Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

TCA's first woman passenger agent, Doris Forbes, arrived at Winnipeg in May 1941.

She moved to Lethbridge as Chief Passenger Agent on March 8, 1943.

The first flight of the Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic  Air Service (CGTAS) roared eastward over the ocean on July 22, 1943 with its TCA crew.

Issue dated June 1943 

Victoria Service

Our main line, on June 6, 1943, was extended to include Victoria.

Captain Don Brady, First Officer Norman Ramsay and Stewardess Mina Wood were the crew.

TCA will fly all airmail between the Island and the Mainland. By decision of the Board of Transport Commissioners we are not authorized to carry passengers or air express locally between Vancouver and Victoria. But we shall transport passengers and air express originating on the Island and destined to points beyond Vancouver.

In addition, through passengers are entitled to make stopovers at Vancouver.

Editors' Note: Local passenger service on the Vancouver-Victoria route was operated by Canadian Pacific Airlines until 1947 (inherited from CPA predecessor Canadian Airways).

The route was transferred from CPA to TCA in 1947. 

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated May 1973

Fam tour with British European Airways

The BEA (British European Airways) World Interline School in London, England, considered one of the best in the industry, offers a three-day course on BEA's facilities to employees of other airlines. The course includes lectures, films and tours of the airline's Engineering Base and terminals.

Shown with a BEA employee during a course in 1973 are, from the left: H. MacIntyre, Sales Office Supervisor, Toronto; M. Dumaine, Customer Service Training Instructor, Los Angeles; P. Machina, Training & Development Manager, Los Angeles; L. Smith, Reservations Manager, Toronto; K. LeClair, Training & Development Manager, Montreal; Miss S. Wojcik, Customer Training Instructor, Los Angeles and J. McGuire, Reservations Supervisor, Ottawa.

New cargo terminal opens in Vancouver

The Company's latest air cargo terminal was officially opened this month at Vancouver's International Airport.

Costing more than $1.2 million, the modern, temperature controlled facility is designed to handle 130 million pounds of freight and air express, and more than 500,000 lbs. of mail a year in and out of Vancouver.

The area consists of nearly 40,000 sq. ft. of sheltered cargo processing facilities, more than double the size of the previous complex, plus 5,000 sq. ft. of office space. The remainder of the four-acre site is used for truck manoeuvring and handling, parking, and equipment storage.

According to Bill Garven, General Manager, B.C. & Pacific Northwest, the new complex will greatly enhance the network of cargo terminals across the System which now provides more than a million sq. ft. of cargo handling capacity.

"In the last few years, we've experienced substantial growth in air freight movements through Vancouver. In '71 for example, we handled more than 50 million lbs. of cargo, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year," he said.

Special features of the cargo building include a truck loading dock where 24 trucks can be accommodated at any one time; partially mechanized systems for expediting cargo from the terminal to the freighter aircraft, and a unique reception counter which assures prompt and efficient customer service.

According to Cargo Terminal Manager Jim York, the facility is an excellent example of the practical use of current air freight handling techniques.

"All of our mechanical systems have been designed as simply as possible. This enables us to use the equipment to the maximum extent, and when necessary, ensures speedy maintenance."

Another feature of the terminal is that Canada Customs has provided an officer on site during the business hours of the day, five days a week.

"This facilitates the processing and clearance of cargo shipments from international points," says York.

There are eleven DC-8 freighter flights from Vancouver each week to eastern Canada, the U.K. and Europe, and direct connections to points in the United States.

In addition to the freighters which can carry up to 80,000 lbs. of cargo, passenger aircraft are also able to transport freight including the daily Boeing 747 which can carry 40,000 lbs. in containers.