Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

 

Issue dated June 1986 

 

A flight with a view.

 

Sudbury Airport, normally deserted at midnight, was, during the spring of 1986, the scene of excited chatter as people from all over Ontario prepared to board a DC-9 aircraft that would take them in search of Halley's Comet.

The expedition, organized by Air Canada, Science North museum and the Sudbury Astronomy Club, was not destined for outer space. By flying 75 minutes southwards to a point east of Cincinnati, the seven degree latitude advantage and the flight's 35,000 foot altitude would bring the comet more than eight degrees above the horizon — well up into clear, dark sky for easy visibility.

 

Passengers were fully briefed and presented with log books for recording observations, data and impressions of the flight. As the aircraft lifted off at 02:30 and headed south the excitement mounted.

 

At 03:38 several passengers spotted the comet and Captain Newcombe slowly turned the aircraft, enabling passengers on one side and then the other to have a good view of Halley's Comet.

At about 4:20 the aircraft turned northwards and as soon as the cabin lights were turned back on, the flight attendants served a special gourmet dinner and passengers circulated their log books for autographing by their companions.

Back on the ground at 05:30, the crowd broke into enthusiastic applause for the pilots, flight attendants and all those who organized the trip. The successful venture was repeated 24 hours later, with 100 more comet watchers embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime flight.

 

Many people were involved in making the expedition successful. Bernie Reid, Manager, Sudbury, worked closely with a local travel agency and representatives from Science North. Judi Parker, Charter Coordinator, Montreal was extremely helpful as were Mike Walker, Manager, Current Operations Planning and Marg Guimond, Coordinator, Current Operations Planning who took care of logistical considerations such as the use of U.S. air space and crew manning.

John Petrilli, Area Commissary and Catering Manager and Phil Carson, Sales and Service Manager, Sudbury made the arrangements for the meal service. Not to be forgotten are those in Toronto Aircraft Routing and Maintenance who made a clean aircraft available.

Captain Jim Newcombe and First Officer Mike Beatty flew both missions and added a special dimension to the flight with detailed briefings. On the first flight the Flight Attendants were: Karl Kriese, Jane Manktelow and Karen Sheehan.

Those on the second flight were: Doug Kennedy, Caroline Lancaster and Ken Robbins. In the photo the crew and passengers of Flight #2 gather by their red and white 'spaceship'.

 

 

Issue dated July 1986

 

Four overseas 'Award of Excellence' recipients honoured for 1986.

Owen David, Baggage Coordinator, London, England. 

Marie-Claude Maille, Senior Customer Service Agent, Guadeloupe.

 

Customer Service Agents in Bombay participated in an intensive training program, conducted by Mike Dwelly, Passenger Training and Development Supervisor, Europe and Asia.

 

During the day, Mike trained ten students in the complexities of fares and ticketing. And, as if that wasn't enough, the trainees spent their evenings in the reservations office working on CRT sets.

 

In the photo below Mike is shown, centre rear, surrounded by the Bombay Customer Service Agents.

 

From the left are: Charan Notani, Yezdi Divecha, Vijay Ullal, Simone Ginwalla, Shamira Reubens, Ashwini Malhotra, Melissa Drego, Carol D'Souza, Ashutosh Handa and Gangadhar Krishna.