Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

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|\^/|
_| TCA |_            B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_                   N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<                   for Air Canada retirees
|
Your crew is: Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot     - Terry Baker

number 245     date Mar 8th 1998

Published since October  1995.
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. Welcome to Mark Ballard Air Canada Line Maintenance Manager for
N.E. U.S. based at Washington Dulles.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

John Hayes with email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wendy Taylor with email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paolo Bacciaglia  email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. News from the Districts -
Bill Fisher, Director Vancouver Island Pionairs sends this update -

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND PIONAIRS FOR 1998
APR  8 - Spring lunch, Princess Mary restaurant at 11:30am Price $16.00
each.
Guest speaker is Wendy Patriquin of Canadian Interline Travel

MAY 17,18,19 - Annual AGM at Toronto at the Colony Hotel

JUL 23 - Annual picnic, Mount Douglas Park, 10:00am Pay at the gate.

Aug 20 - Up Island lunch at Naniamo at the Rutherford Golf Centre at 11:30.
Price $15.00 each.
Guest speaker is Sandie Dexter, AC Corporate Relations

OCT  6 - Fall lunch at McMorrans restaurant at 11:30am Price $16.00 each
Guest speaker is Oli Moore, Pionair President

DEC 09 - Annual Christmas lunch at 11:30. Price and location not known at
this time.
Like last year there will be no guest speaker.

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.  Tom Martin <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> sends us this message after
reading the stories from Bill Norberg -
Bill - enjoyed your input to the Netletter.
Always brings back some memories.
In NetLetter nr 232 you mentioned the delivery flight of the first
L1011.
Our neighbour the late Hoagy Hoglund was the captain as I recall
and I remember how thrilled he was with the "look Ma - no hands"
flight from takeoff to touchdown.
I also well remember the flap over the Bristol with Purchases & Stores
getting bombarded with Bills of Materiel for wire for you folks, and
Tammy Johnson moaning about the poor wiring.
Cheers and keep them coming.  Tom (and the rest of us - eds)

And now for Tom and the rest of us, here is another sage from
Bill Norberg -
It seems I can't stop doing this once I get going.
It seems like a long time ago since we received our first
Super Constellation aircraft...it is in fact about 43 years. They
were a beautiful looking aircraft in many respects and it was
stated that 2.3 % of the total lift was achieved by the unique
shape of the fuselage. Maybe it was but it did give the aircraft a
very fascinating look.
This aircraft was powered by Wright Turbo Compound engines with
Curtiss Electric hollow steel propeller blades. The horsepower was
3350 with the 350 horses being provided by three Power recovery
turbines using the exhaust gases as their source of energy.
The aircraft was also provided with an auto feathering system as
part of the Curtiss Electric propeller control system. This system
would auto feather any one engine during the take-off phase if the
power output dropped below a pre-established level. A torque cell
in the engine measured Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP). It was
a drop in this torque cell pressure that activated the system.
This feature made it possible to increase the payload by some 5000
pounds. If this system was non operational for any reason the
payload would have to be reduced by this amount of 5000 pounds.
It goes without saying that a decision to feather an engine
during take off is a serious matter and is not made without due
cause. I would go further to say that no Captain would allow such
a decision to be made without his authority. They had a concern
about the possiblitity of multi engine featherings.
As a result of this concern by Flight Operations the auto
feathering system on the first Super Constellation delivered was
given a through engineering evaluation to satisfy them that the
system was reliable and the method of its installation was safe
and could not result in a multi engine auto feathering. Every unit,
every bit of wiring routing, system design etc was examined. It
was given the green light and the aircraft went into airline
service with the system operational.
I personally never liked the system from a unit point of view.
There were features that tended to make engine overspeeds
a likelihood. When this happened the engine had to be removed for
examination to ensure no internal damage. Such overspeeds of course
could happen anywhere and 3 engine ferry  flights were necessary to
get the aircraft back to YYZ or YUL where spare engines were
available. That is another story.
I was in charge of the Accessory shop at this point with
responsibility for the units forming this auto feathering system.
Walter Chopp was in charge of the Electrical Line maintenance
function. One morning after his rounds to check up on the overnight
operations he reported that a Connie had undergone a multi engine
auto feathering situation during a ground run at Dorval. I said
that was impossible to which he agreed.....but it had happened. He
said they had done a thorough check of the system and of course
found nothing wrong.
I should point out at this point that there was a relay interlock
which would immediately  deactivate the other 3 engines when one
engine had been auto feathered. This made it theoretically
impossible to have a multi engine feathering situation. This of
course was the concern of Flight Operations in the first place.
The aircraft flew overseas that day and in London UK it did the
same thing on a ground run. We arranged for another complete
electrical check and again with no answer to the problem. The
system was de-activated and the aircraft flew back with a
5000 pound payload penalty.
Once it arrived at Dorval it was given yet another complete check
and again no answer as to how or why this could have happened. It
went out for a ground run and this time not 2 but 3 engines auto
feathered. We really had a problem now and the aircraft was to be
removed from service until an answer was found.
The examination went on again with no results, Poor Walter Chopp
was at his wits end. He was sitting at the flight engineers panel
trying to figure out what to do next. When he got up he bumped his
head on the overhead panel and lo and behold a multi engine
auto feathering condition was duplicated. He had the answer!
The Relay control box for this system was in that area and the
force of him hitting the panel mechanically made an electrical
contact on the interlock relay making it possible for power to
go to the engine feathering circuit.
On paper it was impossible for this to happen. The interlock
relay would cut out protecting the other engines. But the relay
contact spacing was such that and bump or resonant vibration force
could permit a contact to be made resulting in a multi engine
feathering situation. We re-designed the box with relays having
adequate spacing to prevent this from happening.
It was a perfect case of everything being perfect in theory and
on the wirng diagram. It was only when one examined the physical
application of the theory that the risk could be determined. There
could have been a multi engine feathering resulting in a serious
incident and when the relay box was examined there would have been
no evidence of the cause. We of course passed this information
along to Lockheed and other operators.
(Thanks Bill for another facinating story - those of you who are
Super Connie affectionados, don't forget when you are at the AGM in
May to check out the ex Air Canada Super Connie located directly in
front of the Regal Constellation Hotel - eds)

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. Interline stuff.

7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Ft Lauderdale
***************************************************
CRUISE LINE: Costa Cruises SHIP: Costa Romantica
DATES: March 22 & 29, 1998
SHIP: Costa Victoria
DATES: March 29, 1998
ITINERARY: Ft Lauderdale, San Juan, St Thomas/St John, Serena
Cay/Casa de Campo, Nassau, Ft Lauderdale
COST: Inside cabin from US$499, ppd
Oceanview cabin from US$549, ppd
MORE INFO: Port charges additional $125us pp.
Costa Cruises SHIP: Costa Victoria
DATES: March 29, 1998

Call 1-800-665-3100 for details and mention Pionairs.

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. Smilie.
Your Chief Pilot found this -
Under the subject "Should I believe that" I read in today's Star
this:
Executive Flyer, a London, England, newsletter, reports on an
unusual misunderstanding at London City Airport. Seems the captain
came on the plane's intercom and told the passengers there would be
a delay and invited anyone who wished to get off and stretch their
legs. A blind passenger said he'd wait on board but asked if someone
could walk his guide dog. The pilot agreed and it reportedly took
three hours to persuade the other passengers back on after spotting
the captain walking through the lounge with a guide dog. ---

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.  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 Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                      

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|\^/|
_| TCA |_            B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_                   N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<                   for Air Canada retirees
|
Your crew is: Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot     - Terry Baker

number 244     date Mar 6th 1998

Published since October  1995.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


. Welcome to Marie Edmondson retired from Crew Support Inflight
and living in La Salle, Man.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Where are they now?
Ray Valois is dodging his creditors and is new email is:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We enquired about Peter Bogart recently, and this is a response from
Doug Maclaren -
'When I was on my way to Bermuda, January 07/98, I met Peter at the
standby counter in Toronto. He said he was on his way to Barbados.
From the way he was dressed, he didn't appear to have any plans on
returning any sooner than he had to. So he may still be there.
Regards, Doug Maclaren

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. Looking for someone?
Ever had that feeling that, when trying to remember someones phone
number or address that you would recognise it if only ......
Try http://www.infobel.be/infobel/infobelworld.html for worldwide
white and yellow pages of the telephone directories.

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. Found on the Internet.
STAR ALLIANCE.
Additional members of the Star Alliance are rumoured to be -
Air New Zealand, Ansett, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific,
South African Airways and Singapore Airlines.

UNITED SHOCKED BY European Union.
The EU's competition commission is studying the Star Alliance
of Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways, United Airlines and
Varig.  Though no details were available, the competition commission
wants Star Alliance partners to release slots at several busy
airports such as Frankfurt, London and Copenhagen (Denmark) and a
reduction in the number of flights operated by the partner on
certain transatlantic routes, especially between Frankfurt and
Chicago and Washington where Lufthansa and United Airlines together
hold a monopoly.

RIO HOT SPOT:
Fire gutted Rio de Janeiro's Santos Dumont domestic airport's
62-year-old Art Deco terminal early Friday, shutting down all
air traffic only a week before the famous Carnival festivities
begin.
No serious injuries were reported and other areas of the airport
were not involved.  All traffic was diverted to Rio's international
airport.

IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE II -- OH, RATS!
Swissair mechanics recently revelled in the glow of accomplishment
after completing yet another complicated task allowing their
airline to get its jets into the air: finding and evicting a rat
from an Airbus A319.  The vexing varmint stowaway forced Swissair
to ground the Airbus for two days.

MAYBE IT WAS THOSE LITTLE SOAP BARS:
Traveling in a human mailing tube gets to some people.  Such an
explanation may be the only one available to an unidentified
passenger aboard an AAL flight from Tampa to Dallas recently.
The unruly passenger occupied the lavatory of the MD-80 and --
after disrobing -- proceeded to destroy it.
An altercation with another passenger ensued.

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. Interline stuff.

Did you know?
- ID80 positive space tickets are NOT available on AC Regional carriers,
AC Planned charters, Air Canada Vacation, or
code sharing flights.
- Type of travel can be One way, Round trip, Circle trip, Open jaw
for North American, Caribbean and International travel.
- ID80 is subject to deplanement.
- Aeroplan accummulations NOT permitted.
- Pos space purchase and reservations at airport is possible,
1 hour prior to departure for North American travel
2 hours prior to departure for International travel.
- Transferring from Positive (ID80) to space available (pass) on
the same flight NOT permitted after
6 hours prior to flight departure for North American.
48 hours prior to flight departure for International.


Car rentals in Europe & U.K.
Try Auto-Europe, 1-800-223-555 as some more favourable deals
can be had by booking this side of the Atlantic.

Dodo's Nest 1998 - hosted by Interline Club of Mauritius.
June 1st - 6th at La Pirogue Hotel & Casino in Mauritius.
Package cost Mauritian rupees 15,500 pp dbl.
(exch presently CA$1.00 = 15.50 rupees).
Note: Airport departure tax is 300 rupees pp.
Deadline date: Mar 31st.
Contact your local Interline club for more details.

Guarajuate Colonial '98 hosted by Club Interlineal Leon, Mexico.
Apr 23rd - 26th at Parador San Javier Hotel.
Package cost US$300 pp dbl.
Deadline date: Apr 1st.
Contact your local Interline club for more details.

Visit Guernsey, Jersey Channel Islands until Mar 31st.
Guernsey: St. Pierre Park 2 nights B & B from UKP139 pp dbl
Green Acres     2 nights B & B from UKP115 pp dbl
Jersey:   Queens Hotel    2 nights B & B from UKP115 pp dbl
Fly-drive 3 days from UKP69.
Includes flight with Jersey European from UK.

Fancy Greece or Cyprus? Until Mar 31st.
4 nights B & B in Athens, Greece    from UKP75 pp dbl.
4 nights H/B   in Loutraki, Greece  from UKP64 pp dbl.
4 nights B & B in Paphos, Cyprus    from UKP95 pp dbl.
4 nights B & B in Larnaca, Cyprus   from UKP89 pp dbl.
4 nights B & B in Limmassol, Cyprus from UKP94 pp dbl.
Prices incl accommodation, some meals, tax & service.
Flight with Olympic from UK to Greece from UKP105
Cyprus from UKP119.

Contact Lawson Travel in the UK 0181-941-7200 for details.

Accommodations in Cyprus -
Le Meridien, 5 star Limassol CA$71 Tel:357-5-634000.
Kapetanios Bar Hotel, Protaras CA$23 pp dbl per day.
Tel:357-3-831170.
Navarria Hotel, Limassol CA$19 pp dbl per day B & B.
Tel:357-5-320855.
Flamingo Beach Hotel, Larnaca CA$25 pp dbl per day
Tel:357-4-650621.
1 b/r house CA$25 pp dbl per night or
2 b/r house CA$17 pp min 4 persons per night Tel:357-2-493397.

Holland America Line:
New York           departs Apr 26th  US$1187.50.
Rome to Athens             May 17th  US$1902.50.
Athens to Rotterdam        May 29th  US$1902.50.
Venice to Athens           Oct 16th  US$1997.50.
Athens to Rome             Oct 28th  US$1897.50.
Rome to Rome               Nov 9th   US$1822.50.
Lisbon to Ft. Lauderdale   Dec 3rd   US$1187.50.
Call 1-800-690-3223 for details and mention Pionairs.


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. Smilie.

Top Ten Changes at NASA to Accommodate 76-Year-Old John Glenn's
Return to Space Aboard the Shuttle Discovery:
10. All important devices now operated by the Clapper.
9. Shuttle's thermostat set at 80 degrees.
8. Shuffle board installed in cargo bay.
7. "Early Bird" specials from Morrison's Cafeteria included on
menu.
6. One monitor specifically designated for Matlock.
5. Little bowls of candy scattered randomly about the ship.
4. Top speed of shuttle set at 25 miles per hour.
3. Installed a new bifocal windshield.
2. Space pants now go up to armpits.
1. Left-blinker left on for entire mission.

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.  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 Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                      

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|\^/|
_| TCA |_            B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_                   N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<                   for Air Canada retirees
|
Your crew is: Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot     - Terry Baker

number 243     date Mar 3rd 1998

Published since October  1995.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
. Welcome to Natasha Vekris retired from Reservations/Sales and
living in Toronto.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Edward Chorniak retired Captain living in Unionville,
Ont. Try email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

. Where are they?
We do not get any response for Peter Bogart at email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Anyone in contact?

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. Further to Bill Norberg's story of the Bristol Freighters in nr 242,
your co-pilot contributes this -

One of the airline's Bristol Freighters bearing the registration
CF-TFX flew to the barren polar region in 1967, before landing at
the true North Pole. Today the same aircraft, in Wardair colours
is reportedly mounted on a pedestal at Yellowknife. 

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. Phil Pawsey found this on the internet -
SO, YOU THINK YOU HAD A LOUSY FLIGHT?
Dr. Nick Fiddes of Edinburgh, Scotland, is a wee bit perturbed by
service he received recently on Air Canada.  After being ignored,
he's created a website game "Is Air Canada the World's Worst Airline
Service?"  Fiddes claims it was the worst service of his life,
leaving him filthy and hungry while he was trying to get to his
girlfriend's graduation celebration, which he missed.
Air Canada is probably lucky not to be getting some homemade haggis,
instead.  These sort of sites seem to be proliferating on the Web.
<http://www.clan.com/environment/aircanada>
Phil Pawsey  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. Historical milestones in March for TCA/Air Canada -
Mar 18th 1948  - Transcon all-cargo inaugurated Victoria-Toronto
with Lockheed 18-08A aircraft.
Mar 2nd  1952  - New York operations transferred from La Guardia
to Idlewild Airport, now JFK.
Mar 1st  1957  - Viscount introduced to London, Ontario. (YXU)
Mar 1st  1959  - European identity of the company became Air Canada.
Mar 1st  1960  - Air Canada and B.O.A.C. inaugurate pool service.
Mar 2nd  1963  - DC8 introduced on transatlantic service to U.K.
in cargo/passenger configuration.
Mar 15th 1973  - L1011 introduced on Toronto - Vancouver route.
Mar 14th 1974  - Inauguration of flights to Charles De Gaulle Paris.
Mar 25th 1977  - Vienna service discontinued.

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. Found on the internet.
Y2K: TIME ISN'T ON FAA'S SIDE...OR OURS
If all goes well with the U.S. ATC system in the early morning hours
of January 1, 2000, no one will be more surprised than the FAA.
If it doesn't, rest assured there will be plenty of finger pointing.
A joint congressional hearing found that the FAA was way behind in
testing and implementing fixes.  FAA brass have been telling anyone
who would listen that the most "critical" of the computer systems
will be upgraded by November of 1999.  However, independent auditors
say they better get moving.  For example, only 125 of the agency's
430 mission-critical systems have been determined to be Y2K
compliant...and those are the easy ones.

WILL DCA BECOME GIP?
Happy birthday, Mr. President.  As an 87th birthday present,
Republicans in Congress voted to rename Washington National Airport
as "Ronald Reagan National Airport."
Those affected are asking who's going to pay for the not
insignificant costs associated with the name change.  DCA will
remain the airport's identifier and it is said that outraged NATCA
officials have sworn controllers will never refer to DCA by its new
moniker.

WESTPAC GOES FLAT:
After declaring bankruptcy late last year, Western Pacific Airlines
has finally parked its planes for good. WestPac prospered initially,
offering low fare service from its low cost hub in Colorado Springs,
Colorado where it had little competition.  However, last year,
perhaps in a bit of testosterone-induced mano-a-mano, WestPac
moved to Denver, where it was forced to compete with several
discount airlines and Denver behemoth, United.

BIN HOGS PUT ON FORCED DIET:
Southwest becomes the latest to crack down on those they have aptly
named, "bin hogs."  The airline is zeroing in on passengers who cram
their life's possessions into the overhead bins.
SWA is limiting pax to two carry-ons which must fit in the standard
sizing box -- about the size of a kitchen sink, no plumbing attached.
On heavily booked flights, SWA may limit carry-ons to one per pax.
Sales of extra large computer cases and roll-ons cum computer cases
are reported on the rise as unhappy business travelers try to cope
with airlines' one-bag-only rules on some flights.
(Cons beware! - eds)

FLY HIGH, BUT NOT FAST (FOR A PRETTY PENNY):
Back by popular demand.
British Airway's Concorde is returning to EAA Oshkosh '98.
The Anglo-French supersonic transport will arrive Friday, July 31.
(Will it have to rock its wings over Ripon?)  You'll also have the
opportunity to purchase a short subsonic trip on the Concorde,
guaranteed to give you cocktail party bragging rights.
But, better bring the green.
That little jaunt will set you back a hefty US$715.


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. Interline stuff.

Celebrity - 'Mercury' - NEW SHIP Departs APRIL 98
10 Night Pacific Coastal/Alaska
Itinerary:  Los Angeles, San Francisco, Victoria BC, Glacier Bay,
Skagway, >Juneau, Ketchikan, Inside Passage, Vancouver
Inside cabin from US$605, ppd  - Limited Space!
Port chgs additional from US$193.50

Holland America Line - The Alaska of your Dreams..
Select from 11, 12, or 13 Day CruiseTours, twice the Alaska!
Glaciers - Wildlife - Klondike Gold
* 3 - 7 Night Northbound/Southbound Cruise
(The only true Glacier Sightseeing Cruise with 3 full days)
* McKinley Explorer Domed RailCar
* Tour Denali National Park
* Guided City Tours (per itinerary selected)
* Gold Dredge at the Authentic Mining Site
Positive Space Interline Cruise Tour Fares
- 12 day CruiseTours from US$1126 ppd
- 7 day Cruise Only from US$499 ppd
Confirmed Immediately

Call 1-800-665-3100 for details and mention Pionairs.

Travelling to Europe to pick up a cruise or land tour?
This is not the only way to get there, but it is one way -
Use your pass to Frankfurt, and a 'ZED' fare onwards -

Destination    Miles      ID95       ID75
Hamburg        257        15         34
Helsinki       956        25         54
Innsbruck      230        15         34
Instanbul     1158        25         54
Faro          1218        25         54
Cairo         1815        40         84
Lisbon        1165        25         54
Madrid         884        25         54
Malaga        1130        25         54
Malta         1024        25         54
Nairobi       3924        45        110
Oslo           687        20         44
Mallorca       779        25         54
Oporto        1028        25         54
Rome           598        20         44
Stockholm      752        25         54
Tunis          915        25         54
Athens        1225        25         54
Ankara        1365        25         54
Barcelona      679        20         44
Remember 'ZED' fares are one way, space available US$ plus tax.
call 1-800-413-1113 if North America or local Res office.             
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. Smilie.

Senior airline captain complaining to chief pilot:
"I'm really getting tired of this...Every time I wake up the other
two guys are reading."

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" ' "                  


.  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 Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.







...................................................
.                 GREETINGS FROM                  .
.                Vancouver Island                 .
.              BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA              .
................................................... 

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|\^/|
_| TCA |_            B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_                   N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<                   for Air Canada retirees
|
Your crew is: Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot     - Terry Baker

number 242     date Mar 1st 1998

Published since October  1995.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

. George Smith and Florence Nelson-Smith have changed their email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

--=o0o=--

. Your Co-pilot recently had some R & R in Portugal -
Our visit was for 10 days in the Algarve and 3 days in Lisbon.
The accommodations in Albufeira was a studio with kitchen facilities
and three couches which convert to single beds. In Lisbon we had
a 4 star hotel with continental breakfast. A car was supplied with
unlimited mileage and no drop off charge at Lisbon. All for
CA$125.00 pp dbl. We flew into Faro and departed from Lisbon.
Local bus transportation is efficient, and a rover type pass for 7
days costs CA$15.00, so a car is not necessary - unless you are
departing from a different part of the country.
Cost of the long distance bus from Lisbon to the Algarve is CA$17.00
Gas is rather pricey at CA$1.35 a litre. Gas stations do not always
accept Visa or Enroute credit cards.
There is no departure tax at Lisbon Airport, and as Expo 98 is being
held in Lisbon later this year, the airport is in a reconstruction
phase, so returning a rented car is quite a challenge!
Our temperature was 17-21 degrees daily, but cool in the evenings.
Food prices are comparable to North America.
Getting there - use a pass to London and a 'zed' fare to Faro is
approx CA$62.00.
To rent a 1 bedroom appartment with kitchen, lounge, balconey, TV
and overlooking the beach at Quarteira can be had for 2 months
for CA$1100.00.

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" ' "

. Bill Norberg sends us another of his facinating stories -

I wonder how many people remember the year TCA purchased 3 Bristol
freighter aircraft. The year was 1953 and CPAIR had applied to the
Government to operate a trans continental air freight service.
At this time they were still limited as to the number of
passenger flights they could operate.
TCA did not have any freighter type aircraft at the time and any
airfreight was carried in the belly compartments.
As I remember it there was to be a hearing to decide this issue.
TCA immediately set about to acquire a true airfreight capability.
They elected to purchase 3 Bristol freighters from the UK and
modify them for Canadian operating conditions. The aircraft were
ferried from the UK by TCA pilots. In order to have the necessary
communication systems for these flights a set of radio equipment
was sent over from Canada and temporarily installed for the flight.
When the first aircraft arrived in Canada the radio equipment was
removed and sent to the Uk for the next flight etc.
These aircraft arrived in Dorval in the fall of 1953 to have the
necessary modifications carried out. The modifications were
extensive and included, a complete radio communications system,
a completely new flight instrument panel, heating and ventilating
system, interior modifications to permit the proper loading of heavy
loads, and a propeller auto coarsening system.
There was a tight schedule for this modification program as the
aircraft had to be available for operations by Jan. 1st 1954.
These modifications were barely underway when it was determined the
aircraft wiring system did not meet TCA standards. As a result every
piece of wiring in the total aircraft was removed and replaced by AN
standard wiring.
This action required a complete set of engineering wiring drawings
which had to be developed as the wiring was being replaced. We
could not afford to await completion of the drawings. The schedule
was  very tight and this wiring replacement decision placed the
whole program in jeopardy.
The sight of literally armloads of new wiring all with small white
tags on their many ends hanging out of the cockpit windows is
something I will never forget. It looked hopeless.
The final electrical wiring diagrams were delivered to us at
midnight of the day before the first ground run was scheduled to
occur. Every able bodied person in the Dorval Base who knew anything
about electrical wiring was pressed into service. Many of us worked
16 hour days for weeks and on one occasion I worked 24 hours to
complete the task.
The aircraft were completed for the Jan 1 1954 deadline although
they did not see service until some time later.
The aircraft was without doubt one of the ugliest I have ever seen.
The bulbous nose with its big doors with the cockpit perched on
top. A large fixed undercarriage, and a very severe design concept
made it unusual to say the least. There is one still available to
see in the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. It had
Bristol sleeve valve powerplants built in true British design. Why
use 4 bolts when 8 will do? They were however successful powerplants
as they never had an in-flight failure as long as they were in TCA
operation.
There is one amusing story told about this aircraft on its first
flight into New York. The flight was in contact with the tower for
approach instructions and the tower asked the flight Captain what
type of aircraft was it operating?
They had never seen one quite like it before.
The captain proudly identified the aircraft and its features.
The response from the tower was.."Make it yourself?"
Bill Norberg <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

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'---o-o-0-o-o---'
" ' "

. Found on the Internet.

Wexford Management signed a Letter Of Intent (LOI) with Brazilian
aircraft manufacturer Embraer for the purchase of 20 37 seat ERJ-135
regional jets with an option for 20 more. In addition, Wexford
Management has recently ordered 40 50 seat Embraer RJ-145 for a total
combined value of USD 1.2 billions.

The Sri Lankan government has announced it is in exclusive talks with
Emirates Airlines for the sale of a 40% stake in state owned carrier
Air Lanka.

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'---o-o-0-o-o---'
" ' "

. Interline stuff.

When exchanging money at your local bank prior to your vacation,
if you have the bank's Visa or Mastercharge card, you can avoid
service charges.

*** SPECIAL FAMILY AFFAIR SELLOFFS ***'

THESE SPECIAL FARES ARE OFFERED TO ALL PERSONS WHO ARE'
ELIGIBLE FOR THE FAMILY AFFAIR PROGRAM.
***   SEATTLE SELLOFF ***
BC/AB TO SEA.....CA$115
SK/MB TO SEA.....CA$165
ONT TO SEA.......CA$240 .....VIA YYZ NON-STOP AC697/AC698
QUE TO SEA.......CA$249 .....VIA YYZ NON-STOP AC697/AC698
MARITIMES........CA$305 .....VIA YYZ NON-STOP AC697/AC698
LAST TRAVEL COMPLETED BY 31MAR98
Call 1-800-413-1113 Winnipeg Call Centre for details.

Deals from Canadian Interline Travel -

Cruise on a New Ship
"Norwegian Sea" - NCL -7 Night Southern Sailing
San Juan Return - Mar 1 thru Apr 5/98
Inside from US$349, ppd  Outside from US$449-US$549,ppd

M/V "MELODY" - 12 Day Caribbean & Turks & Caicos Cruise
Departures: Mar 20 & Apr 11/98
Inside from US$799, ppd   Outside from US$899, ppd

Princess cruises has some new deals!
"Royal Princess" - Europe - April 9/98
13 Days Barcelona to  Lisbon
Itinerary:  Barcelona, Malta, Taormina, Capri/Naples - Italy, Rome,
Florence/Pisa - Italy, Portofino, Monte Carlo,
Gibraltar, Casablanca, Lisbon
from US$999 - US$1099, ppd
includes port chgs. Gov't fees additional from US$19.06 -
US$41.06 pp

"Pacific Princess" - Holy Land  March 23/98
14 Days Rome to Istanbul
Itinerary:  Rome, Capri/Naples, Cairo, Port Said, Jerusalem
/Tel Aviv, Nazareth/Galilee, Rhodes, Athens, Ephesus,
Cruising Mt Athos Peninsula, Istanbul
from US$799 - US$899, ppd  (includes port charges).
Gov't fees additional from US$37.61 - US$59.61, pp

HAWAII CRUISE - NCL - "Norwegian Dynasty'
10 Days days departing Apr 5/98
Ensenda, Hilo, Kona, Maui, Kauai, Honolulu
from US$499 ppd Inside & US$599 ppd Outside

Call 1-800-665-3100 for details and mention Pionairs.

African Safaris.
8 days/4 nights from US$1129
10 days/6 nights from US$1509
11 days/7 nights from US$1849
prices pp dbl includes space available air.

Call 1-800-422-3727 for further details.

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'---o-o-0-o-o---'

. Smilie.
Vesta found this and thought this would give you a chuckle -

This guy used to fly to Piper Warrior from the Brampton flying
club. While doing the routine preflight, he figured he had
better do his own "personal preflight" and headed back to the
clubhouse to the boys room. He put his case and the headphones on
the tank. Later when he lifted the case and headphones up he heard
a peculiar splash-clunk. The toilet hadn't quite finished flushing.
What was it that dropped into the bowl?
Gosh, just then he realized he had been holding on to the plane's
keys. NOW WHAT? He stood there contemplating what to tell dispatch.
Did they have spare keys? ...he so badly still wanted to go flying.
Should he pull up his sleeve and...he whispered a little prayer and
couldn't believe what happened next. To his amazement like a slot
machine, the keys began to reappear. At first, he was sure this was
wishful thinking - a mirage. No his vision was real and the keys
were real. Yup he give them a good wash and they were shinier than
ever.  anon.

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'---o-o-0-o-o---'


.  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.


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|  Between Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
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~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
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.              BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA              .
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