Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

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THE NETLETTER (logo)


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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 587 ,  May 19th 2001,
We first Published in October 1995
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
To get in touch with either editor/pilot our email address is:


This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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While Terry's away,  Vesta will play.
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GREETINGS TO THE PIONAIRS AT THE AGM IN CALGARY
THIS WEEKEND, DON'T FALL OFF ANY HORSES.
I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
Feel free to send to the NetLetter anything you want to share
with the rest of us who stayed at home and a postcard or two
to yours truly would be appreciated also.



FYI Terry's mailbox is overflowing.




Welcome Aboard the following:
S.Doreen Porta This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
GeorgeDuncan This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
June Edminson Morse This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Len Schmaltz This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Steve Esplen This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gren Peterson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Herb Russell This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
H.Don Cameron This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jack Stragier This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gerry Shepherd This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Francine Gauthier This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We welcome Hugh Donald Cameron to our readers,  here is abio -
I made many friends in Air Canada,  in the 40’s as a weather forecaster in
Vancouver,  then in DOT Air Services until joining CP Air in 1954. In CP Air,
my duties included co-operating with AC’s Claude Taylor on behalf of Canada
in air bilateral matters with other countries while assisting CP Air’s
efforts to resist AC’s occasional take-over attempts.
Additional AC friends included Bill English and Fred Wood so I don’t
feel too badly now that I am an AC retiree with an AC ID Number!! I retired
in 1983.
My wife,  Jean,  and I spend half the year in Oyama,  BC and the other
half in Lahaina,  Maui,  HI and the same e-mail address will get to us at
either place. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Best wishes to all,  H. Don. Cameron.


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F.Y.I .
The NetLetter Archives at:
{http://www.acfamily.org/netletter/archives/ }
are now up-to-date with NetLetter 584. AR


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Followup: re Parking in YYZ.
Duane: I just phoned Margaret at Park n’ Fly ,  Toronto and Margaret
assured me that there has been no change to active and retired
Air Canada employee’s 50% parking discount rates.
Alex Fox: I called Park n’ Fly Toronto and talked to Margaret.
It seems the problem arose because we showed our boarding passes,
we should have shown our employee I.D. card,  which we would have done
had we been given the opportunity. There is no question of us receiving any
reimbursment,
but she will “send us something in the mail “ I assume it will be some kind
of voucher .
Thanks again to Net Letter ,  and perhaps our little episode will help some
other retiree


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HEADLINE: Fresh airport tax grab
By: SHEILA McGOVERN The Gazette
Travelers using Montreal's airports are going to have to dig deeper
before they can board their planes.
Aeroports de Montreal announced yesterday that,  as of July 15,
it's boosting the airport departure tax at Dorval to $15 from $10,
and introducing a $10 tax at Mirabel,  which has been tax-free.


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John Gallagher the Caledon Hills  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I'm flying to Cranbrook BC this fall. Then I wish to travel south to
Whitefish MT.
I've search the web for auto rental,  bus lines etc and cannot find any info.
I would appreciate a fellow employee suggesting a solution.


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Bernie Fallows found this article -
The viewpoints expressed are those of Ben Webster
-The London Times.Quote:
“Rich will fly faster while poor take slower planes- Boeing”
“Air travel of the future will see first and business class passengers fly
on much faster jets while economy travellers may have to pay more
as well as being confined to the slower existing fleet,
according to Boeing, the world’s largest plane maker.
Passengers willing to pay a premium will cross the Atlantic more than an
hour faster and shave five hours off flights to Australia.
They will be segregated from families, backpackers and others
who can afford only economy fares.
Economy passengers may have to pay more for their tickets because business
travellers who provide most of the airlines’ profits will be on separate
planes and therefore will no longer subsidize the cost of flights,  Boeing
said.
The current system of dividing jets into sections,  with first and business
separated by curtains from the cheap seats,  will be fundamentally changed
by the
arrival of the new planes,  which will cruise at more than 750 mph.
The Seattle-based company which built more than 80 per cent of the jets
flying today,  believes airlines will follow the example of the bullet trains
in Japan,   where Alan Mulally,    President of Boeing’s passenger jet
division,   said that business
passengers did not like sharing planes with economy travellers who were able
to walk through their sections.”I can remember the first time I flew in
business and everyone walked though my room”,   he said.”I had been given a
Diet Coke
before take off and they hadn’t and I felt embarrassed. But why should I,
because I did pay a bit more for the service.”
The new segregation will mean business travellers do not have to wait for
hundreds of economy passengers to board the plane. Some airports may offer
separate terminals,  removing all contact between the classes.
Mulally said that the Being Sonic Cruiser, the delta-winged craft which will
fly just below the speed of sound and 200 mph faster than conventional jets
would
enable airlines to offer the “differential service” that hotels provide.
Richer travellers expected hotels to have separate hotels offering
greater luxury and air passengers wanted the same.
British Airways is among dozens of airlines which have expressed keen interest
in the Sonic Cruiser jets. Boeing expects to announce its first orders
for the jet at the beginning of next year and commence deliveries as early
as 2006.
The company believes there is a potential market for up to 5000 Sonic
Cruisers over the next two decades, although production will be limited in
the early years.
Boeing claims the plane will cost little more to operate than existing
jets,  meaning passengers will have to pay only a modest premium to fly on
it. Concorde which was the only scheduled passenger jet to operate with
purely first class
seats,  costs eight times as much to operate as a conventional jet. The Sonic
Cruiser is likely to have at least double the number of seats of the grounded
supersonic jet,  which carried only 100 passengers.
End of quote.Bernie Fallows. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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The Winnipeg Air Canada Retirement Club,  are having their annual picnic
this year at the Assiniboine Park at the Duck Pond Site,  on June 20th,
from 9am-4pm.
This is for members of the club, but we will welcome all retirees, who wish
to come,
and maybe even become members of our club.
We are welcoming all Canadian Airlines retirees also, if they wish to come.
Bring a chair, your lunch, and your smiles, as we play a few,
not too strenuous games,  which of course,  have prizes for the final
winners,
and door prizes. Gary Sands.


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The following is for your info and subject to change after ACRA general
meeting
May 29, 2001 regarding both AC and CP retirees and ACRA..


As it stands now, Air Canada employees that are ACRA members in good
standing for at least 2 years before they retire are eligible to become
lifetime ACRA members. There are no dues to be paid and they are welcome to
attend all ACRA functions.


Having said this, there are bylaws in place covering who can participate in
the ACRA System Events and what they can win.
Each event (Hockey, Art,  Golf) has their own rules some include retirees
and some don’t.
This will be covered at the meeting in May and maybe we can resolve some
issues
there.


An Associate member is for those that want to participate in ACRA sponsored
events but are not ACRA members or can’t qualify to be an ACRA member.
Usually this covers Air BC etc employees that would like to play say Soccer
with an ACRA team but can’t become an ACRA member. They can’t compete at
System events and can’t win passes,  but can participate in the event. The
fees for Associate members are decided by each station. In Vancouver it is
$20/year right now.


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In recognition of its ongoing partnership with Aeroplan, Future
Shop is offering great savings to active and retired Air Canada
and Air Canada Regional Inc. employees, family members, and
friends. Save in either of three ways-unadvertised discounts on a
vast selection of products, 15-30 per cent off all clearance
merchandise, or $5-50 mystery markdowns on selected merchandise.
The sale is on at all Future Shop locations as follows: May 27
from 5:00-9:00 pm in Ontario and Western Canada, and May 28 from
5:00-9:00 pm in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The offer is not
advertised to the public and is only available to those
invited-employee ID cards aren't required.


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NEW DOMAIN NAMES APPROVED: '.BIZ' & '.INFO'
Two new Internet suffixes have been approved by the Web's governing
body. The domain names ".biz" and ".info" will give Web site owners an
alternative to the popular and crowded ".com" domain space.


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. Terry’s travel tips.
Byron Dale sends this information for you intrepid travellers -
Research shows bottled water no healthier
Thursday,  3 May 2001
Research commissioned by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) indicates that
bottled water is often no healthier or safer to drink than tap water.
It found consumers risk being duped into thinking that paying more for
bottled water means it is a high quality alternative.
Research shows that bottled water sells for up to 1, 000 times the price of
tap water, but the quality is often no better.
In 50 per cent of cases,  the only difference is that bottled water has
added mineralsand salts,  which does not actually mean it is healthier.
Furthermore some bottled waters are exactly the same standard as tap water
without being as energy efficient.
While the WWF does acknowledge that bottled water is generally safer in areas
where tap water is contaminated it says boiling or filtering local water
is a cheaperand more sustainable alternative.


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Travel is very educational. I can now say "Kaopectate" in seven different
languages.



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Internet Tip from RAPCAN
Emailer response functions.
Know the difference between REPLY, REPLY ALL,
FORWARD and REDIRECT.
New users often use the incorrect function. The most prevalent is the use
of "forward" instead of "reply".
You REPLY to the sender of the email in question.
You FORWARD to a new recipient the email in question.
You REDIRECT the email in question if the subject is not for you and/or is
better answered by someone else - you REDIRECT it to that person. This
keeps the original senders email address in the FROM field.
The REPLY ALL is the same as REPLY, but will put anyone that appeared in
the CC field of the original email into the TO field of the reply email.
PS: When REPLYing the function allows you to quote the original message.
Don't, unless absolutely necessary, quote the entire message - this is very
annoying if it is a long message. This is especially bad when REPLYing to a
REPLY, to a REPLY - you get the picture. Edit by deleting what is not
necessary to make a relevant answer or to remind the original sender what
the discussion is all about.


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…..
The flight attendant approached a gentleman who was protesting rather
loudly. "I want to complain about this airline," he grumbled. "Every
time I fly, I get the same seat. I can't see the inflight movie,
and there are no window blinds, so I can't sleep."
"Aw, Captain," the flight attendant replied, "just shut up and land the plane."



==--00--=


Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments
for the “The Netletter” please send to:
Our joint e-mail address is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
please add to your Address Books.
This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us (exclusively)
will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of
news for the NetLetter.


Mailing of ‘the NetLetter” is a service of the ACFamily
Network
**************http://www.acfamily.net


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T H E                    _| TCA |_
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N E T L E T T E R   >  CANADA   <
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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)


Number 586 May 8th, 2001,  We first Published in October 1995



Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson   -      Co-pilot  - Terry Baker



To get in touch with either editor/pilot our  email address is
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



================================================================
The co-pilot is off for a refresher on the simulators until May 25h approx<g>
- ensure you communicate  with Vesta via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. Need to know.
The latest Air Canada timetable for downloading
is effective May 1st thru Apr 6th 2002. sized at 1485k


This information from Isobelle Fox -
Subject: Park n' Fly . Toronto
About two years ago in your Net Letter you went into detail about Park n' Fly ,Toronto ,
I printed a copy of the discount Air Canada retirees were allowed , several times we used
the self parking at Carling Ave ., and received the discount .
On May 3rd 2001 , returning from a weeks stay in Scotland the discount was
not available , our information is that It was withdrawn on 2nd January 2001.
I hope this may be of assistance to other retirees who like us do not travel as often
as we once did..                  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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.  Obituary for Frank Takasaki, one of our long time readers -
FRANK SHIZUTO TAKASAKI, P. ENG.
Frank passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on the morning
of  Friday, May the 5th.   A kind, generous, and caring husband and father, he
is survived by his wife of 37 years, Chiyeko, his two sons, Bryan Jennifer)
and Bruce (Audrey), his two young grandchildren, Rachel and Sarah and one
on  the way; his siblings: Miyeko (Ken), Ayako (Tosh), Sumie (Tom),
Hideo  (Naomi), Yukio (Janet) and Gary (Maria),
and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was born on June 20, 1927 in Vancouver, B.C., the eldest son of Miyuki
and Shizuko Takasaki.  After completing an electrical engineering degree
at the University of Toronto in 1953, he began his career in northern Canada
with CN, then spent 18 years in Montreal and Toronto with Air Canada.
He retired to North Saanich, B. C. in 1988, to enjoy the fishing, mild weather,
natural beauty, and more fishing.  In the last few years he turned his
passion to wood-turning, where he established a reputation as a talented
local artisan.  Well-known for his generous smile and playful spirit, he
touched the lives of all who knew him.  We will miss him dearly.
A memorial service will be held in his honour at 2 pm on Thursday, May 10,
at the First Memorial Funeral Home at 4725 Falaise Drive, Victoria.
In lieu  of flowers we ask that donations be made in Frank's memory to either  the
Saanich Peninsula Hospital,
2166 Mount Newton Crossroad,
Saanchton, B.C. V8M  2B2,
or the Hospice Society of Victoria, 1900 Fort St., Victoria, B.C. V8R > 1J8.
Regards,    Chiyeko, Bryan and Bruce
(Frank was a past Director of the Vancouver Island Pionairs - eds)


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Alan Rust Web Administrator ACFamily Network sends this info re CF-TCC
I've just added the Summer Schedule for CF-TCC to her web site at:
www.acfamily.org/tcc
and added more photos there as well. She will be busy again this year
raising money for Dreams Take Flight starting on June 1 as part of her
annual journey across Canada.


Information for Dreams Take Flight can be found at their official web site at:
www.dreamstakeflight.ca
The ACFamily Network is happy to be providing the web hosting and web page
design for Dreams Take Flight since April 2001.
The old web site has been completely redone. Tom Grant is the Webmaster
for Dreams Take Flight and I administer the site.


I received the following interesting story  from Mark Akerman; and thought you
may find interesting  -
"All these years, I knew that this aircraft had returned to Air Canada and
I knew it had been used in a commemorative flight, but never dreamed it had
it's own website, or that it was flying so regularly.  I was a young boy who was
befriended by Bud Clark, the aircraft's previous owner.  He would take me and
my friend flying with him, whenever he flew the 10A.  In fact, my very first flight
was in this aircraft at the Sun and Fun Fly-Inn at Lakeland Florida, my home town
and where this aircraft was kept before Bud took it to Brooksville, FL.
Both my friend and I joined the Air Force and my friend is now an airline pilot
himself.  My Air Force duties kept me on the ground, but we were both aviation
nuts partly due to our association with this aircraft.  Attached are a couple of pictures of the aircraft taken in the very early 80s. Feel free to post them if you like.  If you have any photos from that first! trip after it was purchased, I'd love to have a few.  Thanks.
--- Mark Akerman
Note: photos are at: http://www.acfamily.org/tcc/pics.html
Alan Rust  Web Administrator  ACFamily Network
http://www.acfamily.net   email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. Found on the internet.
Cayman Airways registration scheme seems to be related:
VP-CAL = CAL obviously Cayman Airways
VP-CKX = KX is the IATA code for Cayman Airways
VP-CYB = CYB is the IATA code for Cayman Brac (one of the airports)
Cayman's inflight magazine gives a brief history of the airline which states
that the original name was to be "Cayman International Airways", though this was
dropped as it did not want to have to fly over Cuba with the code CIA.


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. Vesta, our chief pilot, found these on our flight deck -
Arrest After Alleged Hijack Attempt
A roadie for Nelly Furtado was arrested and charged with mischief for allegedly threatening to hijack an commercial airliner Thursday (April 26), according to the
Winnipeg Sun. Furtado crew member Richard Hagan reportedly make the
remarks to employees of Royal Airlines at the Winnipeg airport
before a flight to Toronto Thursday morning. The flight was delayed
20 minutes as Hagan was detained and his luggage removed. "All
references to hijacking are taken very seriously," a Winnipeg police
officer stated.


Boeing, Bombardier win C$872 mln Canadian contract
Canada said recently it had awarded an C$872.35 million contract to
upgrade its fleet of 80 CF-18 jet fighters to BOEING CO. and
Bombardier Inc.'s aerospace unit. Defence Minister Art Eggleton said
in a statement that the upgrade, which will be carried out from 2002
to 2006, would equip the fighters with new radar and weapons
management systems as well as other state-of-the art equipment.


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. Thinking of starting an airline?
Here are the prices for Boeing aircraft -
717            $35m
737-800      $57m
757-300      $81m
767-400     $183m
747-400     $186m
777-200LR $186m
777-300LR $201m
Prices are US dollars, try for a senior discount!


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. An update on CF-TCC -
The Lockheed Electra is up and running again for the summer schedule.
I just returned from Winnipeg where we( Air Canada) rolled out the aircraft
and participated in an International Aerospace Convention being held
there this past week.
After we pilots did annual recurrent flying on Wednesday, to re- establish
competency, we then flew three trips on Thursday, as part of Air Canada's participation in the convention. Convention participants were touring the
Overhaul Base on Thursday. Twenty seven names were drawn and the lucky
people had a flight around Manitoba. Included was the Premier of Manitoba.
They were all ecstatic after the trip. The Premier remained around the ramp
and aircraft for the remaining portion of the afternoon he was so interested.
All five of the pilots flying TCC were there together. This is unique as we
don't often all get together at the same time. Pilots flying this year are
Capt. Ken Patry, Capt. Alan MacLeod, Capt. Ted Dodds, Capt. Harvey Reid
and Capt. Gerry Norberg.  Same crew as past few years.
On Thursday evening Capt. Rob Giguere, Executive vice President of
Operations presented the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and pilots, who volunteered their time over the past few years, with a memento in
appreciation of their time and efforts. Mechanics who participated were:
George Huntington, Jeff McCrea, Mike Clarkson, Denis Savoie,
Collin Shabaga, Brent Morrison, Craig Mackie, Richard Lyew and Dan Lillie, and  Cam Lawrence, Airbus Programs Engineer,  who manages the maintenance schedule, parts and materials over the summer.
TCC will remain in Winnipeg for some further interior cleaning for the next
few weeks.
The summer schedule, for those interested, is now on the TCC website.
www.acfamily.org/tcc
More later,  Regards,    Alan MacLeod.


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. The Heathrow Aircraft Enthusiasts Fair - UK
Saturday May 19th for 11:00 - 16:00 at Feltham Community Hall,
Browells Lane (off A312), Feltham, Middlesex, UK.
This event offers all kinds of aviation related collectables.


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. Terry's travel tips.
Subject: Unbelievable Holland America Rates!
Unbelievable Holland America Rates! Mediterranean, Western
Europe & Baltic
Port Fees Included in Rates!
Holland America Line aboard the Noordam
14-night Rome to Copenhagen
Civitavecchia (Rome), Monte Carlo, Marseille, Barcelona,
At Sea, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Vigo, At Sea, Le Havre (Paris),
Dover (London), Amsterdam, At Sea, Oslo, Copenhagen
May 27 Inside $499*    May 27 Outside $599*


12-night Western Europe, Rome to London
Rome (Civitavecchia, Monte Carlo, Palma de Mallorca,
Malaga, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Vigo, At Sea, Le Havre,
Antwerp, Amsterdam, London (Harwich)
May 18 Inside $599*, Outside $699*


Holland America aboard the Amsterdam
12-night British Isles, London to Copenhagen
London (Harwich), Rotterdam, Le Havre, St. Malo, At Sea,
Grennock (Edinburgh), Belfast, Dunmore East (Waterford),
At Sea, Antwerp, At Sea, Oslo, Copenhagen
May 30 Inside $599*, Outside $699*


Holland America Line aboard the Amsterdam
12-night Norwegian Fjords, Copenhagen to London
Copenhagen, At Sea, Bergen, Hellesylt/Geiranger,
Trondheim, Cruising Svartisen Glacier/Holandsfjord,
Honningsvag, Tromso, Cruising, Vic/Flam, Stavanger, At
Sea, Harwich (London)  June 11 Inside $599*, Outside $699*


Holland America Line aboard the Noordam
10-night Mediterranean, Istanbul to Rome
Istanbul (overnight), Kusadasi, Samos, Mykonos, Santorini,
Katakalon, Loutraki, At Sea, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome)
May 17 Inside $499*, Outside $599*


Holland America aboard the Rotterdam
12-night Mediterranean, Barcelona to Venice
Barcelona, At Sea, Monte Carlo, Civitavecchia (Rome),
Naples, Valletta, At Sea, Kusadasi, Piraeus (Athens),
Katakolon, At Sea, Venice (overnight/disembark following
a.m.) May 21 Inside $599*, Outside $699* June 2 Inside $799*, Outside $899*


Eligibility: Active airline employees, spouse, dependent
children, parents, parents-in-law (select cruise lines),
retired airline employees and friends sharing
accommodations.
1-800-209-0424 for US residents.
For reservations outside the U.S. call:
In Canada:  888-357-5012
In the UK:  020-8941-7200
In Germany:  06103-50880


From the  "Interlining Plus" formerly Canadian Interline Travel
...Vacations in Paradise!!
Don't forget, Parents & Friends are welcome!


MEXICO -ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caribbean Village Payacar from $385us
Caribbean Village Cuncan from $555us
Jack Tar Village Cuncan (adult only) from $555us
Royal Hideaway Playcar from $849us


AUSTRALIA - POSITIVE AIRFARE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Los Angeles to Sydney return from $639us
Los Angeles to Auckland return from $615us
Los Angeles to Nadi return from $615us


CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE!
1-800-665-3100


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. Smilie.
English is the universal language of the aviation industry - ever wonder why?
Here are some examples of why English is hard to teach and or learn:-
1. We must polish the Polish furniture.
2. He could lead if he would get lead out.
3. The farm was used to produce produce.
4. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
5. The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
6. This was a good time to present the present.
7. When shot st, the dove dove into the bush.
8. I did not object to the object.
9. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
10. The bandage was wound around the wound.
11. They were too close to the door to close it.
12. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
13. They sent a sewer down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
14. To help with planting, the farmer taught to sow to sow.
15. The wind was too strong to wind up the sail.
16. After seeing the tear in my clothes, I shed a tear.
17. How can I imitate this to my intimate friend?


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. DID YOU KNOW?
That you can read or retrieve back issues of  "theNetLetter" ?
Just visit our web site at:
http://www.acfamily.org/netletter
and click on the "Archives" button.
This area is only open to "the NetLetter"  subscribers and you will
need the following password to enter -
User Name: netletter  Password: vesta


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Mailing of 'the NetLetter" is a service of the ACFamily Network
**************http://www.acfamily.net **************
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|\^/|
T H E                    _| TCA |_
_|\| AIR |/|_
N E T L E T T E R   >  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<
|
( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)

Number 585 May 6th, 2001,  We first Published in October 1995


Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson   -      Co-pilot  - Terry Baker

To get in touch with either editor/pilot our  email address is
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


=================================================================

. Need to know.
Further clarification re Family Affair, and denied boarding -
Quote
Family Affair ticket holders are not given seats till the
last minute, so it would not happen very often that a person
would be sitting in a seat if the plane is oversold.

But, it the event that it does happen, we have to
remember that Family Affair is still a privilege extended to
AC Employees/retirees and their families. If deplaned, the Family
Affair ticket holder is entitled to the same Denied Boarding
philosophy than as a paying passenger.
Manager, Family Affair
Unquote

Are you Jamaica-bound? If so, bring alternate tickets.
High passenger loads on flights to/from Jamaica create a strong
possibility of
denied boardings for employees, dependants, and travel partners.
Help lighten the load for Airport colleagues by making alternate travel
arrangements
before you leave home. Travel partners travelling without the
employee/retiree are particularly
vulnerable to denied boardings when loads are heavy.
To avoid disappointment, ensure your travel partners are fully aware of
the travel
partner program advise of the dress code and remind them they can only
travel on
an Air Canada or Air Canada Regional Inc.

Empty personal oxygen cylinders can travel as checked baggage.
Provided they're empty, personal oxygen cylinders can be accepted as checked
baggage they can't be accepted as carry-on baggage.

Industry Travel sends us this information for those wanting to check
the contents
of their CHIP record -
Quote
Retirees can either call the Employee Call Centre at 1 800 413 1113
or Industry Travel at 1 800 665 2560.

I'll take this opportunity to describe what's in the staff CHIP record:

Employee number

Employee name

Address

Name of all pass-eligible dependents and the date of birth for
children

Travel priorities (personal C2/Y10 on AC and C4/Y10 on CP/REG, parent
C3/Y10 and partner C5/Y10 priority, PJ2/J05 service award priority)
appended with length of service

- Annual allotment of ID80 (1 or 2 or 4 based on length of service)
- Annual allotment of 8 partner tickets for travel on Star Alliance
- Remaining allotment of service anniversary award tickets
Unquote.

Star Alliance news -
Be aware that the flight crews of Lufthansa are involved in an
industrial dispute -
some flights could be cancelled or delayed.

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" ' "

. We welcome -

Bob Moore             This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clair McDonald                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clarice Shtrax                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
dorothyandbrian               This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mike Cwihun                   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Murray McDonell               This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rod MacDonald                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stephen & Yvette Clark. Stephen joined TCA in Vancouver in 1948 in
Sales and
subsequently worked
in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary,
Montreal
Headquarters and Toronto.
Most of my career was spent in
some aspect of training,
either in the Sales
Dept, or in Corporate Headquarters.
email for Stephen &
Yvette is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Arthur de Vries           This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bob Palmer                    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bryan Bishop              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Donald Hems                   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stew Thomson                  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jack Ayres                    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John Pedersen                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sheila Joiner nee Reid worked for CPAir 1959/60 and 1962,
and (mother) Lillian Reid widow of  employee of 40 years
both can be contacted email   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joanne Murphy nee Wells CAIL  retiree This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Short bio!
Karen MacLeod  email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Karen started in Sales admin in YHZ in 1984
and retired from YHZ Airport  01 Apr 2001.
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>
>  . News from the Districts -
>      June  &  Gord  Dalziel send us this update -
>    June and I joined the YYZ  Pionairs, recently, for a Day at the Races.
>         We arrived at about  11:30  A. M.  and met up with the
>    others in the Dinning Room of the Woodbine  Race  Track
>    near the Toronto Airport,  for  a  Day  at the Races.
>         About  40 Pionairs  or spouses where in attendance, and all
>    seemed to enjoy the  Buffet Table, before and during the
>    early part of the 10 Race Card.
>        We did not hear of any Big winners,  Nor  did we hear of any
>    Homes being lost, to the Horses.
>        In the latter part of the Afternoon,  several suggested they would
>    make their way to the Lower Levels and the Slot Machines.
>    We were told they where about to Try their luck at the Slots........
>        Anyway, June and I enjoyed the Day, the Company along
>    with the Conversations as well as the Food, etc.....
>
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                           " ' "
>The City of Calgary's gearing up for the 34th annual Pathway & River Clean up.
>  It's a chance for you to make a difference. On May 6, from 10:00 am-1:00
> pm, volunteers
>  will set out on a massive garbage-collecting event along the river
> valley and adjacent
>  pathway system.
>Air Canada and Air Canada Regional Inc. employees and their families are
>invited to
>  pitch in at this annual clean up adjacent to Pearce Estate Park. There
> will be tasty
>  treats Crowfoot Ford Chuck Wagon is preparing a blast of a BBQ lunch for
> us prizes
>  and gifts.
>  And who wouldn't want to enter the "Grossest Garbage" award? It's a
> great day to
>  come out, get some fresh air, and help beautify the city. To sign up and
> get directions,
>  please call Wendy Kennedy, Community Investments at (403) 221-4743.
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                     " ' "
>
>   . News from the YYZNEWS issued by Brian Dunn -
>
>The conversion of some of the Canadian Airlines aircraft to new FIN
>numbers has
>  started with three of the four 767-300s already done.
>   The former CP FIN631/632/634 are now FIN681/682/684 with FIN633 to be
> done shortly.
>   This was to avoid confusion with Air Canada's FIN 631/632/633/634.
>   The first of the Boeing 737s is now in for conversion as well.
>  The whole fleet will be changed from "700" numbers to corresponding
> "500" numbers
>  to avoid duplication with AC's DC-9 fleet.
>
>   There hasn't been an official announcement yet, but watch for a "new"
> colour
>scheme shortly on a Boeing 767(C-GBZR/FIN645).
>  Rumour is that it will be decorative art and applied to a few aircraft
> only.
>  Stay tuned for further details.
>
>   The following 767-300s are to leave the Air Canada fleet this summer and
>  head for Australia.  C-GGBJ/FIN651 will become VH-BZN, C-GHLA/FIN656
>will become VH-BZL and C-GHLK  fin 657 will become VH-BZM.
>  These are all leased aircraft and the leases will be terminated in June
> and July by Air Canada.
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>
>   . Message from Keith Ohman -
>
>      In Netletter #584 the address for the contacts for the Prestwick
> close as submitted
>   by Ralph Tisdall should be
> <mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>BandGonbayview<mailto:BandGonbayview@mouse
> .ca>@mouse.ca.
>   George & Bonnie  initially sent it out as ".com" which was in error.
>                              Keith Ohman.
>  (We just hope the golf scores are more accurate - eds)
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>
>  . Found on the internet.
>
>GROUP WORKS TO RESTORE B-29 TO FORMER GLORY:
>  A B-29 Superfortress that sat for years as a bombing target at the China
> Lake Naval
>Weapons Center is now the VIP tenant at Boeing Wichita's Experimental
>Flight Hangar.
>   The plane, nicknamed "Doc" because of the Disney nose art it carried
> during its
>  heyday, was built in Wichita in late 1944 and delivered to the Army Air
> Corps in 1945.
>   In April of this year, Boeing agreed to let the B-29 come home and to
> oversee efforts
>  to restore the plane to flying status.  More than 700 employees, retired
> plant workers
>and aviation enthusiasts are spending their lunch hours and staying after
>work to
>  bring the bird back to glory.
>                (So much for the USAF bombing prowess - eds)
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>
>. Pearl Piers sends us this information -
>   Visiting Rome, Italy -
>     My husband and I were there in May 2000 and stayed at the Hotel
> Trastevere,
>  in Trastevere area of Rome.  Walking distance to the Vatican, Forum,
>Coliseum, etc., etc. and 2 mins walk around the corner to square filled with
>  restaurants,  shops, and morning market.
>    Highly recommend this small, old, very clean, and friendly hotel.
> English speaking.
>I phoned for reservations and had no problem with language..  We had 2
>bedrooms
>  (don't know why, unless it was when I asked for "double" bed they
> thought I meant
>  double rooms).....anyhow we had 2 bedrooms, bath, enough closet space for
>  6 people, stove, fridge, sink and dishes.  Price was approx $100 Cad.
> per night.
>   Phone 011-39-06-581-4713  FAX 06-58-81016.
>   These are the numbers from Nova Scotia.
>  Took the Hotel Taxi to the airport when we were leaving.............it
> was approx $100,
>  versus about $75 for the cab we picked up at the airport on
> arrival....but well worth the
>  extra.................driver is a tour guide, driving beautiful clean
> Mercedes, and full of
>  information.  He gave us more info, and funny stories about Rome and
> Italy than we
>  could ever get from the guide books.  This man will also give you tour
> of Rome,
>  tour to any part of Italy, for a day or for a week.
>    We loved Rome....................I was there many years ago, and still
>find it totally awesome.  Hope this info will be of  interest to you.
>            Happy travelling.....................Pearl Piers
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>
>. Remember when?
>Air Canada DC9-32 reg CF-TLS fin 718 c/n 47071 was sold to Cebu Pacific in
>1997
>and re-registered as RP-C1509
>Air Canada DC9-32 reg CF-TMO fin 740 c/n 47353 was sold to Cebu Pacific in
>1998
>and re-registered as RP-C1509.
>
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>  . Terry's travel tips.
>    Brought to you by "Interlining Plus" formerly Canadian Interline Travel
>EASTERN CARIBBEAN
>     7 Nights aboard the Norway, Inside from $449us Oceanview  from $499us
>        Miami, return        Depart: June 03
>WESTERN CARIBBEAN
>     7 Nights aboard the ms Maasdam Inside  from $499us Oceanview  from
> $599us
>        Ft Lauderdale, return          Depart; May 13
>
>ALASKA
>     7 Nights aboard the ms Statendam Inside  from $399us Oceanview from
> $499us
>        Mini Suite from $799us Seward, to Vancouver  Depart: May 13 & May 27
>     7 Nights aboard the ms Statendam Inside  from $399us Oceanview from
> $499us
>        Mini Suite from $799us Vancouver to Seward    Depart: May 20 &
> June 03
>                IMPORTANT!!! ABOVE RATES INCLUDE PORT CHARGES
>GREEK ISLES & TURKEY
>        7 Nights aboard the Triton Best Available Cabin from $524us
>                                    (Port Charges/taxes not included)
>           Rome, Messina, Olympia, Santorini, Myknonos, Kusadasi, Patmos,
> Athens,
>           Itea.  **This itinerary also departs on Thursdays from Athens**
>           Depart:  May 19,26  June 02,09,16,23,30   July 07,14,21,28
>
>Traveling on a Budget?     try web site      BestPricedAccommodation.com
>Ask about our AIR CANADA SPACE AVAILABLE Interline fare!
>Preferred airfare available on Air Canada and sold in conjunction
>with interline cruise/tour packages
>Call our agents for further details....1-800-665-3100
>
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>
>   . Smilie.
>Omaha Approach: "Southwest 405, expedite your descent though 3,000.
>Traffic at one o'clock and seven miles; a Citabria northeast-bound at 3,500."
>SW 405: "Roger, expediting through 3,000.  Is the Citabria doing aerobatics?"
>Omaha Approach: "No, but he will be if you don't expedite below 3,000."
>
>                                      |
>                             '---o-o-0-o-o---'
>                                    " ' "
>     Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments
>             for the "The Netletter" please send to:
>       Our joint e-mail address is:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
>               please add to your Address Books.
>      This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us (exclusively)
>      will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of
>      news for the NetLetter.
>
>
>================================================================
>                 Mailing of 'the NetLetter" is a service of the ACFamily
> Network
>                             **************http://www.acfamily.net
> **************
>================================================================






</x-flowed>

=================================================================
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T H E                    _| TCA |_
_|\| AIR |/|_
N E T L E T T E R   >  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<
|
( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)

Number 584 May 1st, 2001,  We first Published in October 1995


Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson   -      Co-pilot  - Terry Baker


To get in touch with either editor/pilot our  email address is
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


================================================================

. Need to know.
The Employee & Industry Travel team has updated the letter of introduction
sent to former active and retired Canadian Airlines last year. This letter should be
used when travelling with other carriers. It serves to introduce the bearer as an
Air Canada employee. Retirees will receive it at home.
If you haven't received it by May 15, contact Industry & Employee Travel
by telephone (800) 665-2560, fax (604) 276-4892, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

Air Canada announced on April 26th the launch of more transborder routes as follows;
Eff June 26th twice daily Toronto to Greenville SC
Eff June 26th daily year-round service to Charleston SC
Eff June 26th daily year-round service to Norfolk VA
Eff June 29th to Sept 30th daily summer service between Edmonton and San Francisco
Eff July 5th daily year-round service Vancouver to Miami
Eff Oct 2tth twice weekly (Thu and Sun) service for the winter
between Montreal and Las Vegas.
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" ' "

. News from the Districts.
Charles Stock of Halifax sends this update -
Here's some news from YHZ.  The YHZ District has agreed to host the next
Pionairs CURLING BONSPIEL At the CFB YHZ CURLING CLUB
on NOV 21 & 22 , 2001.
Full details will be sent to district and teams who have completed in past
bonspiels early in SEPTEMBER.
Ken McLeod and Charles Stock will be the organizers.
A Maximum of  SIXTEEN entries will be accepted.
Further info at my email address  charlesfstock @hotmail.com.

The Comox Valley Pionair group held their monthly luncheon get-together
on Thursday Apr 26th, emceed by Murray Phipps.
In attendance were 32 Pionairs and spouses, including 12 from Canadian Airlines.
Terry Baker gave a short talk giving details of his career with TCA/Air Canada,
information regarding the NetLetter, the acfamily web site, some further
developments taking place with the web site, and some travel information.
Ralph Tisdall gave out details of the 32nd Prestwick Closed Golf Tourney bewing
held in Montreal in September. The 'Closed' is not 'open' to all!

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" ' "

. The 32nd Prestwick Closed Golf Tourney -
Heather and Ralph Tisdall sends us this information -
Held this year at the Gray Rocks in the Laurentians, 115 km northwest of
Montreal from September 17-20; with golfing at the two courses, The Beauty
and The Beast on September 18 and 19.
Single occupancy--$374 per person + taxes
Double occupancy--$239 per person + taxes
These rates include 3 nights, 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners and access to the
pool, whirlpools, sauna, fitness equipment and beach.
Service charges and taxes are not included.
We have starting times for the 18 and 19 of September and the
rates are $50 for the Beauty and $62 for the Beast, including carts.
Some of the other activities available include, Tremblant Village,
Lake cruises, gondola rides, tennis courts, mountain biking and
horseback riding.
Please contact  Bonnie and George Landry
277 Bayview Road, Pincourt, Quebec
J7V 3X2
1-514-453-4417
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
After letting Bonnie and George know that you will be atendind please make
your reservation with Suzanne Bernardine at 1-800-567-6762  ext. 521

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. May Day!

My wife and I are planning a trip to Australia and possibly New Zealand this
October for approximately 1 month. Would appreciate any advice on
accommodations  ,recommended tours or on sites not to be missed.
Dan Moss Retired AC  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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" ' "
. Bob Affleck sent us this -
Subject:  An Insider's View of the China Rescue Mission
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By Captain Guy Greider, Continental Airlines
Since the mid-air collision on April 1, 2001 between a U.S. Navy EP-3
surveillance aircraft and a Chinese jet fighter, I had watched the news with
mild interest. This was mostly due to the proximity of Guam to China. I never
dreamed that I would play a role in this intensely watched international
drama. Somewhere in the negotiations between the United States and the
Chinese Governments, it was decided that a civilian aircraft should be
sent  to retrieve the 24 crew members being detained on Hainan Island, China.
A call  was made to Continental Airlines headquarters in Houston, Texas.
Continental  was chosen because of its Guam base and its ability to launch
this kind of  operation at a moment s notice. From there, the operation took
shape through  the tireless efforts of many people working behind the scenes
in a coordinated effort between the airline, the military, and the State Department.
On Saturday, April 7, 2001, I received a call at  home from Captain Ralph
Freeman, Continental Micronesia Director of Flight Operations. Ralph told me
that the military wanted to charter one of our  jets to conduct a rescue  mission
and asked if I would be one of the crew members. I said yes without  hesitation.
Later we were told that we would need to get passport pictures  taken in case
the Chinese Government required  visas. We got the required  photos and were
under the impression that we would leave immediately.
However, the negotiations slowed over the demand from the Chinese that
the  U.S. issue an apology that the U.S. was unwilling to give. Meanwhile, the
Continental crew remained on call 24 hours a day.
Our Uniforms were laid out and our bags were packed and waiting by the
door.  On Wednesday evening April 11, 2001, at about 6:30 PM Ralph called
again to  say that the two parties were very close to an agreement to release
the U.S.  crew and to come to the airport. Upon arrival, we were given a briefing
sheet listing the information that we would need to conduct the flight. We would
carry a Repatriation Team consisting of Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force
specialists, 14 people in all. Doctors, psychologists, and communications
people with lots of gear showed up on the ramp near the airplane, ready
to  board. They were all dressed in casual civilian clothes.
The 155-seat jet was fitted with 2 full stretcher kits bolted in over rows of
seats complete with Oxygen tanks and I.V. bottles. They did not know the
condition of the 24 detained crew members and they were not going to take
any  chances. They were prepared. When our crew was fully assembled, it
consisted  of 11 people: two pilots to fly the jet and an extra to provide relief
because of the extensive flight time involved. They were Captain Tom Pinardo,
Captain Pierre Frenay and I. We also carried five very experienced flight
attendants. They were Debbie Percell, Susanne Hendricks, Jean Tang, and
Beverly Haines. Our 2 onboard mechanics were Peter Lum and Julius Aguilo.
Our  load planner was Mike Torres.
At about 9:30 PM we received a call asking that we arrive in China no earlier
than 6:00 AM, just about sunrise. It was obvious that the entire exchange
would be photographed and they wanted daylight conditions. We estimated
that  a 2:15 AM departure from Guam would put us on the ground in Haikou
precisely  at 6:00 AM local China time. (2 hours earlier than Guam) Some of us
just stayed on the plane, others accepted the company's invitation to come
to the  Continental President's Club, a local VIP lounge at the airport to try
to get  some rest. It was difficult to get any rest with our much-anticipated
mission so near.
By 1:00 AM the pilots were back in the briefing room going over the weather,
flight plan, fuel requirements and everything else that goes into a flight.  Again,
we loaded up the airplane and finally departed Guam International at
precisely 2:15 AM. The stretcher kits and medical gear were not the only
special additions to the airplane.The company had loaded a special file into
the navigation database of the flight management computer (FMC). This
allowed us to gain access to navigation data needed to operate in this part
of China, which is not in our normal route structure. The Repatriation Team
carried sophisticated equipment to communicate with the military and  government
officials that would monitor our progress throughout the flight.
The route of flight took us straight west from Guam toward the Philippines
along the G467 airway. About half way across we turned north directly toward
Hong Kong. This routing was designed to avoid flying through Taiwanese  airspace,
something that the Chinese could consider offensive.
Approaching  the Chinese coastline, we contacted Hong Kong radar control.
After  establishing radar contact with us, the controller gave us a short cut to
expedite his traffic flow. This was bad because it cut off considerable  distance
and would result in arriving too early. We compensated by slowing  our airspeed
until the computer again estimated a 6:00 AM arrival. The  instant we turned
across the short cut, the interphone rang from the back of  the plane. They
wanted to know why we had deviated from the flight plan.
We  told them it was due to Hong Kong traffic and that we had adjusted our
airspeed. We were still on schedule. Now we were approaching our destination,
Haikou airport on Hainan Island.
Captain Pierre Frenay was at the controls. The weather was 2000-ft overcast
with five miles visibility and light winds out of the east. Pierre made an ILS
approach to and landed on runway 9. Haikou airport is much the same as  many
other  airports in the  world that serve jet transport aircraft. It has an 11,000-ft
runway with standard lighting and navigational facilities. We touched down at
6:07 AM.  The first early morning light was beginning to illuminate the sky.
The  local air traffic controller instructed us to follow a vehicle that was  beside
us on an adjacent taxiway. He led us to a remote part of the airport,  away from
the main terminal buildings.
Once we had parked and shut down the engines, we saw many uniformed Chinese
military personnel and vehicles. They did not appear to have weapons.  Portable
stairs were brought up to the airplane and we opened the main cabin  door.
The  Repatriation Team that we carried had been briefed to close down all of
their communications equipment prior to landing and put it away. They were
also briefed to remain in their seats in a non-threatening posture in case the
Chinese  military came aboard. The first and only person to come aboard was
an Air  China employee. He spoke English and was to act as the translator
between our  group and the Chinese military. He instructed us to have everyone
fill out  both arrival and departure documents. He collected all of our passports
and  left the aircraft. Before he left, he said that only one person at a time
would be allowed to deplane. Peter Lum, one of our mechanics went down to
supervise the refueling and servicing of the airplane. When that was  complete,
I went down to do the walk-around inspection. I did this rather slowly because
I wanted to have a chance to look around. While I was out on the ramp, a skirmish
developed between people who were trying to climb a wall  to photograph our
aircraft and the Chinese police.  Somehow, CNN managed to carry our arrival
and departure live. Once the  airplane was serviced and ready to go, we looked
anxiously around for any  sign of the buses that carried our 24 detainees. Before
that could happen  however, we had a problem to deal with. A U.S. military
general who was on  the scene to assist in the transfer came storming up the
stairs and demanded  to speak with the captain.  Tom Pinardo responded. The
general said that the  entire mission was now in jeopardy. A document called
the general  declaration, which is standard on all international flights had listed
the destination as Haikou, China R.O.C. The initials ROC stand for Republic of
China which is .. Taiwan!  The Chinese were very upset over this. Tom quickly
crossed out ROC and replaced it with P.R.O.C. -- the Peoples Republic of
China. This seemed to satisfy them.
With the airplane ready to go and the paperwork complete, 2 buses pulled up
and  the 24 U.S. servicemen and women saluted as they bolted up the stairs
and settled into the back of the plane. When the last one was aboard, our
passports were returned to us. The stairs were withdrawn, the cabin door
closed, and we started the engines and departed. It was my turn at the controls.
Once airborne heading straight south we broke through the clouds  into the bright
sunshine. Pierre made a PA announcement that we were over  international
waters and leaving Chinese airspace. A great cheer rose from  the back of the
airplane. A short while later we received a telephone patch  over  the HF radio
from Mr. Joseph Prueher, U.S Ambassador to China. He wanted to  speak with
Lt. Shane Osborne the 26-year-old EP-3 aircraft commander. Lt. Osborne came to
the cockpit and put on a headset. The Ambassador told him  that on behalf of the
President of the United States and the entire country  he wanted to say welcome
home . He went on to say how proud he was of  everything the crew had done
from their airmanship in saving the lives of the  crew and aircraft, to their
conduct on the ground once they had been detained. They had truly done an
excellent job.
After his conversation with the Ambassador, Lt. Osborne stayed in the cockpit
for quite a while and told us his story pilot to pilot of what had happened during
and immediately after the mid-air collision with the F-8 Chinese fighter. The
fighter came up under their left wing. This pilot made two very  close passes
previously that day. He apparently misjudged the intercept and his vertical
stabilizer struck the outboard left propeller on the EP-3. The  U.S. plane was
in straight and level flight on autopilot at the time. The fighter broke into two
pieces and plunged into the sea. The U.S. plane rolled  to the left almost
inverted, the pilot lost control and they began to lose altitude. The Chinese
fighter had raked back across the fuselage and knocked  off the nose cone
causing the aircraft to buffet wildly. When the nose cone  departed the aircraft
it collided with and damaged the number 4 propeller on  the right wing. The
collision punctured the pressure vessel and the EP-3  depressurized. The
collision also knocked off the pitot tubes, eliminating airspeed and altitude
indications in the cockpit.  It also knocked off the  forward bracket for the HF radio
antenna. The antenna then flew back and  wrapped around the tail. We were
almost upside down and totally out of  control, Osborne told us. The dive
continued and some crew members donned parachutes. At about 8,000 feet,
Osborne regained straight and level flight.  They considered ditching the
aircraft in the South China Sea but dismissed  that option because it was
certain to result in loss of  life. They headed for the nearest land, Hainan Island.
The U.S. crew now  faced the most difficult landing of their lives. They made
numerous mayday, mayday, mayday radio calls on internationally recognized
emergency  frequencies. The Chinese did not respond. Somehow, they
managed to get the airplane on the ground.
Their next immediate task was to destroy the sensitive electronic
surveillance equipment aboard the EP-3. Meanwhile the Chinese military had
approached the aircraft in vehicles and were yelling at them through loudspeakers
to deplane. The next 11 days would be a very uncertain time for them. When we
met them, they told us that they had not  been abused or mistreated. Their food
was adequate and plentiful. Sort of  like eating in a Chinese restaurant every day
one of them said. On the fourth day, they got some coffee. On the fifth day,
some cokes were provided.
The crew did not know what kind of transport would be provided for their
return home. They were pleased and surprised to see a chartered airliner from
the United States. The rest of the flight from Haikou to Andersen AFB on
Guam  was uneventful. During the 5 hour flight the crew was treated to the
movie  "Men of Honor" and enjoyed a first class meal. We did not know it at
the time but our landing at Andersen AFB was carried live on national television.
We  taxied to the parking ramp at Andersen where many people had turned out
to  welcome all of us home. Individuals and families with kids, both military and
civilian waved American flags and cheered, showing support for the returning
U.S. spy plane crew. Once the 24 U.S. crewmembers and the military Repatriation
Team had deplaned at Andersen, they immediately boarded waiting buses and
were whisked away.
The Continental crew then became the object of intense media attention. CNN,
MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Reuters and various print media interviewed us. A dizzying
swirl of attention after a very long day. We were happy, tired, and pleased that
the mission was so successful as Tom flew the last segment, a 10-minute flight
back to Guam International Airport. This time our passengers included Bill Meehan,
President of  Continental Micronesia, Guam Governor Carl Gutierrez, Lieutenant
Governor Bordallo and others.
We thought the day was just about over but we  had one more surprise in store.
After landing, we were given a hero's welcome of our own. The airport fire
department was in place to give us the traditional water cannon salute, a
rainbow arch of water for us to taxi under. A reception was held at the gate with
food, balloons, commemorative plaques, and more media interviews with the
local television station. This was very heady stuff.
As I look back on this one of a kind operation, it could not have happened
without the tremendous effort and skills of many.

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

. Smilie.
THE LIGHT'S ON BUT NOBODY'S HOME...
Last Wednesday, Auckland International Airport was shut down due to lack
of air traffic controller coverage.  Apparently, four controllers called
in sick and one was (rather poetically) "stuck in traffic."  The result
left the tower "unattended" for 25 minutes during the morning peak hour,
while the sole remaining tower controller took a break.  WAIT!
Apparently, that controller had met the maximum three-hour shift allowed
by regulations and therefore had no legal alternative but to leave his
post between 9:30 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. local time.

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

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