=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.
/------------------------\ |~~\_____/~~\__ |
| Between Ourselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ~~~|/~~ |
\------------------------/ ()
Air Canada Pionairs ~Between Ourselves-Netletter~
http://www.mortimer.com/acra
mailto:
mailto:
...................................................
. GREETINGS FROM .
. Vancouver Island .
. BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA .
...................................................