Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Posted by Ernest Gutschik Aviation -

PLAY Airlines launched daily service from Reykjavik to Hamilton with their Airbus A320neo's.

Fly Play (styled as PLAY) is an Icelandic low-cost airline headquartered in the country's capital of Reykjavík. It operates a fleet of Airbus A320neo family aircraft with a hub at Keflavík International Airport.

In July 2019, two former WOW air executives, Arnar Már Magnússon and Sveinn Ingi Steinþórsson announced the formation of a new airline, tentatively named WAB air ("We Are Back"). In November 2019, WAB air rebranded as PLAY, and the hiring of operating staff was initiated. 

Reviewing PLAY Airlines Flight From Canada To Iceland

Posted by Narcity, this video is trip review by a couple of young ladies who flew on the inaugural flight from Hamilton International Airport in Canada to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

During a recent trip from Vancouver (YVR) to Ottawa (YOW) I managed to get into Premium Economy and this was the meal provided. Although the breakfast was adequate, the omelet was probably made with a bantam egg!

Vancouver Interline Club - February 28, 1961. 

A formation meeting of the Vancouver Interline Club was held at the Newsmen's Club on February 28, 1967, with 12 airlines represented.

Present were Norman Gloag, United Airlines; Irene Kunc, Pacific Western Airlines; Rob Meijer, Sabena; Ron Groves, Scandinavian Airlines; Tania May, Air India; Doug McGregor, Air France; Gord Ashmore, Qantas Airways; Evelyn Dunning, Canadian Pacific; Dan Shaw, BOAC; V. Patterson, Japan Airlines; Ken Richardson, Alitalia and Alma Kelly (airline association not indicated).

Norm Gloag was chairman of the meeting and in this capacity, he outlined the purpose of the meeting.

The first step was to elect a slate of officers with the following results:

• Evelyn Dunning as President.
• Ron Groves as Vice-President.
• Alma Kelly as Secretary.
• V. Patterson as Treasurer.

The Vancouver Interline Club remains active to this day.

Source: VancouverInterlineClub.ca

Past President of the Vancouver Interline Club, Nigel Cole, advises that he and other members of the Club recently enjoyed a sponsored afternoon tea courtesy of Perx Interline Vacations.

On May 5, 2023 the Club undertook a return cruise to Alaska on the Crown Princess. To mark the occasion each member on the cruise received a complimentary travel bag courtesy of Vancouver Interline Club. All in all, Nigel says, it was an excellent event for our members who participated in this group cruising experience.

Pacific Coastal Airlines announce the introduction of two new routes at the Nanaimo Airport, further enhancing its commitment to connecting communities and providing convenient travel options for passengers.

Starting Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Pacific Coastal Airlines will operate daily non-stop flights on the Nanaimo (YCD) – Vancouver (YVR) South Terminal and Nanaimo (YCD) – Kelowna (YLW) routes, utilizing the 19-passenger pressurized turboprop Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.

This aircraft offers passengers comfortable seating, a spacious 6-foot cabin height, and ample cargo capacity, ensuring a pleasant and convenient travel experience. 

Source YCD.ca

Ambient 1: Music for Airports is the sixth studio album by the English musician Brian Eno, released in 1978 by Polydor Records. It is the first of Eno's albums released under the label of ambient music, a genre of music intended to "induce calm and a space to think" while remaining "as ignorable as it is interesting".

While not Eno's earliest entry in the style, it is credited with coining the term. The album consists of four compositions created by layering tape loops of differing lengths, and was designed to be continuously looped as a sound installation, with the intent of defusing the tense, anxious atmosphere of an airport terminal.

Eno defined his approach in opposition to "canned" Muzak and easy listening practices. The album was the first of four albums released in Eno's Ambient series, which concluded with 1981's Ambient 4: On Land.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine credited the album with defining the ambient genre. In 2016, Pitchfork ranked it the greatest ambient album of all time.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_1

News from the Paris Air Show.

De Havilland Canada launches the DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G.

On June 19, 2023, at the Paris International Air Show, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) announced the launch of the DHC-6 Twin Otter® Classic 300-G™ with combined purchase agreements and letters of intent totaling 45 aircraft.

“For over 50 years, the DHC-6 Twin Otter has stood alone as the most reliable and versatile aircraft in its class,” said Brian Chafe, CEO of De Havilland Canada. “After extensive consultation with our customers, we are poised and proud to take this iconic aircraft to new heights with the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G.”

Source: dehavilland.com/en/news/

Airbus Lands Record A320 Order

India-based airline IndiGo signed a firm order for 500 A320 family aircraft on Monday at the 2023 Paris Air Show.

According to Airbus, the deal represents the largest single purchase agreement in the history of commercial aviation. In addition, the agreement brings the total number of aircraft IndiGo has on order from Airbus to 1,330.

Source: www.AVWeb.com

Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) - Regina Chapter.

Excerpts from Saskatchewan Aviation Chronology 1930-39.

July 5, 1930 - Official opening of Moose Jaw’s airport, located on the site of what’s now the federal Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) compound in The Band City's west end. It was the site of a gala flying meet with everything from balloon-bursting to aerobatics, with around 16 aircraft appearing -- a remarkably large number for such a young industry.

September 15, 1930 - Official opening of the new Regina airport, timed to coincide with the arrival of the aircraft of the Ford Reliability Air Tour, an endurance test of aircraft flying a huge circuit around North America and gaining contest points, from a starting point at Detroit. This odd cavalcade (which included a Sikorsky S-38 flying boat, an early Cessna monoplane and several sleek Lockheed Vega high-wing monoplanes) arrived from Brandon in one of the 'black blizzards' sadly typical of the 1930's. Parked on the ground, these aircraft stretched for a half-mile.

February 1939 - Trans-Canada Air Lines began intensive training for the launch of its cross-country passenger flights. Among its stewardesses were two with Regina roots: former nurses Helen Kilby MacAdam Harding, daughter of former Anglican Archbishop M.M. Harding (she was born and attended school in Regina) and Lucille Garner, daughter of Colonel and Mrs. A.C. Garner, Regina. Garner was TCA’s chief stewardess, the first Canadian air hostess and in charge of training at Winnipeg. She passed away in 1999. 

to view the full article. 

NASA announced on Monday June 12, 2023, that the aircraft to be produced through its Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project will be the agency’s next X-Plane.

Designated the X-66A, the modified MD-90 will feature “long, thin wings with engines mounted underneath and a set of aerodynamic trusses for support.”

Designed to “inform a potential new generation of more sustainable single-aisle aircraft” the X-66A transonic truss-braced wing concept is expected to consume up to 30 percent less fuel and produce fewer emissions than current best-in-class aircraft. 

Source: AVWeb.com 

For Air Canada retirees who have access to ACAeronet.

If you receive notice of a pension audit, you may find it a confusing experience to respond via Aeronet or mail.

Our Terry Baker recently contacted the HR for some clarity concerning this process and received the following instructions.

How to access the Pension Secured Mailbox via ACAeronet site:

1. Access HR Connex homepage via acaeronet.aircanada.ca portal log on.
2. Click the 'Retirement' tab.
3. Under Pay and Pension, click on 'DB Pension Plan', (illustrated above).
4. A new screen will appear. In the upper right corner, click on the 'Bell' icon that shows a red dot. On the new screen, click the 'Secured Mailbox' and to review any documentation received.

Completing the audit form:

• If you are completing the audit process, once you have downloaded the form and completed it, you can upload it back in the Secured Mailbox for faster processing via the 'Upload Documents' green button.
• You need to upload ALL pages including the cover page (total of 4 pages).
• The cover page serves to authenticate you and ensures that the completed audit is reviewed and indexed to your Pension Profile.
• Alternatively you can either fax to 1-866-517-7075 or mail back ALL pages via regular post to the HR Connex Pension Team at:
  • HR Connex Pension
  • PO Box 7650, Station B
  • Toronto, ON M2K 3B5

Summer service resumption Nanaimo (YCD) non-stop Toronto (YYZ) commences July 24, 2023.

Source:ycd.ca