Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, November 9, 2024
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The Digital Poppy is a simple but
meaningful way to honour Canada's Heroes. Click the image to create one. |
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Dear Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees.
We have evolved into the longest running aviation-based newsletter for Air Canada, TCA, CP Air, Canadian Airlines and all other Canadian-based airlines that once graced the skies. The NetLetter is self-funded and is always free to subscribers. It is operated by a group of volunteers and is not affiliated with any airline or associated organizations. The NetLetter is published on the second and fourth weekend of each month. If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, and vintage aviation photos, especially as it relates to Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines International and their constituent airlines, then we're sure you'll enjoy this newsletter. Please note: We do our best to identify and credit the original source of all content presented. However, should you recognize your material and are not credited; please advise us so that we can correct our oversight. Our website is located at www.thenetletter.net Please click the links below to visit our archives and for more info about The NetLetter. |
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The Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign has a digital option for an online fundraising at www.mypoppy.ca. Canadians are able to personalize it, dedicate it and share it online – and add their own family stories and images – as their pledge to never forget those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. We have once again created a Poppy in memory of our colleague of many years, Alan Rust.
Alan joined Vesta and Terry shortly before Vesta's passing and served as the NetLetter website administrator until his own passing in April 2019. He created the original website and newsletter format that we still use today.
Alan joined the Forces in 1968 where he was first introduced to his career as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
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 We have welcomed 100 new subscribers so far in 2024.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.
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We always welcome feedback about Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge) from our subscribers who wish to share current events, memories and photographs.
Particularly if you have stories to share from one of the legacy airlines: Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Maritime Central Airways, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair, Transair, Air BC, Time Air, Quebecair, Calm Air, NWT Air, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Georgian and all other Canadian based airlines that once graced the Canadian skies.
We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.
Thanks!
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The Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service
Volume 1, by Larry Milberry and Hugh A. Halliday
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 The RCAF's (1924-2024) Centennial is being highlighted by airshows, dedications, commemorative coins and book launches. Adding to the list and having produced the RCAF 60th Anniversary history in 1984, CANAV Books introduces its 2-volume Centennial set The Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service. Beautifully produced, ‘100 Years” begins with Canada’s earliest aerial experiments, covers WWI where Canadians excel in the air, then moves to formation of the RCAF in 1924. The RCAF gains renown in training, photography, forestry and fisheries patrols, and daunting northern expeditions. Like today’s Snowbirds, its 1930 "Siskins” flight demo team spotlights Canada’s small but impressive air force. 
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Henry Tenby has sent us this information about his forthcoming book.
Air Canada TCA History | From Lodestars to Jets – Clayton Glenn Memoirs.
Henry Tenby, the author of 'Air Travel Time Machine' presents the most extensive photo history of Air Canada TCA ever to be published in the annals of aviation in this remarkable limited print volume as told by the late Clayton Glenn.
Expected shipping is late December 2024 / early 2025.
Click Here for a special order link Henry has created especially for AC staff and retirees that offers a 10% discount.
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 Click the icon or the image below to view Henry's video on his new book.
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Alan Evans, a subscriber in South Africa, has written a book about his life and exploits as a pilot:
"Nomadic Wings: By the seat of my pants".
In Nomadic Wings, Boeing 747 Captain Alan Evans delivers a gripping memoir that chronicles his journey through life's myriad challenges and triumphs.
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Jack Morath in LHR shares this -
Bob Lynch, Passenger Service Manager at LHR, moved to France after retirement. He has found a new hobby, making black and white pictures into colour like the attached photo below taken at my retirement 'do' in 1991.
Those in the picture from the left are: Tony Blencoe who transferred to Toronto and became a Baggage Supervisor. Harry Berry, Jimmy Rowan, myself, Brian Davies and Bill Alderson.
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And this –
The photo below was taken in 1964. We were the Maple Leafs ten pin bowling team representing Air Canada at the local bowling arena at Harlington Corner.
We had just received our trophy's for being champions in the Airport League B Division. I still have my Air Canada Maple Leafs bowling shirt and trophy.
The gentleman on the left in the photo was a colleague from Vickers at Weybridge. At the time I was an Expeditor in Purchasing and Stores dealing with requests from Canada for spares urgently required from Vickers and he was one of my contacts there. Unfortunately I don't remember his name at the moment.
Next to him is Les Powell from Flight Despatch and then Barry Rawlings who was then the mail boy delivering mail on the Air Canada push bike and later by van! He later emigrated to Australia (Brisbane). Then Terry Baker who was my Supervisor in Purchasing and Stores who later transferred to Montreal and is now retired in British Columbia (and a NetLetter editor). And lastly myself.
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Paul Stenner of North Saanich, British Columbia sent this in.
Here is a photo of my grandmother and me, taken at 'Pat Bay Airport' ( Patricia Bay), now Victoria Airport, in the mid 1940’s after she had spent the war years with us in Victoria before flying home to Germany .
Little did I known that I would have a happy and rewarding career with the same company that owned the DC-3 that she was boarding.
F/O Paul Stenner, retired
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Extracted from 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated September 1985
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Star attraction arrives at Expo 86, by Raymond Guérin.
CF-TCA - She may be old and too small by today's standards, and unable to function properly, but she certainly has been around in her lifetime: Fourteen employers she has had, including three government agencies and corporations!
And now, at the venerable age of 48 - that is, venerable for an airplane - she is about to know one of the great moments of her colourful career. She arrived in Vancouver at the end of a 14-day journey from Ottawa (on board a flatbed truck, for Billy Bishop's sake!) to become one of the star attractions at Expo 86. She will be the pride and joy of the Air Canada pavilion, displaying all of her 38-foot length that could seat ten passengers.
Hold it. We're talking about fin number 23. A little respect is "de rigueur". After all, this was one of the original "three sisters" purchased from Lockheed by Trans-Canada Air Lines (Air Canada) in October 1937, when the airline was only in its second month of operations. So this is truly a memento to aviation history, especially since Air Canada would be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1986-87.
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CF-TCA is hoisted aboard a flatbed truck in Ottawa in preparation for its journey to Vancouver.
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 Found on Facebook
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When the ramp guys opened the bulk hold of Fin #860 one day, they found a Red Setter dog running loose, waiting to greet them. It was supposed to travel from Halifax (YHZ) to St. John's (YYT) but it had chewed its way out of cage and managed to chew a hole in the fiberglass bulkhead by the fuselage and climb in the small gap.
The YYT ramp crew just thought it was an empty cage and went into the baggage hall without the dog! There was no sign of a dog on board.
The flight then continued on to Heathrow (LHR) and the dog managed to reverse out of the narrow gap and wandered around the bulk hold, until the door was opened at LHR.
We've had few strange reasons for baggage delays, but a wayward Red Setter was one of the strangest? They had to wait for a new cage from quarantine before they could unload the bulk cargo hold. The dog was looked after by quarantine, until return to YYT.
Another strange delay was an ant nest in a BWIA aircraft. One bag was full of sugar and the dolly carrying it was parked near grass for a while.
The big red ants got scent of the sugar and made their way up the dolly wheels to the bag. By the time it arrived at LHR, there was a column of them, carrying sugar from the bag to a nest that had been made in another bag. Bin had to be fumigated.
Never a dull moment
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 The 15th Anniversary Northern Lights Awards Gala for Canadian women in aviation was held in Toronto on October 5, 2024. Hosted at the Pearson Convention Centre for the second year, the event drew more than 600 guests.
Among the Northern Lights Awards 2024 Honourees was for the Rising Star awards, one of the awards were presented to Zoey Williams who is a first officer at Air Canada who started flight training at 15.
Her long-time dream was to fly as co-pilot to her father on a commercial flight, and she did so aboard an Air Canada Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Heathrow to Toronto.
She recently became the first female pilot in residence at the University of Waterloo, has several aviation degrees, and is a board member on the Urban Pilot’s Network.
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Air Canada to Revive Boeing 767, Expects 90 New Planes by 2029
Canadian carrier, Air Canada has announced a comprehensive fleet modernization plan that includes a surprising return of the Boeing 767 to passenger service.
The airline, which previously retired its B-767-300ER fleet in 2020, plans to reintegrate two of these aircraft by 2025, marking a strategic shift in its fleet composition.
Both these aircraft are parked at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM), they are registered as C-FOCA and C-GLCA. These aircraft are more than 33 years old and were originally delivered to Canadian Airlines in 1990 and 1991
The carrier’s five-year fleet expansion strategy reveals plans to acquire 90 new aircraft between 2024 and 2029.
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 for the latest posts at the Air Canada Media Centre. |
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated November 1982
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Users learn more about ReserVec.
Some 100 travel agents from Quebec and the Atlantic provinces turned out October 21, 1982 for a ReserVec Il users' seminar held at the Chateau Champlain Hotel, Montreal. The day was sponsored by Computer & Systems Services' Agency Automation division.
It was the fourth such seminar in an ongoing series which has been conducted at various locations across the country for an audience of more than 500 travel agents.
The Air Canada staff who helped make the Montreal seminar a success are, front row, from the left: Louise Slattery, Marketing; Susan Ashbridge, C & SS; Anne-Marie Jeannotte, Eastern Region; Guy Maynard, Eastern Region.
Middie row, from the left are: Mac Smith, C & SS, Shirlee Schacter, C & SS; Susan Everts, Eastern Region; Lorraine Larocque, Eastern Region; Jeanne Lachambre, C & SS; Richard Gendron, Eastern Region.
Back row, from the left are: Doug Stirrup, C & SS; Owen Colliss, C & SS; Henrick Sniecinski, Eastern Region; Dave Livingstone, Marketing. Harry Luxa, Transportation Services, is missing from the photo.
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Issue dated January 1983
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The company made history in February 1982 as the first airline to transport an RB-211 Rolls Royce engine in the upper deck of a B-747 Combi.
The feat was in fact accomplished twice within a few days. And, thanks to advance planning and a well-coordinated effort, the operation, Toronto - Paris return, went without a hitch.
The operation was part of Properties & Facilities' project to reduce engine transportation costs.
Happy to see the engine securely aboard in Toronto are, from the left: Project Coordinator Fred Stanbra, Station Attendants J. Gould, R. Capogna, R. Murphy and Lead Station Attendant Don Moody.
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High fliers take a free fall.
A group of Edmonton employees winged their way to Abbotsford, British Columbia to try skydiving last fall.
Darryl Lyons, Acting Ramp Service Supervisor, Edmonton, had sparked interest in the adventure when he took up the sport again after a ten-year absence.
Despite the windy conditions, Darryl and his nine cohorts were ready to make their first jump following four hours of training. For most, accuracy (distance from target) was acceptable considering the wind conditions with some students actually landing in the right field.
Others paid a visit to the cows next door. Over dinner later, the participants promised themselves a repeat performance.
Looking relieved after a successful jump are, from the left: Kato Tanaka, Judy McInnes, Greg Glover, Herman Vos and Glen Cook.
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Issue dated August 1985
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Remember the first jet aircraft, but above all, the noise of their engines? If so, you are more than likely to appreciate the quiet cargo DC-8-73 freighter.
The aircraft went on display and performed a fly-past at the Abbotsford Air Show this month. The airline's recent re-engining program, a $150 million commitment to its cargo business, was completed in November 1984, when the last of the six Cargo DC-8s rolled out of the airline's Dorval Technical Base.
There, the original Pratt and Whitney JT3D engines had been replaced with the new-technology General Electric/Snecma CFM56-2.
The re-engined DC-8, fin #875, was photographed at Montreal by Jim Gregory, Dorval based First Officer.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Found while scrolling though the Whitehorse Star newspaper -
June 12, 1942 - Canadian Pacific Airlines, Western Division, have added another 10-passenger twin-engined Boeing 247 to their fleet operating out of Edmonton. The new ship arrived at Edmonton from Winnipeg last Thursday, piloted by A. MacRore. The company now has five Boeing ships based at Edmonton.
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From the "Canadi>an Flyer" magazine.
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Issue dated August 1997
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Dress Chinese Day
Canadian staff in Hong Kong participated in the 'Dress Chinese Day' held on July 3, 1997, the first day of work after the holidays in celebration of Hong Kong returning to China.
At the District Sales Office reception, standing left to right: Cinne Lam, Clerical Assistant; Lorraine Lau, Personnel Assistant; Iris Tam, Accounts Clerk; Katherine Hong, Secretary / Accounts; Clerk; Stella Ng, Customer Service Agent; Mena Bluck, Sales Representative; Cherry Poon, CTO Lead Agent; Mary Kwong, Office Attendant; Maria Chan, Receptionist / Switchboard Operator.
Sitting left to right: Anita Yau, Administration Manager; Ed Grauvogl, GM Hong Kong and Helen Mok, Administrative Assistant.
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Issue dated October 1997
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Enjoying the fare at Halifax airport BBQ and corn boil in August 1997.
Left to right: Bob Scott, Sandy Sweet, Claude Veniot, Gilda Romanelli, Ralph MacDonald, Mike Wolthers, John Worsley, Don Hippern, Anne Hawco, Roger Harmon, Dennis Hartham, Mike Ryan, Rick Gaudet, Gloria Belec, Heather Hartford. Kneeling and taking a well-deserved rest is cook, Tim Bryne.
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Dorval Cargo Agents, left to right: Boris Dagenais, Marcel Gelinas, Nick Petrella, Anna Miniaci, Therese Desilets, Charlie Beharrysingh and Andre Cardin predict we'll ship more cargo through as a result of the transfer of international services from Mirabel (YMX) to Dorval (YUL).
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Issue dated November 1997
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Employee attendance at Yellowknife's run was 90 per cent, only because two employees had to stay behind and work.
The Canadian team placed third in the corporate pledge standings, left to right: Helena Bowen, Mable McDonald, Evelyn Langille, Jeannie Vivian, Cleo Bromley, Barrie Mindus, Anne Bower, Kent Pate, Sandi Shannon. Lisa Taylor, Bonnie Bentley-Swan, Klara Robinson, Gord Hoscick, Suzanne Zruna, Mary Dewar, Val Gibson, Kelly Kaylo, Sandy McLean and Dan Kane.
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Our video is posted by the Reel Life YouTube channel of a snapshot of the city of Calgary and its airport circa 1987.
Aircraft viewed are two ex-Pacific Western B-737s (by then Canadian Airlines but still in original PWA livery), an Air Canada L-1011-500 and two B-767-200s, a very brief (one second at 7:15) view of a landing Canadian Airlines B-737 in new livery and a Worldways DC-8-63 previously operated by CP Air.
The narrator is incorrect re AC operating 12 L-1011s. They had 18 including 6 of the longer range, shorter fuselage L-1011-500s like the one in the video. Those 6 aircraft were sold to Delta Air Lines in 1991.
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EVAS- Exploits Valley Air Services started with a single aircraft in 1992, flying charters across Newfoundland and Labrador, steadily gaining a foothold in North America and Europe growing its operations to newer fields.
Today, they offer various services including specialized modifications to the Beechcraft 1900 series, comprehensive MRO Solutions, ACMI Leasing, Air Ambulance services, besides our original Private Charter and Cargo operations.
We began operations with one Beechcraft 1900D flying passenger routes to support the Air Canada network in Atlantic Canada. EVAS Air maintained exceptional on-time performance and reliability of operations. Our Fleet expands across a series of Beechcraft 1900D's, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 300 Twin Otters, and the Embraer Phenom-100.
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A day in the life of a Stockkeeper
Extracted from Horizons #878 - November 2000
Numbering over 300 system-wide, Stockkeepers across the system play a vital function in helping the airline run smoothly. They work around the clock to ensure parts, engines, nuts, bolts, and office supplies get to you—pronto.
Expediting material, Stockkeepers are responsible for properly packaging items for transport and capturing all information in ARTOS to ensure accurate inventory levels are maintained. From office deliveries to dangerous goods, they keep things on the move.
Here's a sample of an afternoon shift in the life of Montreal Stockkeeper Daniel Beaule. Like an industrious ant, he clocked over 15 km on the forklift and pallet jack, buzzing around Technical Operations collecting and delivering goods.
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Checking into to work with
colleague Pat Lavie. |
First stop: Station 46 for a delivery. |
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| Delivering the goods. |
Storing an empty propane tank. |
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| Placing wheel assemblies into stock. |
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Editor's Note by Wayne:
Some very good memories for me viewing these photos. The electric pallet jack that Daniel is seen riding was called a 'Walkie Rider' in Toronto stores. I had a lot of fun roaming around the 'DC-8' and 'Check Crew' hangars doing deliveries on these.
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| Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips |
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Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.
Canada 3000 Airlines was a Canadian discount charter airline offering domestic and international flights. It was the largest charter airline in Canada at the time of its operation, with over 90 destinations worldwide, although it changed to scheduled service in 2000 after the Canadian Airlines and Air Canada merger.
Canada 3000 competed with Air Canada, WestJet, and fellow charter airline Air Transat. In November 2001, the airline went out of business after a sharp decline in revenues following the September 11 attacks in the United States. There have been several attempts to restart the airline since then. The airline was headquartered in Etobicoke in the west-end of Toronto.
The airline was created in 1988 by British airline Air 2000, initially for charter service to lease some of its airplanes for Canadian charter travel (dubbed as Air 2000 Airline Ltd).
On May 1, 1989, by order of the NTA, it changed its name to Canada 3000. The next year the airline acquired Vacationair and a subsidiary was created in Mexico with the name Aerofiesta.
Following the demise of Wardair, the company's goal was to become Canada's largest charter carrier, a position it attained in 1991.
In January 2001, Canada 3000 bought charter carrier Royal Aviation of Montreal. The company also acquired Royal Cargo Airlines' cargo division, renaming it to Canada 3000 Cargo. In March 2001 it also took over CanJet.
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On November 8, 2001 the company suddenly collapsed with no warning for travellers or employees. The company filed for bankruptcy, citing a downturn in air travel during the weeks following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Out of bankruptcy, the Canada 3000 Cargo operation, which was still operating, was sold off and became Cargojet Airways.
Canada 3000 was the first A330-200 operator in April 1998.
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Photo by John Davies
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A Canada 3000 Airbus A310-300 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle in 2001. It was carrying a Canada 3000/Royal Aviation hybrid livery after they purchased the latter.
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Photo by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt
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A Canada 3000 Boeing 737-200 at Ottawa in 2001.
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Photo by John Davies
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A Canada 3000 Boeing 757-200 at Lisbon in 1991.
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Photo by Pedro Aragão
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YYZ Airport News
Caz Caswell - July 13, 1993
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Wayne, Ken & Terry Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph) |
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Wayne, Bob & Ken Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph) |
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We wish to honour the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust. They remain a part of every edition published. |
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E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted):
The historical information as well as any other information provided in the "NetLetter" is subject to correction and may have changed over time.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
Disclaimer: Please note that the NetLetter does not necessarily endorse any airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers.
We would be interested in any feedback (good or bad) when using these companies though and will report the results here.
We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link. |
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