We have welcomed 109 new subscribers so far in 2023.

We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.

Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.

We invite you to visit our website at www.thenetletter.net/netletters to view our archives.

Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.

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.

Please feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.

Thanks!

Canadian International Air Show

September 2 - 4, 2023 

The Exclusive Air Show Zone is located within Marilyn Bell Park in downtown Toronto directly in front of the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex and Canadian National Exhibition (CNE Fair).

The mission of the Canadian International Air Show is to celebrate aviation by honouring it’s past and inspiring its future by showcasing the best of aviation both vintage and modern including civilian and military aircraft.

We continue to focus on producing Canada’s best airshow, while educating future generations on the exciting opportunities within the aerospace industry which are inclusive for all.

Full details at: cias.org

October 19, 2023 in Moncton, New Brunswick

Every year, the Pionairs host an Annual Fall Information Session.

This annual meeting is usually held in a smaller location to give smaller districts visibility, and also to allow the local Pionairs members of that district to attend.

There are presentations made by the President, the Pensions Committee and various Air Canada guest speakers. All Pionairs members are invited to attend.

Hope to see you there!

From Allan Gray - Campbell River, British Columbia

I was just at the Campbell River airport YBL and Sealand Aviation near it had a nice Grumman Goose G-21A registration N39FG for maintenance.

The Goose was used by many British Columbia airlines. Trans Provincial Airlines, Air BC, Pacific Coastal Airlines and Macmillan Bloedel Logging.

Editor's Note by Ken Pickford -

Wilderness Seaplanes, based in Port Hardy, still has 3 Grumman Goose serving remote spots along the B.C. coast. The oldest of those aircraft was built in 1940, now age 83. The others date from 1942 and 1948 although some sources say Goose production ended in 1945.

Prototype made its first flight in 1937, a year after the DC-3 went into service. The few still in commercial service must be among the oldest aircraft still carrying revenue passengers. A total of 345 were built, mostly for military customers.

Additional info: www.wildernessseaplanes.com

The RCAF operated over 30 Goose aircraft during WWII. Some were based at what was then known as RCAF Station Sea Island, renamed RCAF Station Vancouver after WWII, and of course now Vancouver International Airport.

Some info and photos of RCAF Goose ops here:
www.silverhawkauthor.com

Another related link: www.goosehangar.com/history

Submitted by Pat Reardon - 

Toronto hockey team (circa late 1950's) comprised of Sales, Reservations, Ramp personnel, played regularly against Montreal, in Maple Leaf Gardens & the Montreal Forum.

Pat Reardon - YYZ Ramp 1958-1964

The Central Ontario District of Pionairs held a ‘Summer Solstice’ Member Appreciation Luncheon on June 21, 2023, at the Wok of Fame in Brampton, Ontario.

This Luncheon is subsidized with pleasure by Pionairs and is a great deal for their members and future members. With over 100 in attendance, there was a lot of catching up going on among friends and former colleagues as well as a varied and appealing selection of delicacies for discerning diners at the large buffet.

Prizes were presented by District Director, Lesley Huether, to a number of very happy winners. Future social events are planned for later this year.

A reminder that Pionairs always welcomes new members. Signing up is easy by going to Pionairs.ca and click on ‘Join Pionairs’.

Lilian Bland (28 September 1878 – 11 May 1971) was an Anglo-Irish journalist and pioneer aviator who, in 1910–11, became one of the first women in the British Isles, and maybe even in the world, to design, build, and fly an aircraft – the Bland Mayfly.

Here we have the Mayfly being flown by Lilian Bland.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilian_Bland

The Story Of Lilian Bland: An Amazing Aviatrix

This picture book about the amazing life story of Lilian Bland has been beautifully illustrated to inspire young readers.

It celebrates her life both in England and in her adopted home of Quatsino Sound, on Vancouver Island, for her many achievements - especially her groundbreaking achievements in aviation.

Available at www.cahs.com/store

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated March 1980

Moncton Milestone.

Birthday cakes were the order of the day at Moncton's downtown and airport offices on February 15, 1980 when employees marked the 40th anniversary of passenger service between Moncton and Montreal.

The events were reminders of that date in 1940 when Captain J.D. Storie carried a full load of ten passengers on a Lockheed 14H-2 from Moncton's Lakeburn airfield to Montreal's St. Hubert airport.

Flight 24 with Captain Walt Fowler at the controls had landed at Moncton earlier in the day, marking the beginning of eastbound service.

The little Lockheeds described by the Moncton Daily Times as 'huge transcontinental airliners' have since been progressively replaced by bigger and faster aircraft.

In the photo below, express packages are being loaded aboard the inaugural flight from Moncton to Toronto.

Shown from the left are: F.M. Smith, C.N. Express, Moncton; G.J. Pytlik, TCA Air Engineer and H.C. Duffey, Express Agent, Moncton. 

Here we have the cover (left) and a section of the timetable (below) issued January 1, 1940.

Before ..... After ..... at Winnipeg

The introduction of CAPP (Computer Assisted Passenger Processing) at Winnipeg Airport coincided with the development of standard ticketing and check in counters ('before' left).

These two projects, combined with the addition of the standard back wall treatment made Winnipeg the first Station in the system to sport the integrated new look ('after' below).

The functional and visually attractive area is the product of a cooperative effort by Properties & Facilities, Transportation Services, Computer & Systems Services, Winnipeg and input from all other stations.

Issue dated April 1980 

The latest to join the fleet.

A milestone was reached when the company took delivery of the 1,600th Boeing 727 produced by the aircraft manufacturer.

Shown taking part in the delivery presentations are, from the left; Captain Adrian Boelan; Graeme Howard of Boeing; Bob Schmidt, the Chief Inspector at Boeing and Ford Chown, Manager, Factory Representation, Seattle.

The B-727, the first of which rolled off the assembly line sixteen and a half years ago, has been hailed as the most successful commercial aircraft in service to date.

Boeing 727-233 c/n 22037 fin #425 C-GAAY delivered April 10, 1980, sold during 1990 to Federal Express re-registered as N272FE and named 'Logan' (Fedex has a tradition of naming aircraft after employee's children). 

Editor's Note by Ken Pickford -

On its retirement from Fedex in 2007, it was donated to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (DFW) airport fire department for training purposes.

Related item on that here: www.fireengineering.com

The history of a couple of De Havilland Canada DHC-8's originally delivered to Time Air.

C-GKTA - Built at Toronto Downsview (YZD), it was delivered to Time Air on February 1989. After the acquisition of Time Air by Canadian Airlines,  it was among the aircraft rebranded as Canadian Regional on April 1993.

After the merger of Air Canada and Canadian, it was again rebranded in the Jazz fleet in March 2002 and Air Canada Express in 2011 (pictured in issue header).

It was then acquired by Voyageur Airways Limited in August 2022 and ferried to North Bay, Ontario where it is currently in storage (below).

Editors' Note: During our research we found some Facebook banter to have this aircraft returned and preserved in Lethbridge, Alberta.

See : www.facebook.com/timeairhs

Photo posted on Facebook Time Air Historical Society page 

C-GEWQ was delivered to Time Air in March 1991 and followed an identical lifecycle as C-GKTA. However, Planespotters.com shows it as being leased to Maroomba Airlines of Australia, registration VH-QQN since November 2022. 

See: www.jetphotos.com/photo

Below are before and after photos of the aircraft in its original liveries. 

Posted by Anthony Hickey on Facebook.

Buffalo Airways of Yellowknife recently acquired it first jet from Swiftair.

The Boeing 737-301SF, was originally delivered to Piedmont Airlines in October 1986 under registration N323P had not been in active service since 2016.

The first video is posted by Mikey O'Bryan, son of company owner 'Buffalo Joe' O'Bryan. 

For the aircraft lifecycle see www.airfleets.net

The aircraft arrival in Edmonton has also been captured by Alex Praglowski below.

‘Seaglider’ Concept Takes On Over-Water Travel Challenge, With a Twist

Regent, a New England-based company formed a few years ago by a pair of MIT graduates and aeronautical-industry refugees, is challenging conventions involving airplanes and high-speed boats.

Can a winged vehicle capable of leaving the surface of the water still be classed as a watercraft and not an airplane?

Regent’s electric-powered seaglider uses a gull-shaped high wing to lift the hull completely off the surface, but never higher than its wingspan. Using that cushion of air well known to pilots, the craft can attain speeds up to 160 knots and has a range of up to 160 statute miles—expected to expand to as far as 500 miles with improvements in battery technology.

The current business plan calls for short-range, dock-to-dock service between cities a few hundred miles apart, such as Boston and New York, or Los Angeles and San Francisco. The company projects other possible maritime markets, including the Caribbean, Hawaii and the English Channel. 

Source: AVWeb.com

Extracted from the Newsletter #18 of the Quebec Aerospace Museum.

Editors' Note: The MAQ-Express magazine is currently only available in French.

Wearing both the Royal Canadian Air Force livery and Kuwaiti registration 9K-APC, the Airbus A330-243 MSN 1653 was photographed on June 1, 2023 at Basel-Mulhouse Freiburg airport (BSL). 

Photo by Eric Bannwarth.

It was returning from the Chateauroux-Déols paint shop in France. Note the number '002' on the nose, foreshadowing the military code "330002" assigned to this aircraft.

Delivered to Kuwait Airways in August 2015, it was withdrawn from service on February 6, 2023. It is one of two second-hand aircraft acquired for VIP transport.

The second A330 VIP, the future '330001', is still in service in the Kuwait Airways livery in Basel with 9K-APD registration (MSN 1678). These two A330's should theoretically be followed by four more, this time in MRTT version. 

On February 9, 2023, Eric Bannwarth had the opportunity to photograph the same Airbus on its arrival at Basel-Mulhouse airport still in full Kuwait Airways livery.

Editor's Note by Ken Pickford

Trivia about Basel-Mulhouse Freiburg airport (BSL)  - The airport is physically in France. When you arrive there you have the choice of entering either France or Switzerland.

There's a fenced 'customs road' considered Swiss territory leading the few kilometres to the Swiss border and Basel. It also uses the code MLH for the nearby French city of Mulhouse, which it serves.

It's also close to the German border. Geneva (GVA) airport, which is immediately adjacent to the French border, also has a 'customs road' to the town of Ferney in France. When they lengthened the single GVA runway 30 or 40 years ago (longest in Switzerland at 12,795 feet) they had to make a trade for some unpopulated territory somewhere else along the border to avoid the runway extension being in France.

 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter

The Time Air Historical Society has acquired and preserved a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter original registration CF-VMD, which had been built as a demonstrator of the model in 1967.

The 56-year-old aircraft was leased by Time Air under registration CF-QHC in 1971. It was later bought by Kenn Borek Air and leased  to Harbour Air, under registration C-FQHC, on several occasions up until 1995. 

It was then leased to Maldivian Air Taxi before returning to Canada and being re-registered as C-GBPE in 2010. It was stored at Calgary Springbank Airport (YBW) until November 2021 when it was dismantled and transported by road to Lethbridge for preservation.

Source: skiesmag.com

Detailed lifecycle of the aircraft: twinotterarchive.com

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

Sky’s the limit: Decommissioned B.C. aircraft to hit the auction block.

Most of the aircraft below are for auction from the University of Fraser Valley. Includes a B-727 with no interior furnishings - just right for converting to a home!

Source: GlobalTV August 7, 2023

Some interline deals from KVI Interline.

Contact Gordon Froese - Interline Since 1976! (888) 768-6777 Ext 321.

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FLYGTA Airlines is a Canadian Air Operator, providing business jets, scheduled services, travel agency, and tourism services to North American, South American, and European Markets.

The group operates as a traditional airline in the business aviation sector and is a pioneer in modern flight operations.

FLYGTA was founded in 2015 at Billy Bishop Airport in Downtown Toronto, and has expanded to 6 locations in Ontario and Quebec. Our focus was always to bring industry leading options for consumers, and connect our region to North America without the hassles that traditionally exist.

We started from the drawing board, and pioneered the new way of private aircraft travel!

Source: flygta.com

ZeroAvia Completes Initial Flight Testing Of Hydrogen-Electric Powertrain

ZeroAvia wrapped up the initial flight test campaign of its ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain prototype recently.

During the course of the ten-flight campaign, the test aircraft, a modified 19-seat Dornier 228, reached a maximum altitude of 5,000 feet and operated in temperatures ranging from “just above freezing to almost 30C.” Its longest flight lasted 23 minutes.

ZeroAvia said. “The hydrogen-electric engine has matched the power of the conventional, fossil fuel engine on the opposite wing, with the pilots able to fly with thrust generated only from the experimental clean propulsion system in certain tests.”

ZeroAvia’s Dornier 228, which has a stock Honeywell TPE-331 engine on its right wing and the 600-kW ZA600 on its left wing, flew for the first time in January 2023. Flight testing took place at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, U.K. According to the company, it is looking to develop a powertrain that can produce a 300-mile range in 9 to 19 seat aircraft by 2025 with the goal of scaling it up to a 700-mile range for 40- to 80-seat aircraft by 2027. 

Source: AVWeb.com 

Our cartoon is by Dave Mathias and appeared in the 'Horizons' magazine issued December 1973.

The caption reads "Never mind that sack of toys ... find my razor and two cushions!"