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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995

The NetLetter #1138

The NetLetter
 For Air Canada Retirees

October 31, 2010 - Issue 1138
5476 Subscribers
 
In This Issue
Our first 70 years
Air Canada Related News.
TCA/Air Canada People Gallery
Alan's Space
Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc
Reader's Feedback
Odds & Ends
Terry's Trivia
Smileys
Web Site

The NetLetter Web Site
The NetLetter Web Site
Sponsors
ACFamily Network
ACFamily Links
Air Canada Pionairs

Project North Star

ACFamily Obituaries
Obituaries
Obituaries
 
Greetings!
Terry Baker

We welcome you to allow the NetLetter to 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!

The NetLetter is an email newsletter published every weekend and contains a mixture of nostalgia, current news and travel tips. We encourage our readers to submit their stories, photos and/or comments from either days gone by or from present day experiences and trips. If we think that the rest of our readers will enjoy it, we will publish it here

We also This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in regard to anything we post here. Many readers have commented with additional information, names and personal memories from the photos and articles presented here.

The NetLetter, which is free, is open to anyone that wishes to subscribe but is targeted to retired employees from Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and all the other companies that were part of what Air Canada is today. Thanks for joining us!

Terry & your NetLetter Team
Our first 70 years - Compiled by Terry Baker
Trans-Canada Air Lines/Air Canada


1959 - Jet services have been officially named DC-8 Jetliner Service.
1960 - Edmonton International Airport officially opened.
1961 - Inaugural DC-8 flight into Newfoundland was at Gander from LHR and PWK.
           January 10 - Final North Star flight between Canada and West Indies.
Air Canada Related News - Compiled by Terry Baker
Air Canada News




Sky Regional Canada has a capacity agreement with Air Canada to operate five Q400 15 times per day Toronto
City Centre to Montreal commencing February 2011. It will sublease the aircraft from Air Canada who has signed a letter of intent with an undisclosed lessor.
 
Air Canada and United Airlines have signed an MOU to form revenue sharing joint ventures for US-Canada transborder flights from early 2011.
 
 Air Canada Vacations announced new flights on board Air Canada aircraft include a first-ever flight out from Quebec City to Cuba, for all those winter-weary Québécois looking for their day in the sun, as well as new non-stop service between Montreal and Antigua.
 
TCA/Air Canada People Gallery - Compiled by Terry Baker
TCA/Air Canada LogoMusings from the "Between Ourselves" magazine an Air Canada publication from years gone by.
workersIn NetLetter nr 1136, unfortunately the gremlins aka cyberspace, got into it. We published this photo of all the employees involved in servicing a DC-8.

identificationsWe had the indentifications, here is the picture showing the numbers which related to the employees names had disappeared. .

Take a stretched DC-8 (back ground), take a single (contingent) passenger, Joanne Blackwell (No. 1 in the seat, foreground). Put between them some of the people and machines that service the plane and serve the passenger. and you have quite a crowd.
 
Specifically: 2, Gii Rochon, Purser; 3. Peggy Bevan. Stewardess: 4. Barbara Berger, Ground Hostess; 5. Robert Ste ward. Navigator: 6. David Stanton, Captain: 7. ,J. H Coleman. First Officer: 8, C. I,. Jezzard Flight Crew Scheduling Officer: 9. Gloria Bousher. Ground Hostess ; 10. Robert Ruston. Passenger Agent ; Il - William Brown. Porter. 12. Wolfgang Roessler. Head Chef. Aeroqua Restaurant; 13, S. Mcllraith, Pharmacist. Air port Drug Store: 14. Mrs. Margaret Watho Drug Store sales clerk: 15. Sam Blandino, barber; 16. Enrique Luis, Captain of waiters at the Aeroquay. 17. John Buchanan. Load Agent; 18, Ernie Bowyer. Flight Dispatcher; 19. Victoria Thistle. Telecommunications Operator: 20. Gray Montgomery, Telecommunications Agent; 21, W. J. Taylor, Commissary Supervisor. 22, Doug Will. Sales Rep for Avis Rent-a-Car: 23. Euclide LaPointe, Air Line Service chauffeur; 24. George Porter, Manager. Budget Rent-A-Car: 25. David Dow. Millwright Mechanic: 26, Jim McGuire, Electrician; 27. K. C. Rung, Painter: 28. W. D. Pinto. Millwright Mechanic; 29. J.J. Slowinski, Metal Shop Mechanic: 30, M. Barker, Janitor: 31. John Stirton. Storeman. 32, Gerry Dodds. 'Air Traffic Controller : 33, Kenneth Ralph, Air Traffic Controller; 34 S. Dennis, Supervisor Gate Assignment: 35. C. S. Baldwin, Telecommunications Area Manager 36. John Harris, Electrician: 37. Jack Davey. Structural Trades Supervisor: 38. J. Knaud, Superintendent of Building Maintenance; 39. M. Cristink, Maintenance Supervisor: 40. Joy Campbell. Eastern Air Lines Ground Hostess; 4I Mary Heron, Mohawk Airlines Counter Sales, 42, Julia Marahno. CPA Ground Hostess; 43. Arvind Shah, Met Officer. 44, Joan Smart, Mutual of Omaha insurance : 45. James Carroll, Medical Officer: 46. Gladys Bonucl Nurse: 47, H.1. Killikelly. Medical Officer; 48. John Lucas, immigration officer, 49. Earl King. Shift Manager:50, Kenneth Fell, Maintenance Work Control 0fficer ; 51. George Townsend, Chief Operating Engineer; 52. M. B. ONeill Fire Chief; 53, Sgt..John McDougall, RCMP; 54, Sgt. A. J. Pulford. Commissionaire. 55. Cyril Wilson, Lead Station Attendant; 56. Dennis Fostou, Firefighter; 57. Horace Owen, Firefighter; 58. William Munro, Fire Officer; 59, Don Miller. Station Attendant: 60, John Brodeau. Station Attendant. 61, Evertoo Kitchener. Maintenance Foreman; 62. Beverly Porter, Equipment Operator; 63. Jack Petty, Bus Driver; 64. John Weir, Aircraft Grooming; 65. V. Bridport, Radio Technician: 66. Norhert Farley. Aero Mechanic: 67. Bruce Thompson, Aero Mechanic. 68. Kennineth McBride. Aircraft Mechanic; 69. R. F. Vye. Aircraft Mechanic : 70. M. J. Eleo, Fueller: 71, Frank Piper, Fueller.
 
The vehicles are:
A. groomers' vehicle; B, fire engine; C. cargo pallet trans porter; D. RCMP cruiser: E, fork lift truck; F. Department of Transport vehicle; G. maintenance vehicle for aircraft servicing; H, conveyor; I. refueling tender; j, aircraft towing tractor : K, air conditioner; F, bus; M. snow blower; N. Department of Transport service vehicle.
Hopefully this will now be rectified. (Sorry - eds)


Issue dated - November 1958
Extracts from the "Between Ourselves" magazine -
reservationsRESERVATIONS SUPERVISORS from as far west as British Columbia and as far east as Newfoundland attended a one-day meeting at Reservations-Payload Control in Toronto recently. While there they discussed current Reservations problems, with Jock Goddard. Manager, Reservations-Payload Control supplying most of the answers. From the left, front row: Frank Kruse, (Regina); Ernie Mitchell. (Vancouver); Teddy Chagnon, (Boston); Harry Jones, (Saskatoon); George Theriault, (Quebec City); E. A. Mitchell. (Halifax). Second row: Jim Barber, (Calgary); Jerry McHale. (Edmonton); Lloyd Morrison. (Montreal); P. J. Maddigan. (St. John's); W. Marche. (Stephenville); G. P. Cavanaugh, (Moncton). Back row: G. E. Hooper. (Toronto); J. B. Goddard. (Toronto); J. R. Gunley. (Saint John); Bud Pearce, (Toronto); Baz McLeod, (Toronto); Dave Williams, (Toronto); W. Foote, (Toronto).
tampastaffTAMPA STAFF who expect to be handling record loads this winter season are shown with Florida Manager, J. H. Jim Gehlsen, extreme right. They are, from the left: Frank Gaffney, Ramp ControlIer Charlie Rhind, Airport Sales Supervisor; Shirley Brentnell, Passenger. ticket agent; Berna Butcher, Secretary; Passenger Agents Rubye Noland, Robert Prentice and Ray Allisonvisor.
stjohns

First TCA crew into the new St. John's terminal are pictured here receiving miniature pins. From the left: Captain J. Grant, Stewardesses H.Gatze, G.Ensmann and F/O R.A.Coneen.


Making the presentation is Geirge Hess Transport Minister.

londonreps CURRENT TRENDS in London UK and district are discussed by Passenger and Cargo Sales Manager John Wotton. with sales representatives Dick Bradbear, Bill Williamson, Rex Records and John Petry. Also a sales rep in London is Ted Sayers, and all have been with TCA for more than eight years


Issue dated - Febuary 1961
wisley

DELIVERY FLIGHT OF FIRST COMPANY VANGUARD
Six years after the delivery of the Company's first Viscount, a "second generation" Vickers turboprop is being introduced to North America by TCA.
The aircraft is, of course, the Vanguard. The first of these 425 mph airliners left Vickers' air field at Wisley, near London, on December 7, 1960.

 

The Vanguard flew from Wisley to Montreal with only one refueling stop, at Keflavik.
The Company's Viscount aircraft were ferried by Vickers' crews, but TCA accepted the first Vanguard aircraft at Wisley. Superintendent of Flying, Captain George Lothian, was captain of Vanguard Atlantic delivery No. 1. Lothian acted as co-pilot on the first Viscount ferry flight to Montreal in December, 1955

Not designed for inter-continental operation, the Vanguard's 3500-mile ferry flight over the sometimes inhospitable North Atlantic in winter was, therefore, not quite a routine operation. However, nearly 200 Viscounts had previously made the crossing and the route is less of a problem for the faster Vanguard. Westbound, a Viscount normally stopped to refuel at Prestwick, Keflavik, Bluie West One or Eight and Goose Bay or Gander.

Alan's Space - by Alan Rust
Alan's Space
Alan Rust
Monty Python - bored pilots.
I found this Monty Python skit with John Cleese amusing and thought you would too...

Click on image to play video.






 
Monty Python Skit
Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker
CAIL TailsNews and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and it's "ancestry" of contributing airlines.
Issue dated - April 2000

Extracts from "Canadi>n Flyer" magazine -

route.jpg

On March 5th 1960, inauguration of service between YYZ/YUL and Rome with Bristol Britannia 314 equipment started.

- In June 1961 the route was operated with first jet flight to Rome with DC8-43 equipment.

- and in 1968 with DC8-63 dubbed the "Spacemaster" the route was extended from Rome to Athens and later to Tel Aviv in 1971. When the airline introduced the DC10-30 service between YUL and Rome and Milan with the B747 replacing this equipment in November 1996.

Canadi>n Stanislav Solomko, Manager, Route Planning (left), Vijay Bathija, Director Route Planning and So! Zia, Senior Analyst, Route Forecasts review one ol the business cases for the new summer schedule launched .DN and AC.

bisaillonJim Bisaillon retires after 30 years

125 guests from across the system - YYC, YEG, YVR, YYL and YUL come to help Jim celebrate his retirement. Pictured with Jim are a group of flight attendants, most of whom he hired. Back row left to right: Faye Douglas, Diane Matthews, Jim Bisaillon, Ginger Bradley, Mary Ann Garbencius and Jan Griffin. Front row left to right: Marion Leschuitta, Lois Duffy and Tern Koper.


chaplin Charlie Chaplin visits Beijing!
One of our visiting customers from Manitoba, who is also a Charlie Chaplin impersonator, was so impressed with the service he received from the BJS Res and CTO staff, that he came back to thank them in a special way.

Pictured left to right: Helen Zhang, Res Agent; Stone ShI, Res Agent; Marina Feng, CTO Agent; Evan Dong, CTO Agent; Jakie Zkao, CTO Agent; Anita Wang, ATAC Agent; Jack Charlie Chaplin Slessor; Jacob Yin, CTO Agent; Tiger Zhou, CTO Supervisor; Alice LIu, International Business Class Office Agent; and Vivian Xie, Res Agent.

newhomeThree former Canadi>n employees are settling into new surroundings at Air Canada in Montreal.

Left to right: Juan Kranky, Lisa le, Torben Bentzen.

Reader's Feedback - Compiled by Terry Baker
Reader's Feedback
Every week we ask our readers for their stories or  feedback on what they have read here in previous issues. Below is the feedback we have received recently. 
yhz

George Brien sends us this information about Halifax International Airport -

Hi  folks
Halifax Stanfield International Airport celebrates 50 years - notes a special insert of the local paper this month.




openingYHZ

Halifax's new Airport near Kelly Lake, was operational by June 1960 and July 1, was opened to IFR traffic
 

Peter Pigott's book "National Treasure, The History of Trans-Canada Air Lines" tells us that on JULY 31ST, 1960 as TCA Viscount 426  departed Shearwater at 1145,on schedule for Sydney NS. TCA Station Manager "Hec" Mackenzie and his crew of 52 men began moving out to the new  airport 30 miles away. Ramp equipment, vehicles and office furnishing all had to be in place by the next morning when TCA flight 400 from Montreal touched down at 0500 to offload its passengers.  It would be followed by a North Star flight 750  arriving at 0540 enroute to YQY/YJT/QX and YYT.


Allan Mackenzie, retired employee and son of "Hec" had pictures of the move , which have been donated to Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum.  No doubt, some oldtime retirees from the YHZ area took part in this move?
 
It was not until Sep 10th that Transport minister George Hees, donned a kilt of N.S tartan and, escorted by Ann Standish, a TCA stewardess, officially opened Halifax,s  new Airport Terminal. I cant identify the other girl. Perhaps an TCA agent?
Former AC VP and also former CEO of the airport, Bernie Miller, in an article in this newspaper insert, remembers his early days with TCA at Shearwater and the beautiful new Airport and terminal building at Kelly Lake.


What was it like for TCA in 1960?
A look at the flight schedule shows over 20 flights departing daily,
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/tc60/tc60-06.jpg

Most all First Class Viscounts and a few of the ageing North Stars along with two Super Connie flights a week overseas. No non stops to YYZ and all westbound flights via YUL.

What did it cost to fly from YHZ -one way  first class fares?
LHR $392 YQI - 12  YQY -16  YSJ -12  YUL - 41  YYZ -65
YSJ to YQI would only cost you pocket change at $8.00
Downtown Halifax to the airport was only $1.50


b747layout

 

Richard P has sent us this promotional photo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Dave Townson has sent us some information regarding the photo of the B787 and two Spitfires published in NetLetter nr 1134 under "Odds" & Ends" -

That picture of the 787 in formation with two Spitfires represented a flypast of four Rolls-Royce engines.

 

referring to this paragraph in the article on the book "Earth Angels Rising"  "However, Stemson told the Leader he didn't find the infamous Nazi battleship before it was sunk in 1940 by Allied ships after it destroyed Britain's beloved battleship Hood". 

Dave points out that the Bismarck was sunk in 1941.

Regards, Dave.


John Caron has sent us this information -

In Issue 1135 of the NetLetter you published a series of five charcoal impressions done by British artist and painter Juliet Pannett. The sketches, according to the above mentioned NetLetter, were published in Air Canada's "Between Ourselves", Issue 325 - January 1969 and were done whilst she was a guest on AC Flight 857, DC-8 service LHR-YYZ. The impressions were of Captain Art Adamson, Navigation Officer Jerry Caron, Purser Ray Grenham and Stewardesses Kathy Gass and Lorraine Gore. As a former AC Navigation Officer, please be advised that Air Canada never had a "Jerry Caron" as a Navigation Officer. There was Gerry Chesley, based in YUL; Gerry Haynes and Jerry Rouselle both based in YVR and yours truly, John Caron, based in YYZ. Furthermore, upon checking my logbook, I have no record of operating an 857 flight in that time period and the likeness on the sketch of "Jerry Caron" does not resemble yours truly.

(We rechecked the "Between Ourselves" issue nr 325 and the information we published is as published in the magazine - we were just the messenger. Perhaps someone else could comment - eds) 


The "Mechanics dream" by Chas Freckleton we published under the Smileys in NetLetter nr 1137 evoked some memories by Chas himself -

Thank you for bringing back memories of that day long ago when I stood admiring the beautiful lines of a DC8!


I moved from Winnipeg to Montreal in the early 60's, working in Power Plant Test and Maintenance Training.


In 1968 I moved to Flight Operations Training in Montreal as a Flight Operations Instructor. I had the pleasure of meeting many of those "kings" during the years I spent instructing on the Vanguard, DC9 and L1011. In 1978 I moved to Toronto as Supervisor B747 and L1011 Ground Training. I subsequently retired in Toronto in 1993 as Manager Flight Operations Ground Training. I now live in Bolton, Ontario enjoying retirement with my wife Sheila.


Chas Freckleton.


checklist

In response to NetLetter nr 1137 and the article "Pilots check list" in "Alan's Space"

Vern Swerdfeger sends us this photo of the co-pilots check list.

Odds & Ends - Compiled by Terry Baker
Odds & EndsThe DC-3 is considered to be the most successful aircraft ever built. Modified from the DC-2, the DC-3 was first built in 1935 and called the Skytrain by its manufacturer Douglas. Built to carry 21 passengers, it carried as many as 74 at times during WWII. The stories about this fabulous aircraft border on the fantastic.

One, forced down on the Vatna Jokul glacier in northern Iceland spent the entire winter buried under snow. A salvage team bought the aircraft for us$1600.00 sight unseen, they dug it out, made a rough landing strip, started the engines and flew it out.

Another DC-3, in the Pacific theatre was blasted by a bomber and a wing was sheared off. The only replacement wing was from a DC-2, which was five foot shorter than the DC-3 wing. It was a little lobsided, but it flew. It was christened DC-2 and 1/2.

firstlastHere we have this photo from "Between Ourselves" issued February 1961 during "Viscount Day" at Patrica Bay airport (Victoria YYJ) when the first Viscount arrived from Seattle, and the last DC-3 flight went to Vancouver.


remoteJack Morath of the UK Pionairs has sent us some articles from the LHR Skyport newspaper July 9th 2010


A remote existence -
IT LOOKS like something out of a fairground, but this peculiar vehicle had a vital role to play at Heathrow in the 60s. It was one of several runway control vans (RCVs) that were parked near the end of the various active runways.


The idea was that the staff inside were a 'remote pair of eyes' for the main control tower (seen in the background on the right). They checked planes taking off for things such as flat tires or open hatches and made sure inbound aircraft were lined up for the correct runway and had their undercarriage down.


They also kept an eagle eye out for unauthorized vehicles or pedestrians on the runways - not an uncommon occurrence apparently, before the days of security fencing - as well as making weather checks and keeping records of aircraft movements.

 

The book Heathrow ATC the First 50 Years, mentions that Aldis lamps and Verey pistols (flare guns) were kept in the RCVs for use in extreme cases. The book states: "On one occasion a Verey was fired to deter a cyclist from crossing an active runway.
"The flare actually hit the bicycle and burned out, lodged in the wheel."


The RCVs often had to be driven to new positions in the days when planes were more susceptible to cross winds, meaning runway changes were more frequent. Sometimes staff had all the palaver of driving the vehicle to its new position, only to be told to move elsewhere again. Working a shift inside one could be a lonely business, akin to a railway worker on duty in a remote signal box, though there were occasional visits from patrolling police officers or other workers who had cause to be roaming the airport.

Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
Terry Baker
Terry Baker
Thinking of cruising the "Inside Passage" on an Alaska cruise?
A cheaper one day cruise in the inside passage is offered by BC Ferries.
This route is between Port Hardy at the north tip of Vancouver Island, to Prince Rupert, in northern BC. It is a one day trip and departs either port at 07.30 and arrives at 22.30.

Costs vary between seasons, and the ferry also accommodates vehicles.

What was not so great was that BC Ferries insist one arrives at 5:30 am. for both the 7:30 am. Port Hardy and Prince Rupert departures, even though traveling on foot with minimal luggage and had prepaid bookings in full. You are also advised that if you arrived late, your reservations could be sold to others.

Editor's Note: On sailings longer than 5.5 hours, BC Ferries is required under Transport Canada regulations to maintain detailed passenger manifests in addition to its regular clearance and check-in procedures. Unfortunately this requires earlier check-in times than on most ferry sailings. The upside: on northern routes, passengers can book a private cabin for a leisurely snooze or tranquil retreat- one of the key factors, in fact, in this B.C. mini "cruise."
 
Paperless ZED E-tickets are now available on the Employee Travel Site for British Airways (BA). The other carriers that currently accept ZED e-tickets are: Air Creebec (YN), Bearskin Airlines (JV), Canadian North (5T), Central Mountain Air (9M), First Air (7F) Swiss (LX) Qatar (QR) and United Airlines (UA). 
 
US FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rule making that calls for raising fees charged to airlines overflying the US by 14% annually for four consecutive years beginning in the US government's 2012 fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2011, FAA said in the NPRM that "in order for FAA to approach the cost of recovery," en-route overflight fees needed to be lifted by 69%. Rather than doing the entire hike at once, it is "spreading the cost" over four years, it said. The en-route overflight fee will reach $56.86 per 100 nautical miles by Oct. 1, 2014, compared to about $35.69 per 100 nautical miles currently.
(Probably means an increase in taxes for the traveling public  - again! - eds)
 
Deals from Interline Allstars -
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Highlights
7 distinctly designed neighborhoods including:
BoardwalkSM featuring AquaTheater:
Central ParkSM - bringing the outdoors, indoors:
Royal Promenade - bigger than ever, introducing a mezzanine level with more shopping, cafés and entertainment:
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness
Pool and Sports Zone 
Entertainment Place 
Youth Zone 
 
7 Night Western Caribbean From us$799
Oasis of the Seas
Fort Lauderdale, Labadi/Labadee, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Fort Lauderdale
1 departure date: Dec 11, 2010
Prices from :
Inside USD$799 OceanView USD$899 Balcony USD$799 Suite USD$1399
 
7 Night Eastern Caribbean From us$749
Oasis of the Seas
Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, St. Thomas/Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg/St. Maarten, Fort Lauderdale
6 departure dates: Nov 20, Dec 4 2010
Prices from:
Inside USD$749 OceanView USD$849 Balcony USD$949 Suite USD$1499
 
7 Night Western *BALCONY* From us$799
Oasis of the Seas
Fort Lauderdale, Labadi/Labadee, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Fort Lauderdale
1 departure date: Nov 13 2010
Balcony Boardwalk (cat B1) or Balcony Oceanview (cat D2) *$799*
Don't hesitate to call for more information at (800) 432-9075 - direct.

Gordon Froese Your Interline Allstar  800-920-5411
Smileys - Compiled by Terry Baker
Smileys
As we surf the internet and back issues of airline magazines we regularly find airline related jokes and cartoons. Below is our latest discovery.
 
Jet air travel is now so fast that it is possible to ship a pair of rabbits from coast to coast by air express and have the crate arrive at its destination with only two rabbits.
 
Here is a site that gives tips for choosing a carry-on bag.
http://www.onebag.com/bags.html
Brian Walsh
YYJ

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
 
Sincerely,

Your NetLetter Team
 
First published in October, 1995
  • Chief Pilot - Terry Baker, Nanaimo, B.C.
  • Co-pilot - Alan Rust, Surrey, B.C.
  • Flight Engineer - Bill Rowsell, Londesboro, Ontario
To contact us, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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