Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Something so beautiful for Christmas

May I ask for your patience while I am a little self indulgent? 

For the past few years, Alan Rust and I got together every Wednesday at the Kent Street Activity Centre (for seniors) in White Rock, British Columbia. We were both members of the Computer Club seniors' activity group where we enjoyed the company of fellow 'geeks' as well as other airline retirees (many of whom have settled in White Rock / South Surrey area in retirement).

I continue to frequent KSAC, as I am involved with a few committees, but it has not been the same since Alan's passing last April. I appreciate being socially active in retirement but, unfortunately, hearing about the loss of friends and colleagues seems to be all too frequent.

Each December, KSAC hosts a 'Mistletoe Luncheon' which takes place in the auditorium with excellent food prepared by the kitchen, entertainment and prizes. It is always well attended by over 100 seniors and even the current mayor of White Rock.

Children from the local elementary school are invited and their numbers have been increasing steadily every year. This year 160 children entered the auditorium and lined up around the perimeter of the room.  Accompanied by one of the teachers on guitar they sang three songs for us and the sound of their voices was absolutely beautiful. After they finished "We are the World", the centre director stepped up to the microphone and asked if there was still a dry eye in the house; there wasn't.

The children were then allowed to mingle among the seniors and present us with candy canes and their handcrafted Christmas decorations. They enjoyed their time with us and were still smiling and waving as they lined up for the walk back to class.

This is what Christmas should feel like, something so beautiful.

The NetLetter Team would like to take this opportunity to thank our subscribers for allowing us to send you our publication.

We wish all of you a happy and safe holiday season and fond memories of dear friends and colleagues we have had the pleasure of knowing during our careers in aviation.

We always welcome feedback from our subscribers who wish to share their memories and photographs.

Particularly if you have stories to share from one of the legacy airlines: Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair and many more.

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C.P.A. Pacific Route.

Air services are to be started across the Pacific Ocean from Canada to Asia and Australia by Canadian Pacific Air Lines, a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railways.

Two routes will be operated, one from Vancouver to Sydney through Honolulu, Canton Island and Fiji with a connecting service from Fiji to New Zealand; and the other route from Vancouver to Hong Kong through the Aleutian Islands, Kodiak and Shemya, Tokyo and Shanghai. The services will be operated with four Canadair Four aircraft as soon as the equipment is ready.

On September 19, 1949 Canadian Pacific Air Lines started a weekly direct service with Canadairs between Canada and the Far East. The route was from Vancouver over the Aleutian Islands to Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Canadian Pacific Air Lines inaugurated a 28-seater Dakota (DC-3) service from Montreal to the North-Western Quebec mining communities at Val d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda.

The aircraft in use was said to be the first airliner to be fitted with cross-wind landing gear. Previously a Canso amphibian was used, but the construction of 3,500 ft runways at the two airfields has made the new Dakota (DC-3) service possible.

While likely "on course' at CP&W in May 1930, Doug Burt organized this photo of Canadian Transcontinental Airways Fairchild 71 CF-ACY at nearby St. Hubert airport.

"ACY" was one of the latest in air transports plying the Quebec and Ontario airways then being established. It later served Canadian Airways and Quebec Airways, then 'faded away' sometime during 1939.

Ken Molson's book "Pioneering in Canadian Air Transport" is the best source for the history of this era. You would love this wonderful book. I see today that several copies are available cheaply at AbeBooks.com. 

(Source: via Larry Milberry/CANAV Books)

Cominco purchased D.H. 89 Rapide CF-BBH from DHC in January 1938. It was sold to Canadian Airways in May 1939.

Later with CPA, it gave good service in Quebec. "BBH" crashed on takeoff at Pentecost on the Quebec North Shore on March 19, 1947.

(Source: via Larry Milberry/CANAV Books)

1988, October 31 - Inauguration of service between Toronto - Mirabel - Lisbon - Madrid with B-767 equipment.
December 31 - Operations between Canada and Santo Domingo ceased.

2019,  October 1 - Daily non-stop service resumed between Toronto and Delhi, India

The 10th annual Air Canada Employees (A.C.E.) fly-in was held on Saturday June 11, 1988 at the Burlington Air Park.

In October 1987, Air Canada acquired 90% of the shares of NWT Air

Continuing the Time Travel: 75 Years in Events.
Started in NetLetter #1419.

1950 -Red River flood relief.

TCA flies 40 special round-trip flights between Winnipeg and Eastern Canada from May 8 to 13, 1950, to help out during a five-day emergency flood relief.

The airline carries 500,000 pounds of non-perishable foods and other necessities to 2,500 people evacuated when the Red River overflowed.

Mystery flights promote travel.

In August 1950, a Chicago travel agency organizes the Masked Mystery Flights, and TCA gets on board by shepherding 17 blindfolded men and women, who have no idea where they’ll land, to Montreal for a weekend in the Laurentians. 

Rail strike gets people flying.

From August 22 to 31, 1950, a national railway strike helps TCA introduce thousands of people to air travel. Thirty new routes are added in the 1950's, including Paris, Brussels, Vienna, Zurich, Tampa and Antigua.

Over the same period, Canadian Pacific Air Lines inaugurates service to Lima, Buenos Aires and Santiago.

This photo is of CF-TFO at Orly, Paris.

(Source: moments.aircanada.com/timeline)

Issue dated March 1988.

In 1988 Northwest Territorial Airways changed its name to NWT Air and added a new destination, Inuvik, to its network.

The Yellowknife-based carrier, has had an operating and marketing relationship with Air Canada since 1981.

Effective March 27, 1988 NWT Air joined AirBC, Air Ontario, Air Nova, Air Alliance and Commuter Express as a fully fledged Connector carrier.

Effective April 3, 1988 Air Canada suspended its flight between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

The format of the timetable was changed to a booklet style in 1987. Here we have the issue for April 3, 1988 with a photo of Toronto-based Flight Attendant Gigi Rassow Miles.

Down under with the president.

While Chairman Claude Taylor and his wife Fran were on a visit "down under" in Sydney, he was presented with a genuine Crocodile Dundee Akubra hat by our local staff and representatives.

Seen here in the front row from left to right: Paul Sheridan, Director, Cargo Sales; Rodney Walshe, Managing Director. The Walshe Group, (our G.S.A.); Chuck Wilson, Manager, South Pacific with his wife Sue and Barry Brown, Sales Manager, Australia.

At the back from left to right are: Paul Wiseman, Sales Manager, Queensland; Monica Serfozo, Sales Representative, Sydney; Fran and Claude Taylor; Joanne McLean, Sales Agent, Sydney and Jacqui Dodd, Reservations Agent, Sydney.

Issue dated April 1988.

During the President Pierre Jeanniot's visit out east, he visited Moncton and Saint John. Here are some photos taken during his visit.

ACRA still lives!

In March 1988 the Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA) Presidents and System Events Chairmen held their third joint meeting with ACRA System Events Chairmen in Montreal.

The three-day event included an official welcome for the two newest ACRA's, New York and Bombay.

Mario deSouza (from Bombay) and Robi Adaskes (from New York) received their accreditation from President Pierre Jeanniot during a special luncheon which he hosted for the group. During their meeting, the 23 presidents and 12 chairmen reviewed 1987 activities.

In this photo they are, seated, from left to right:

Linda Kellins, Robi Adaskes, Brenda McCasin, President Pierre Jeanniot, Yolande Bourque, Emy Maura and Diana Duval.

Seen standing, are: Neil Stephenson, Evan Quick, Noel Ebden, Louis Bariault, Ron Charbonneau, Mario deSouza, Naish Batten, Garth McAdoo, Peter Lay, Bill Kent, Gord Graham, Michael McHenry, Duncan Butchart, Mel Bartlett, Ken Mackenzie, Sheila Snow-Cline, Bill Saunders, Ron Carradine, Wolfi Peise, Jim Miller, Barry Drinkle, Eric Franco, Rob Corbin and Kim Humber.

Some participants are missing from the photo.

Issue dated August 1988.

On Wednesday, July 20, 1988 an order for 34 Airbus A320 aircraft and parts for a total of $1.8 billion CDN. As well, an option for 20 additional A320's was taken which could be converted to 'stretched' versions.

LAX staff move into their new home.

Phase one of the extensive renovation of terminal two at Los Angeles International Airport is now complete and customer service staff have settled into the spacious new facility. The photo shows a group of employees in their new home.