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About us!
Since October 1995, Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker have been issuing an email newsletter for those ex Air Canada types who have provided us with their email addresses. The Newsletter was created by Vesta, who gave the name 'NetLetter' and added 'Between Ourselves' - a TCA periodical with which you are probably familiar with from the 50's and 60's. It was then changed to "Between Yourselves" to avoid confusion when "Horizons" resurrected the name. Then finally simplified to just "The NetLetter".
We believe that our NetLetter, which originates from Vancouver Island, was the FIRST to use this medium to disperse information for retirees of Air Canada.
The NetLetter contains airline related information such as anecdotes or stories supplied by some of the recipients, Internet tips, travel news, cheap... excuse me, "inexpensive" accommodations, tours, interline travel, and, in some small way, we help keep our Air Canada family together and in touch.
Our 'NetLetter' is NOT sponsored by any Pionair group, nor are we seeking any financial support, only the Internet email addresses of those who would like to receive our 'NetLetter'. Please forward this to other retirees who can then subscribe right from the forwarded link at the bottom of this email.
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ACFamily Network
Air Canada Heritage Poster
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Dear NetLetter,
Welcome to the 960th issue of "NetLetter". The NetLetter is the longest running newsletter (since 1995) that is dedicated to Air Canada retirees.
We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2745 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter and give them out to their friends. The "NetLetter" is written by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker from Vancouver Island (see sidebar) and also with articles and comments from "you" our readers. Formatting of text, photos, etc. for this HTML version is done by Webmaster Alan Rust and it is published courtesy of the ACFamily Network at www.acfamily.net
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Hello Terminal 1 (goodbye Terminal 2)
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Toronto Airport under one roof started January 30th., 2007 with the grand opening of Pier F and Hammerhead F in Toronto. After many months of hard work by the Toronto Hub Development Team, both customers and employees will be together under one roof in Terminal 1.
Our transborder customers will check in at Terminal 1 on Aisles G and H, and proceed to the new Pier F facility.
Our International customers will check in on Aisles K, L and M, and then on to the new Hammerhead F facility.
Two new Maple Leaf Lounges are also set to open. The Transborder Lounge is located on level 4 in Node F, and the International Lounge is located
Hundreds of current and former employees bid a fond farewell to Toronto Airport's Terminal 2. On Wednesday January 24, more than 700 well-wishers attended Toronto Airport's "Farewell to T2" event. The guests were treated to a history lesson of Air Canada and Terminal 2 by Toronto Station Attendant, John Hill who shared his extensive collection of Air Canada knowledge and memorabilia. Guests were also treated to a slide picture presentation spanning more than 35 years from the beginning of T2 in its conceptual stage right to present day. Ken Eibbit, a retired employee, was there on the morning of June 15, 1972 when Terminal 2 officially opened its doors as a passenger terminal. "I remember it well," said Ken. "It was quite an experience for me as the Customer Service Manager on duty that morning. We opened the doors to a multitude of passengers streaming in ready to be checked-in. With the help of my staff and colleagues, we got through that day and many others after that." T! erminal 2 is set for demolition in early spring.
Final Air Canada flight from Terminal 2 was AC368 departed 21.15 January 29th., 2007 YYZ-BOS the aircraft was fin 311 EMB-190 C-FLIU |
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Remember when
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London (Heathrow) International Airport.
Recollections of LHR 1954 to 1965 by your co-pilot Terry Baker.
The original accommodations for Trans-Canada Air Lines was on the north side of the Heathrow airport, at the junction of the Bath Road and Sipson Road, in huts. The nearer hut contained the administration and next to it was the hut for ramps, communications and flight despatch. The cargo complex was several hundred yards east and the commissary, maintenance and stationery was on the south east near Hatton Cross.
Later, the administration office was moved to a hut near the control tower when the entrance off the Bath Road was improved to service the tunnel to the centre of the airport.
Food was usually available in the Green Dragon and, off the airport, at the Three Magpies and The Air Hostess.
Personnel who I recall during this time were -
Alf Lake and Reg Stoakes - Cargo
Archie Furzer and Jim Barber - chauffeurs
Alex Murray, Les Powell, John Baker and George Steele - Flight Despatch
Harry Berry, Tony Blencoe, Bill Alderson - Ramp
Edie Etheridge, Margaret Ewing - Communications
Jack Ross - Station Manager
Nancy Perry, Valerie Phipps - secretaries
Audley Summers - Asst to Station Manager
T.Carr Hodgson - Purchases & Stores Manager
Ron Munson, Jack Morath, Cyril Cavanagh, Phil Smythe, Ted Dean
Derek Strevens, Peter Hodge, Terry Baker
Wally Evans, Jim Arnold - Customs
Tom Howson - Stationery
Daphne Steele, Hilary Decourcey Donovan
Al Coutts and Bill Singer - seconded from YUL
Don Wiley - Maintenance Manager
Colin Bailey, Andy Cunning, Bill Cameron
Rae George - Commissary Manager, Dickie Summerell Erica Frost - Passenger Service
Ted Rogers (YUL), Bill Swidnicki (YWG), Danny Sweetman (YUL) seconded for cabbage patch DC8.
The only events I recall were the Vulcan aircraft crash, The Edgehill Air Stairs, arrival of PANAM Boeing Stratocruiser, Comet and B707 first flights - who can forget the black smoke from the B707 with the water methenol injection on take-off - the passengers pouring out of the double deck Air France Languedoc, the marquee which was the departure lounge at one time in the central area and the DC8 Cabbage Patch incident.
We witnessed the first arrival and departure of the 707, Comet and Concorde.
Many of us took the fam flight of the Super Connie to Dusseldorf and of the DC-8 to Shannon.
Arriving at Customs and being asked the fatal question "Anything to declare" and the relief on having a chalk mark applied to your luggage, which allowed one to exit - now you can breeze through the "Green - nothing to declare" exit, which is generally staffed by groups of a few Customs officers chatting to each other, seemingly paying no attention to the throngs passing before them.
Of course all the accommodations have changed or long gone, especially the huts on the north side. In the 60's TCA/Air Canada moved the administration, Purchasing, Flight Despatch and Communications into the Queen's building located in the central area of the airport.
(We invite anyone with memories to share with us, please do so - eds)
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AC first 777 is nearing completion
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Here's a photo of Air Canada's first 777 being build by Boeing.
On November 9, 2005, Air Canada announced that it would renew its widebody fleet over several years by purchasing a mixture of Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.[2] The order included a firm order for 32 airframes (18 777s and 14 787s) plus options for 64 more (18 777s and 46 787s), totalling 96 airframes. The first 777s are to begin arriving in April 2007 and the first 787s in 2010. Among the 777s to be delivered to Air Canada are freighter versions, making Air Canada one of the launch customers of the 777 Freighter along with Air France-KLM. All of Air Canada's 777 aircraft (both -200LR and -300ER) will be powered by the GE90-115B engine, the world's most powerful jet engine. Their 787 aircraft will be powered by the GEnx engine.[2] The order is a mixture of 777-200LRs and 777-300ERs, and 787-8s and 787-9s.
You can read more about the 777 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777#777- 300ER |
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Found on the Internet
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Royal Jordanian will resume flights to Canada after 10 years. It will operate twice-weekly Amman-Montreal service from May 25 aboard A340- 300s.
FAA: Pilots can fly until 65
Wednesday January 31, 2007
After nearly five decades of strict adherence to a rule whose origin "still is a matter of debate," Administrator Marion Blakey yesterday said US FAA is ready to "seize the moment" and "close the book on Age 60."
(Fly until 65! - does this eliminate the bathrooms for the up front crew - eds) |
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Terry's Travel Tips
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If on the dates you are travelling to San Francisco and accommodation at industry rates in downtown San Francisco is scarce due to availability, or you find the rates too expensive, think about staying in the San Francisco International Airport area and using the BART (express train) to go into San Francisco (SFO to city centre takes about 25 minutes).
Pick a hotel that offers complimentary shuttle to and from the BART station.
When heading into San Francisco on the BART the Powell Street station is in the middle of the city where the Cable Cars run from and where the main shopping area is. If you want to visit the Wharf/Piers and walk along to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf then get off at Embarcadero station.
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AC Heritage Poster
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Enjoy this visual display of Air Canada’s historic fleet from its beginning in 1937 to the present including aircraft from:
- Trans-Canada Air Lines
- Canadian Airlines
- Pacific Western
- Eastern Provincial
- Nordair
- Transair
- Wardair
This 68 x 96 cm (27 x 38 inch) poster is printed in full colour on high quality paper and depicts over 300 aircraft and liveries flown by Air Canada throughout its history.
The cost of the poster is $24.99 plus tax and shipping where applicable. This is a great gift for Christmas, reunions, retirements and birthday gifts, etc.
A donation is made to Dreams Take Flight for each poster that is sold. Any other profits support the operation of the ACFamily Network which brings you this newsletter.
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More info here |
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Submissions
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Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments for the "The Netletter" please send to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Please add to your Address Books).
This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us Terry & Vesta (exclusively) will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of news for the NetLetter.
To make changes to your e-mail address or to unsubscribe, please see the links at the bottom of the page for "Update Profile/Email address" and SafeUnsubscribe. This is now automated so that you can remove yourself from the list or change your email address (or name) without our assistance. We will still do this manually if you have any difficulties.
Many of our members are having difficulty finding these links. You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page, the link is similar to the following image. (The image below doesn't work but your links at the bottom will).
Vesta, Terry and Alan thank you for your co- operation.
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NetLetter Archives
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The archives of the NetLetter are kept on the ACFamily Network Forums area. They are in plain text format so you can print them from there if desired. If you are not a member of the ACFamily Network yet, we encourage you to join us there. Non members can Register here. (It's Free!)
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NetLetter Archives Link |
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