Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, January 11, 2025
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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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 We have welcomed 11 new subscribers so far in 2025.
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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Just a little note about the Concorde’s visit during Expo in YVR. I was working for Wardair at the time doing a turnaround on the next gate.
I noticed a little gathering around the nose gear; I went to see what was going on. CP was doing the ground handling and they had no way to bring the airplane on to the bridge.
There was no bar for the pilot to line up on. There was a towbar but it was in the bulk cargo, way up in the air. I looked at the nose gear and saw it was the same as a B-727.
CP did not have any but I knew Air Canada still had one in a pile of towbars over by the old gate 1. I went over, 'borrowed' it and brought it over. They used it and promised to put it back. Air Canada was none the wiser. I was even interviewed by the old CKVU TV that made the 6 o’clock news that night.
Another note: I worked a little bit with Bob Sheppard at AC in 95. I was a Cat. 13 new hire on that straight midnight crew. Air Canada started it to spruce up one airplane a night.
Bob replied:
I remember you from those days of the appearance checks. They went on to create a whole department, Cabin Maintenance, that lasted a few years. I recall that you had returned to Canada after years of working in the middle east. Quite an amazing experience that I enjoyed hearing about.
I have been helping proofread The NetLetter for a few years and that has kept me connected to the industry. Thank you for your comments. One of the things that I enjoy about the NetLetter is reader feedback. I am happy to be part of the team of very knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers who work diligently to create this newsletter.
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Jean Downie sent in these kind words -
Hello from Toronto,
‘tis the time of year for giving thanks, so that means it is also time to thank you all at The NetLetter! You do a great job throughout the year and keep many former members at least in touch with the airline industry for whom we all, at one time worked.
Barely seems like the same job I had thirty odd years ago but nothing stays the same, so let’s move forward to 2025 and I wish The NetLetter team a wonderful year, with lots of new interesting stories and personal good health!
With my very best wishes,
Jean Downie. YYZ In Flight Service
Our reply -
The NetLetter is always a labour of love. It is a privilege to share memories with so many remarkable people.
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Another memory of the Canadair North Star aircraft, this time from Ed Hill, sent to us in 2002 -
It is great to read all about this marvellous airplane from my fellow employees and all of the memories that go along with it, however, let me share with you folks something that maybe 5 or 6 people are aware of.
When I was working as a 16 year old in airways engineering, my desk was just a few feet away from the office of one of the most loveable persons I have had the privilege of knowing.
No other than Captain Ron Baker who was TCA's engineering test pilot. Every time Captain Baker went on a test flight he always took me with him. What most people don't realize is TCA was probably the first airline in North America to be testing automatic throttle combined with auto instrument landing system.
On this particular flight the weather was no better that 100 foot ceiling and he demonstrated how this system would work to everyone’s advantage. The bottom line I'm trying to make is that the old North Star was involved in a lot more that just making fond memories for some people...
Best regards, Ed Hill, retired
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| Issue dated February 1988 |
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A few female Station Attendants at Terminal 2 in Toronto.
Shown from left to right, bottom row, are: Sharon Ushijima and Jill Baker.
In the middle row, in the same order, are: Donna Volpini, Christine Schultz and Kathy Brunton. Behind them is Nicole St-Jean.
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April 26, 1987 - Air Canada returns to Vienna with flights from Toronto.
The company originally served the Austrian capital from May 11, 1959 to March 26, 1977.
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated July 1983
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Washington D.C.
Lucille Ford, Agent/Secretary, left, and Cheryl Grealis, Sales Manager, straighten out a few details before Cheryl heads out on the road and leaves Lucille in charge of the office.
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| Issue dated August 1983 |
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Charlottetown welcome.
During a visit to Charlottetown, President Claude Taylor dropped in to say hello to the staff, some of whom came in on days off to greet him.
Taylor is shown, standing, front row, left, with Jim Crowe, Station Agent l, who received the President's best wishes on the occasion of Jim's pending retirement, and Al Rach, Manager, PEI. Seated are Bev Young and Linda Murphy.
Back row, standing from the left, are: Wayne Handren, David Turnbull, John MacEachern, Jim Tingman, Brian Murray, Garth Rogerson, Jean-Louis Lachapelle and Dave Spence.
Missing from the photo are: Gail Skidmore, Secretary; Passenger Agent Traff Allman; Station Agents Len Durden and Gary Turnbull and Station Attendant Hank Howard.
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Air Canada Jets take off in Jasper/Banff relay.
A group of Montreal-based employees, calling themselves the Air Canada Jets, in 1983 tackled the pros in a gruelling marathon relay along the Jasper/Banff highway. Although the group did not expect to win the race, the team did finish and thoroughly enjoyed the 'Participaction" spirit of the event.
On a cold, snowy eve last December 1981, Daniel Gingras, Schedule Support Analyst, Montreal, settled in to read his latest issue of Canadian Runner when an article about a different sort of race caught his eye.
"180 miles along the scenic Jasper-Banff highway, June 11-12" it read. The race was limited to 100 teams, sponsored by CP Air. Daniel was hooked.
The fact that CP Air was the sponsor, made the event an opportunity not to be missed. On Saturday morning after Jean Tranquille, C & SS, registered the team, they began to understand what they would be up against.
The team baton was no ordinary metal tube. Instead, it was a fluorescent stick designed to glow in the dark and it came equipped with a whistle - to scare off the BEARS.
Despite the obstacles and lack of experience they managed to finish the relay, long after the checkpoint officials had gone home. Robert Berube, our champion runner had enough energy to cross the finish line.
"Although CP Air was probably not very impressed with our performance, our experience in '83, some long range planning and a little support from Air Canada should guarantee a team to be proud of in '84.
In the photo we have -
The triumphant Air Canada Jets, standing from the left: Jean Tranquille, C & SS; Marge Cardinal, Reservations; Peter Flookes, C & SS; Mark Desjardins, Duplicating Services; Virginia Seaborn, Financial Planning/C & SS; Sylvie Raymond, C & SS; Andre Raymond, Esso Petroleum Canada; Michel Godard, Godard & Fils Assurances.
Sitting from the left, are: Maurice Nault, Stock Center, Dorval; Louis Robitaille, Promotion, Eastern Region; Robert Berube, Agence de Voyage Club Jeunesse and Andy Gugliandolo, Marketing.
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Stair trekkers conquer Mount Neverest.
By Michael Sas, Passenger Agent, Winnipeg Reservations.
They said it couldn't be done. A group of 25 people climb 900 flights of stairs in five days? Impossible!
However, 380 Air Canada employees working at the Richardson Building in Winnipeg proved that 900 flights of stairs was an easy goal and a safe, enjoyable way of incorporating exercise in one's daily routine.
The Mount 'Neverest' (pronounced never rest) Challenge was just one of the events held during National Physical Activity Week in the spring of 1983. During the week, the Canadian Public Health Association Fitness Secretariat sponsored a number of events to encourage Canadians to become physically active.
In Winnipeg, Air Canada employees working in the Richardson Building, were one of the six groups which participated in the Stairway to Health Campaign.
The goal of the Stairway to Health Campaign was to show people that a small change in lifestyle, such as taking the stairs instead of using the elevator, is actually a form of exercise and can lead to an improved level of fitness.
Each flight of stairs was arbitrarily set to be equivalent to 10 metres. Nine hundred flights of stairs would therefore be equivalent to 9000 metres. The summit of Mount Everest is 8,780 metres, hence the name, Mount Neverest.
Each team was encouraged to reach new heights in stair climbing by its group leader or 'Sherpa'. The Sherpa also kept everyone informed as to the team's progress and position on Mount Neverest.
The Sherpas are shown, from the left: Joanne MacKinnon-Hunt, Carol Papetti, Claudette Blais, Kathy Butler, Rob Sawchuk, Michael Sas, Lorraine Lagacé, Alice Muir, Cheryl Greenwood and Mary Hawrylak.
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Air Canada's winning team, were the Pacemakers, shown in this photo.
Seated from the left: Marlene Turzak, Bev Lewis, Claudette Blais, June Morris and Joan Rochon.
Standing, from the left, are: Jim Prouten, Ed Kumka, Jim Ursel, Paul O'Sullivan, Russel Evanochoko, Jan Shute-Furst, Ann Hitesman, Lenore Dodson, Colleen Ball, Florence Richard, Rose-Anne Kociolek, Ivy Enns, Lynn Oppenheimer, Al Poitras, Darcy Wershler and David Avery.
Missing from the photo (still climbing maybe) are: Betty Shapiro, Gerry Mason, Joe Nosko, Pat Heinke, John Sagriff and Harry Davies.
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Issue dated October 1983
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Three Brussels employees celebrated anniversaries with the airline on the same date, August 1, 1983.
Pictured from the left: Herman Peeters, Senior Agent (15 years), Georgette Mosselmans, Sales Agent (25 years) and Archie Segers, Cargo Sales Manager, Benelux (15 years). The trio have the same service date, August 1, just 10 years apart.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Issue dated June 1964
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 Moose meat moved on the hoof on CPA flight from Prince George to Edmonton.
Five moose calves, four days oId, were shipped to Alberta Game Farm. Personal attention was given this young, long-legged calf by stewardess Pat Rekis and Prince George station supervisor Earl Brown.
Photo: Prince George Citizen Photo
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Issue dated August 1969
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On August 8, 1969 W.R. Harris, Vice President and General Manager, presented 'Wings' to the graduation class of sixteen stewardesses and five stewards of the training class.
 Inclded in the photo are: James Bisaillon, Giorgio Peggi, Hans Prins, Robert Pattison, Kenneth Merren, Annette Hansen, Sharon Blair, Nicole Bradshaw, Jo-Anne Gillis, Linda Harris, Dorothy Butchart, Susan Fraser, Cherry Lundy, Margeret Unger, Lesley Webster, Jacqueline Coady, Patricia McDonald, Nancy Campbell, Susan Wells, Geraldine Hollowachuk and Elizabeth Sutherland. |
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History was made as far as Campbell River (YBL) was concerned when a Boeing 737 (PWA fin #732) landed here on June 28, 1969. The local papers carried a big spread of the first commercial jet to land at Campbell River.
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Feature station of the Month - Hay River, Northwest Territories,
It doesn’t have any particular ring to the name, there is nothing particularly exciting or different which a name sometimes imparts, but just live here for a few months. I can account for the past six months, which has been my duration in this town.
People are still talking about the time our Boeing 737 went off the side of the runway in April. There was no danger at all, but oh, the excitement! Cars, trucks, jeeps, pick-ups, anything on four wheels was immediately dispatched by Station Manager, Jim Ivens, to the scene to pick up our passengers.
The entourage resembled somewhat of a gypsy caravan. But we sent them for a nice hot coffee, down to our Ptarmigan Inn and with the co-operation of some of our town folk, the jet was ‘dug-out’ and taxied to the terminal building without further problem and all was again in readiness for our regular service.
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Air Terminal
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Staff House
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Issue dated September 1969
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PWA Route Network 1969
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Kelowna Station News
Locally, the airline business is booming. Passenger totals over the years have been ever-increasing and in the Fall of 1968 the new Kelowna Airport terminal was officially opened. This new facility has already been approved for expansion and the city’s airport staff has grown in number almost with the passing of every month.
Local passenger traffic increased some 25% in 1968, and so far in 1969, totals are up almost 40% over the previous year. In July of 1969, 6,735 PWA passengers used YLW airport compared to 5,235 who travelled CP Air last year.
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Kelowna terminal during one of our quieter times.
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Below are some thumbnails of PWA traffic agents at Kelowna.
Editors' Note: Clicking any photo opens up a PDF of bios of each of these busy people. We would appreciate your feedback if your recognize anyone (perhaps yourself) in any of the photos.
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Don McMordie
Note: British Columbia Premier
W.A.C. Bennett signing autographs
in the background.
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Doug Ross |
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Ian Rennie
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John Currie
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Lew Stannard
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Pat Davison |
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Sami Iyer
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Tania Kartasheff |
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Replacing the Boeing 767-300
As mentioned in our 'Air Canada News' section in NetLetter #1545 & #1547, AC has made the surprising decision to return two Boeing 767-300s temporarily to passenger service.
For just over forty years the B-767 has been a versatile workhorse for both Air Canada and Canadian Airlines and has served well on both domestic and international routes and continues in cargo configuration.
I watched the bottom video linked below from Long Haul by Simple Flying with great interest because it focuses on the problem of replacing the B-767 for several airlines.
Both Boeing and Airbus have focused on stretching their existing narrow body products, B-737 & A321, but they don't have the same capacity. Wide body products like the B-787 & A330 have over capacity. None of these aircraft would seem to have the same market versatility as the B-767, an interesting dilemma.
Editor's Note by Ken Pickford: About the only significant remaining passenger B-767 operators are United Airlines with 53 and Delta Air Lines with 61. Both plan to retire them by 2030.
The last passenger B-767 was built over 10 years ago. Only freighters since then and production of the remaining 29 on order for UPS and FedEx ends in 2027. The military KC-46 refueling tanker version will also continue in production.
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 Air Canada's Reactivated Boeing 767s: The 5 Routes They Will Fly In 2025 |
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Replacing The Boeing 767-300: What's The Best Available Option?
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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.
Do you know why aircraft are known as a ship?
Marine language was transferred intact from marine to aviation use when airplanes were invented. In fact, many of the original passenger aircraft were flying boats. Hence, airplanes have rudders, galleys, cabins, bulkheads and port and starboard sides with red and green navigation lights.
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Interline Travel by Dynamic Travel and Cruises have many deals.
We have an amazing tour in April, 2025 to Sicily. Sicily is an Italian destination many interliners have heard of but have not yet visited. Well we have a 7 night tour departing on April 6, 2025 with prices going as low as USD $1,719pp depending on how many people go.
It's not too early to be thinking about an Alaska Cruise in 2025. In 2025 there will be even more options for you to cruise to Alaska. Most sailings still have good availability for balcony cabins and cabins that hold 4. Many sailings have interline rates open and in the case of Princess Cruises, you can book additional cabins at the interline rate for those going with you.
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This DC-3 was manufactured in 1942 by Douglas. It was completed as a DC-3 airliner after the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and later served with the U.S. Army Air Forces as a C-49J.
In 1945, it was sold to Trans-Canada Air Lines, becoming the first DC-3 operated by that airline, registered CF-TDJ. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company bought the aircraft in 1948 and refinished it for VIP transportation. It served with Goodyear until 1983, when the company donated it to the Museum.
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Photo by Reinhard Zinabold
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Our cartoon was suggested by Steve Charlton
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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.
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