Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Issue February 1985.

Paper launched.

Stores (Purchasing & Supply) has gone into the communications business.

Just over a year ago, several stockkeepers and a manager at Dorval Main Stores decided to put together a local newspaper. The idea took hold and their literary venture, 'Parts & Pieces', now goes to some 600 Stores employees across the system.

New service begins.

Air Canada's inaugural flight to Bombay and Singapore via London, England. departed Toronto on schedule at 22:25 hrs EST on January 15, 1985 under the command of Captain F. Richards and his crew of First Officer R. Ashleigh and Second Officer J. Rentjes. Flight Service Director Gilles Lacaille, In Charge Jeanette Forbes, and Flight Attendants Linda Harris, Willa Davidson, Joyce Farnell, John Sales, Gerry Oosterman, Theo Kalse, Ian MacIver and Glen Jones.

Flight 858, utilizing L-1011-500 equipment landed at LHR on January 16 and added additional crew. Taking over was Captain A. Shaw, First Officer Larry O'Brien, Second Officer M. Emmett and Flight Service Director Martin Fleet,  arriving in Singapore at 11:00 hrs on January 17.

The aircraft, fin #553, C-GAGG, turned around to operate the first return flight 59 which departed Singapore's Changi Airport that evening on schedule. A new crew took over.

Up front Captains Sherman Everard and Les Hems, Second Officer Bill Donaldson prepare for takeoff, which occurs at 03:45 hrs. Flight Service Director Ruth Zurcher marshal’s her crew: Purser W. Patterson and Flight Attendants Leslie Yake, J. Felde, M. O'Connor, M. Lunt, V. Gaser, J. Morin, Giselle Pahocsa and S. Ridabouk. The flight arrived in Toronto ahead of schedule.

Edwin McManus has sent us this information -

Not sure how much trivia you want, but the L-1011 initially not having the most reliable motors (Rolls Royce RB211), needed a spare in Singapore. AC had to charter another freight carrier as the motor was too big for our 747 combis. The 747 had an extra pylon mount to ferry motors, but this one was too big.

Meet "Team Canada".

The newly appointed Sales and Service - Canada group gathered in Toronto.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the airline in the Canadian marketplace and to reflect on strategic priorities as they saw them.

In the photo are, seated, from the left: Ron Lofthouse, Manager, Windsor; Doug Port, General Manager, Airport Services, Toronto; Mark Alexander, Manager, Marketing and Organizational Development, Montreal; Bill Rowe, Vice President; Roger Linder, Group V.P.; John McMurtry, Vice President, Ontario; Jack Maloney, General Manager, Southern Alberta and John Jeffrey, General Manager, Northern Alberta.

Standing, from the left: Al Thompson, General Passenger Sales Manager, Toronto; Bruno Fragasso, General Manager, Province of Quebec; Keith Hoover, Manager, Southern Saskatchewan; Mike Lezama, General Passenger Sales Manager, Halifax; Louis Daigle, General Manager, Airport Services, Montreal; Barry MacInnes, General Manager, Manitoba; Ralph Bouchard, Regional Passenger Sales and Service Manager, Vancouver; Zachary Clark, General Manager, B.C. and Pacific Northwest; Remi Lafreniere, General Manager, Ottawa; Marc Rosenberg, Agency and Interline Sales Director, Montreal and Joe Turkel, Regional Marketing and Planning Director, Toronto.

Issue dated January 1985.

Staff Awareness Week took place last fall at Toronto's Terminal II and employees from a wide range of airport functions had an opportunity to promote their workplaces. Airport Passenger Agents greeted guests with a smile.

They are, from the left: Sam MacDonald, Elly Lilly, Anna Urena, Joan Findlay and Shelly Fleet.

New York becomes reservations hub.

The consolidated U.S. reservations sales office was opened in New York. The facility, equipped with the latest in communications technology, at the time, handled all reservations calls placed to the airline from anywhere in the U.S. 

Roger Linder, former Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, was the guest of honor at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new sales office.

He is shown, centre, assisted by Customer Service Agents Joan Fink, left, and Laurie Cassaro.

Looking on, from the left, are: Jennifer Miller, Customer Service Agent; Pat Conlan, Reservations Service Supervisor; Kathy Baltz, Manager, U.S. Reservations Sales Office; Diane Jennings, Customer Service Agent; Guy Chiasson, former Vice President, U.S. and Southern Region and Michael De Wilde, General Manager, Northeast U.S. Peeking from behind are several customer service agents.

Issue dated June 1985.

Maple Wings show community spirit.

The association capped another busy year of community activities with its fifth annual general meeting being held in May 1985.

The gathering was a practice run for next year's special flight crew reunion in honor of the airline's 50th anniversary. Consisting of former TCA and Air Canada flight attendants, each of the 12 Maple Wings' chapters across Canada enjoyed an active year making donations to charitable causes of their choice.

In our photo are, from the left: Marga Van den Hogen, Sharon Russell of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children receiving a donation from past Treasurer, Olga Deakon, and Gretchen Marsh, CMWA President.

A first for Canada.

Air Canada Cargo and Cougar Helicopters Inc. of Halifax entered into a contract that provides pick-up and delivery service for the company's guaranteed same-day express product.

Issue dated February 2012. (With permission)

"Horizons" magazine launched a new semi-permanent 75th anniversary column in this edition. Called “Time Capsule,” starts with a look at the 1930's and 40's (our very earliest days) to give you a taste of what aviation was like.

Of course, Air Canada had more significant “firsts,” innovations, and noteworthy moments in those years than could ever fit on one page, so the purpose of Time Capsule (our back cover) is to convey the experience of flight and the essence of an era.

Issue dated May 2011. (Used with permission)

Business people will find it easier to attend meetings in Toronto after Air Canada resumed service May 1, 2011 to the downtown Billy Bishop City Airport.

Here we have a photo of the airport and the brochure that was issued.