The NetLetter - February 20, 2010
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Vesta's Jump Seat
 Why not allow the NetLetter be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC etal. and share your experiences with us!I spotted this article in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issue May 1949 - The first British woman journalist to fly around the world on British and Common wealth Airlines, Miss Gwen Robyns, crossed Canada recently aboard a TCA North Star on the last lap of her 28,500 mile journey. En route, Miss Robyns had collected a complete Canadian dinner, with special dishes from every Province, including ham, jelly, salmon and lake trout. She carried only 58 pounds of luggage, which included twelve weight saving cotton and wool dresses, two suits, a three pound South American Alpaca coat, a one ounce cashmere sweater and her favorite two ounce "Airline" design cotton traveling dress. Her lightweight shoes were made by the Queen's shoemaker.The flight was to prove that women can circle the globe "fantastically easily" within the 66 pound airline weight allocation. Below is a photo from Getty Images showing her Holiday Luggage (watermark intact to avoid royalty fees).  |
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Save Our Pensions (last notice)
 This is our last notice from your NetLetter Mail List regarding the Pension issue that we are supporting. There has been a very good response with many Air Canada and CAIL retirees sending in their letters. Many have responded that the web interface makes it very easy for them to do and we have received nearly 1900 submissions through the ACFamily Network site to date. Many active employees have also sent in their letters and more were sent not using the ACFN Portal as well. If you know of anyone who may be interested in helping with this campaign by making a submission then please ask them to visit the address below to fill out the forms and submit them. They don't have to be a retiree or even an airline employee, just a concerned individual. You can also use the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of this NetLetter to forward this to your acquaintances as well. The ACFamily Network, using information supplied by the Pionairs Pension Committee has created a web interface that will enable you to easily submit a letter to your local MP as well as to other interested Government VIPs if you wish to do so. You can make a difference. Please visit: www.acfamily.net/save-our-pensions-info.html for further information. |
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Air Canada News
 Air Canada to launch the only non-stop daily flights linking Regina, Ottawa and Montreal with same plane service. Beginning May 17, 2010.Flights will be operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz with 75-seat Bombardier 705 jet aircraft. |
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Our first 70 years.
 1942 - May 1st - Inaugural service to Newfoundland. 1949 - May 1st - North Star service returned to Chicago. 1992
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TCA/AC People Gallery
 Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier "Horizons", should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts. Gleanings from "Horizons" magazine - Issue dated April 1992 - Air Canada teamed up with Greyhound Bus Canada to provide free transportation with vouchers provided to passengers who have paid a minimum of ca$259 for their Air Canada ticket. Each voucher will have four ground transportation tickets. Two tickets will be valid for return trips on applicable Greyhound/Gray Coach routes, and two tickets for travel between the bus terminal in either Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary to their respective airports. The arrangement will be in effect end of April to End of September on a trial basis. A flight to remember. Montreal based Captain Rollie Tremblay flew his last flight, and we have this photo of him with his crew on his farewell flight from MIA-YUL.  Left to right:Dave Holland, Jeff Klym, Esthelle Hould Front row: Mario Mailloux, Carole Frechette, Capt. Rollie Tremblay, Daniela Wiser. Celebrating anniversaries in YQR. Special day in Regina when Betty Stein and Brian Zawacki. Betty celebrated 35 years service and Brian just 25 years.  The pins were presented by Steve Perris (left) and Jean-Jacques Bourgeault. This photo will prove the event. La Grande lives up to its name. The Montreal-based crew working the inaugural flight to La Grande, Quebec, agreed that Air Canada's newest destination looked pretty "big" from the air.  Pictured here (from left to right) are: Teresa Wright, Flight Attendant; Claude Préfontaine, Purser; Suzette Gourdeau, In-Fight Supervisor, and Lynne Saucier-Lemaire, Fight Attendant. Issue dated October 1992 - Congratulations to the Winnipeg Phase Check Crews, who recently achieved two consecutive months without any delays on A320 work events.  The proud crew shown here is (from left to right) Collin Latta, Don Mazur, Rob Meyer, Mike Clarkson, Willy Degner, Dave Brulotte, Len Kardashinski, Harold Sledgers, Jim Lucas, Len Evanchyshin, Walter Tataryn, Paul Campbell, Jeff Chisho, Mark Harris, Mike Melnyk, Dennis Mackay, Gerry Hunt, John Nero, Kerry Gluck, Rolly Gauthier, Jeff Gervais, Dave Rowe, Brian Alderdice, Randy Dodson, Bill Schaefe, Dale Zikman, Marty Macri, Dean Halman, Dave Gille, Peter Styles, Dave Guille, Tom Kay and Robin Williamson. And here is the other crew -  Pictured here are (from left to right) Ambrose Felipe, Dan Lillie, Burke Graham, Mark Thornton, John Poponick, Ben David, John Wolthuizen, Russ Evanochko, Bob Rolfe, Kurt Jordon, Matt Hewitt, John Alcantara, Larry Parkes, Barry Lazaruk, Dale Kalupar, Dan Gerardy, John Peck, Ed Szygewski, Dan Jones, Jack Queau, Lorne Hammerberg and Randy Pratt. Musings from the "Between Ourselves" magazine Issue dated May 1949 - Graduates from the 30th Flight Attendants training course in Winnipeg are pictured here.  Left to right, V. M. Hendren, M. L. Weir, M. A. Wilson A. K. Fjordbotten, M. J. Lewis, T. M. Gaudet, G. J. Giasohl, M. H. Legault, D. L. Wadsworth. Front and centre is Flight Service Instructor Flo Perkins Representing Traffic Offices all across the system are these Office Managers who convened recently in Montreal for an Office Managers Conference. Discussions revolved around topics outlined on the background poster.  Left to right:D. E. Moore. Chicago; B. V. Gibson Vancouver; D. W. Stewart Edmonton; G. H. Medland, Montreal; B. J. Alain, Moncton; E. L. Brook, Vancouver; E. T. Strugnell, Halifax; J. H. Syrett, Ottawa; G. B. Miller, Montreal; W. T. Scrivener, Montreal; T. B. Sandilands, Toronto; V. I. Van Iderstine, Calgary; B. J. Danaher, Winnipeg; E. E. Epping, New York; K T. J. Outerbridge, Bermuda; H. C. Paynter, Toronto; W. J. Dickinson, Vancouver; A. R. Lewis, Moncton; J. B. McFarland, Toronto; L. W. McCarthy, Montreal; A. B. Coleman, London, England; D. C. Westman, Toronto. On March 31st, 1949 the Trans-Canada Airlines Employee's Flying Club was renamed the Airlines Flying Club, Malton. Representing the cast of "TCA Boston" with appropriate background.  Top row, left to right Joe Ainsworth, Doug Bertoia, Charlie Fitzgerald, Second row, left to right: Jim Flynn, Leo Paquette, Betty Kennedy,Bill Tiebout, Third row, left to right: Dan DeGuerre, Kathy McMaster, Don Richardson, Teddy Chagnon, John MacCarthy, Front row, left to right: Janet Barclay, Pat Meehan, Mary Frank. Issue dated June 1949 - Under the command of Capt. Jack Hames, 2,500 Easter breakfasts arranged by the Ogilvy Company from orders placed by Canadian housewives to family and friends in Britian. The novel idea originated with James A. Ogilvy a Montreal Department store. One of the most interesting charter movements TCA has undertaken, it began early in January and finished on March 31 when the last of the group of D.P's., largely dependents and relations of established Canadian immigrants, were delivered to their new homes on this side of the Atlantic. These charters were to pick-up a total of 1,200 displaced persons. The Prestwick to Munich and return portion of the charter flights was flown by one crew, Captain S. R. Found, First Officer J. Wild, Navigating Officer W. Dallin (later replaced by J. Harding), Radio Officer F. Dixon, Purser Steward F. Davyd. Based at Prestwick, they took every flight with the exception of three flown by Captains Rood, Smith and Lothian. In Ottawa a ten year veteran Creighton Walters (left) receives his 10 year pin from Jack Singer.  Onlookers from the left are -Cal Copeland, Ross Kimmerley, Bert Olsen, Mike Kennedy, Eddie Cardinal (control tower), Peggy Ferguson.  When a Lodestar arrived at La Guardia on a fam flight Doug Ballanger, Chief Mechanic (top) and BruceHembroff Agent-in-charge pitched in to load the aircraft.  A TCA Passenger Agent at Lethbridge is Sedora Wickstrom. Six more Stewardess graduates from the raining school at Winnipeg are pictured here left to right:  M.F.De Lorier, A.G.Coburn, C.E.McIinnis, B.Heysel, G.E.White,T.J.Moore. In front is Flight Service instructor Flo Perkins. |
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Alan's Space
 Airline Pilot Speaks out against delays
Laszlo Bastyovanszky sends us this Readers Digest article which may be of interest to you - Airline Pilot Speaks Out On Flight Delays. By Patrick Smith (from Readers Digest 2008) Welcome aboard. Our flying time this afternoon, not counting ground delays and holding patterns, will be two hours and thirty minutes. Before we take off, I would like to apologize on behalf of this and every airline for the hassle you just endured at the security checkpoint. As is patently obvious to any reasonable person, the humiliating shoe removals, liquids ban, and pointy-object confiscations do little to make us safer.  Unfortunately, the government insists that security theater, and not actual security, is in the nation's best interest. If it makes you feel any better, our crew had to endure the same screening as the passengers. Never mind that the baggage loaders, cleaners, caterers, and refuelers receive only occasional random screening. You can rest easy knowing that I do not have a pair of scissors or an oversize shampoo bottle anywhere in my carry-on luggage. Just a moment. Okay, well, as expected, we've received word of a ground stop. Our new estimated departure time is 90 minutes from now, subject to change arbitrarily, without warning. And while we're waiting, let me explain that these sorts of delays (and it's not your imagination - late arrivals and departures have doubled since 1995) result not only from our antiquated air traffic control system but also from too many planes flying into and out of overcrowded airports. Passengers demand frequency-you want lots of flights flying to lots of cities. But this can be self-defeating, because many of these flights will be late - in some cases, very late. At airports near major cities like New York and Washington, D.C., the proliferation of small jets has added to the congestion. They make up nearly 50 percent of planes at some of our busiest airports yet carry only a fraction of overall passengers. This inefficient use of air and ground space is one reason we will be sitting here for the next hour and a half. Once we're airborne, flight attendants will be coming around with food and beverages for sale. I know many of you are irritated that an in-flight meal now costs $7 - on top of the $25 you just paid for an extra checked bag. Unfortunately, with oil prices skyrocketing and jets requiring as much fuel as ever (a coast-to-coast flight takes 8,000 gallons), it's impossible for us to provide luxurious service and rock-bottom fares at the same time. We know that most of you are miserable and that you long ago learned to despise every aspect of air travel. But try, if you can, not to take your frustrations out on other passengers or the crew. The overall surly vibe is unpleasant for us too. And ridiculous as this might sound, look on the bright side. Yes, there is a bright side: more choices and surprisingly reasonable fares. Domestically, you can now fly between almost any two airports in the country with, at worst, a single stopover. Internationally, transoceanic routes have fragmented, allowing people to fly direct from smaller hubs in the United States to points in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere. Nobody enjoys holding patterns or sitting on a tarmac, but in earlier days, the overall journey would have taken longer-and cost more. It's true that fares have risen sharply of late, but if they seem especially pricey, that's partly because they remained so cheap for so long, with many carriers selling tickets below cost. Fares in 2006 were averaging 12 percent lower than in 2000, despite a 150 percent rise in jet-fuel costs. Current fares cost about what they did in the 1980s. And let's not forget that flying is much safer than it was in the past. Globally, there are twice as many planes carrying twice as many people as there were a quarter century ago. Although the raw total of crashes has risen, accidents are way down as a percentage of total flights. I am well aware that airlines have become pariahs of the postindustrial economy. But it's rarely acknowledged that despite recurrent fiscal crises, major staffing and technology problems, and constant criticism from the public, our carriers have managed to maintain a mostly reliable, affordable, and safe transportation system. Hang in there, and our crew will let you know if and when our plane might actually take off. In the meantime, those $7 sandwiches are actually pretty good. |
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Star Alliance news.
 Flyby couch -A couch in the sky in the economy class cabin? Air New Zealand's (www.airnewzealand.co.nz) new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will boast the Skycouch when it is delivered in November. The Skycouch is a Kiwi designed row of three seats that was created to lie flat all the way to the seat back in front of you.  It's a place for kids to play or better still it's a flat surface where adults can sleep or relax. There will be 22 seats avail able in the Economy Class cabin. Pricing will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Expect more details when seats go on sale in April. |
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Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, Wardair, etc. Events & People
 Over the past months we have been publishing various photographs from earlier in-house magazines, should any photos prompt a memory in seeing one of them, feel free to send us your comments and thoughts.Perusing the "Info Canadi>n" magazine Issue dated January 1994 -  Getting ready for the implementation of the American/Canadian deal, known as Aurora, is Kathy Chadwick, getting ready to train operators of the system. Canadian Collectables are making record sales. Vancouver employees Pat Sutton and Robert Hollingher will sell everything except the shirts off their backs. Lining up with their choices.  left to right -Cheri McCuaig, Boyd Shaw, Robin Bridgman, Brian Deane, Doiug Strong, Jim Mann.Kiosks are located at YYC, YYZ and YVR have been making record sales. These three employees from Edmonton have organized the "Spirit of Christmas" flight on December. 5th. The three are pictured here, left to right.  Cathy Hansen, Kathy Roth, Barb Kowal.This was the fourth year that Canadian Airlines employees in Edmonton have organized these flights. Last years three flights carried 336 passengers on a scenic tour of Edmonton. Issue dated April 1994 - This is the final edition of "Info Canadi>n" to be replaced by another magazine, not yet named, and due May 5th. Canadian announced they will be serving London LHR from Toronto YYZ on June 1st. in place of its present Toronto to Gatwick service. Canadian's Noise Management Committee is trying to tone down the volume of noise related issues.  Here they are from left to right: Norm Dawkin, Malcolm Metcalfe, Ken Fredeen, Pierre Roy, Gene Nimetz, Stu Riussell, Dave Honnet. Far flung members of the Airport Sabre training test class gather at Raleigh-Durham for some first hand Sabre experience. left to right.  Maggie McKnight (Lethbridge), Bev Luiken (YYC), Brian Shevkenek (YYC), Lucci Ricci (YVR), Ann Iannone (YYZ), Christiane Bourque (Magdalen Island), Laurie Savetz (YVR),Sherdia Tang (Hong Kong)., |
 Doug Seagrim sends this message referring to the photo in NetLetter nr 1107 the supervisors training photo - In the Montreal group, the first man sitting on the left is Herve Lesage. He was station manager at Dorval Airport. I worked for him as a station attendant from 1959 to 1963 as a summer job while putting myself through school. and flight training. Doug Seagrim (retired captain) George Brien sent us this information - My contact in Pennfield N.B., Cris Larsen, has added a few more TCA photos from the late 40's to his website. Some may have seen a couple of these photos from a previous article I wrote about TCA/Pennfield. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbpennfi/penn8b7TCA.htm Also an interesting link from a presentation by Harold Wright, YSJ Aviation Historian and Author http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbpennfi/penn8b7TCA_Wright.htm Cheers, George Murray Wadden sends us this memory regarding Jonquiere refer (NetLetter nr 1107) About Jonquiere! As I approach 70 something, every time I hear or read about Jonquiere I suddenly become years younger! A time when I could skate like / well ?? I could swim like a ... and could drink like a fish( if fish really drink?) - I was fortunate enough to have been selected to go to Jonquiere on two separate occasions. Each time I was housed with Fern and Ruth Lortie - Fern a Police Chief, (I think) and Ruth, a wonderfully warm, caring homemaker, mother, and wife. I developed a cold while there and Ma Mere Adoptee, Ruth, treated me as though I had 'terminal cancer' Helen and Jacques were their children and the kindness of this family shall live in my memory forever! Ma Mere Adoptee came to visit our Family in Ottawa and I was so proud to be able to translate the communication between my wife (a Newfie) and Mama Ruth! Getting old 'aint so bad ' when you have people to share your memories with! Thanks for being there and keeping us together! AND--- thanks TCA/AC for so many years of so many people associations!! Murray Wadden |
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This n That.
Extracted from "Between Ourselves" issued June 1949 -Gil Minorgan, TCA's Prestwick Station Manager, gives the "inside" story of how our first overseas port of call grew during the war from a grass airfield to a major international airline terminal. The story of Prestwick, TCA's Scottish port of call, has its beginnings a good many years ago, in fact long before the first heavier-than-air-craft fluttered its wings in precarious flight.  The original terminal-hotel building, to which has been added many extensions, was a private residence called "Orangefield," built in 1690. During the lifetime of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, it was owned by General McCrae, retired Governor of Madras. Robert Burns spent many happy hours in this house, and to this day, above the front door of the old building are inscribed the words "A pleasant spot near the Scottish Wilds, " taken from his poem "The Vision." "Orangefield" through the passing years, remained a private residence until 1934, when it was purchased and converted into a small private hotel. During the summer of 1935, the grounds surrounding "Orangefleld" were turned into an airport and Scottish Aviation Ltd. commenced the operation of a flying training school, turning out short-term commission pilots for the R.A.F. Group-Captain D. F. McIntyre was then Director and Chief Instructor, and to this day remains Managing Director of Scottish Aviation Ltd. and Scottish Airlines, a subsidiary company.  This a photo of the airfield looking towards Troon. In 1938, the school commenced training navigators, for which purpose three multi- engined Fokkers were purchased from K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines. A total of 390 Navigators graduated from the school up to the inception of the British Commonwealth Training Scheme in Canada and South Africa. (More next time - eds) |
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Terry's Trivia & Travel Tips
 Lufthansa pilots approve four-day strike next weekLufthansa pilots represented by Vereinigung Cockpit voted overwhelmingly yesterday to strike at midnight next Monday through 11:59 p.m. Feb. 25, a four-day stoppage that the airline called "totally inappropriate." Interline deals to go Spring Break Prices to Hawaii Slashed! Vacations Include: Round-trip airfare from LAX or SFO, 3 nights accommodations, all hotel taxes and more. Airline taxes are additional. Travel dates: March 15 - April 7, 2010 Oahu from $472* Castle Ocean Resort, Kids 17 & younger stay FREE Maui from $499* Kaanapalai Ocean Inn, Kids 17 & younger stay FREE Kauai from $552* Aston Aloha Beach Hotel, Kids 12 & younger stay, play and eat FREE, must be booked by March 31, 2010 *Airline taxes are additional. Book now, space is limited Call 1 800 422 3727 |