We have welcomed 197 new subscribers so far in 2020.

We wish to thank everyone for your support of our efforts.

We always welcome feedback about Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge) from our subscribers who wish to share current events, 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, Transair and many more (let us know if we have omitted your airline).

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We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.

Thanks!

William Hercus sent us a copy of the TCA "Interliner" magazine issued January 1957.

Here are the TCA routes in operation during 1956.

Hugh MacCallum sends in his images of British Airways Concorde visit to Vancouver (YVR) during Expo '86.

Your readers might be interested in my sequence of 7 photos recording the arrival at YVR of G-BOAG on 11 July 1986 including ramp pics at CP Air hangar.

At that time, Air BC was CP Air’s BC regional connector and I was employed by Air BC as a shuttle bus driver taking passengers from CP Air gate 19 to Air BC's Twin Otters and Dash 7’s; cabin floor too low to use the passenger access bridges.

British Airways had landed on YVR's Rwy 25 & taxied to CP Air’s hangar July 11, 1986.

CP Air was a part of the Oneworld group of airlines that included BA, Cathay Pacific, Finnair etc., thus was given a contract to handle any of its requirements, including passenger handling vs. the Star Alliance group including Air Canada, United, Air New Zealand, etc.

G-BOAG flew a few days carrying 100 passengers each time who had shelled out $800.00 each for a 30 minute supersonic flight beyond Vancouver Island out over the Pacific Ocean.

The Concorde was flown to YVR for the aviation component of Transportation EXPO ’86.

On 14 July 1986, Air France Concorde F-BTSC arrived at YVR. The next day in mid-afternoon when commercial traffic was light, the Air France pilots showed what it could do - work came to a stand still - certainly for outside workers (me too). It took-off then returned doing a slow flyby about 50-100 ft for almost the entire 11,000 ft above runway 25 kept aloft by sheer engine thrust, almost full flap.

Hugh wishes to invite readers to visit his photo gallery at www.hughmaccallum.ca. The Concorde images begin on page 2 of Gallery 7.

Click each image below to see full size. 

Ron Rhodes had this enquiry -

Perhaps you could publish the attached photograph from my collection of TCA memorabilia.

I would love to know if anyone has any idea where this TCA sign could have originated. I found it years ago in the basement, behind the furnace, of an estate sale here in Waterloo, Ontario!!

My idea is that it was located at the gate of a small Canadian airport, or perhaps at the check-in counter.

Can someone help??

When we, at the NetLetter, asked Ron for any more information, he sent us a copy of the TCA schedule which shows TC507 route was Dusseldorf - Glasgow - Halifax - Montreal.

The scheduled departure was 10:10 pm Glasgow therefore we suggested that the sign was originally from Glasgow airport.

Ron's ticket was issued on Tuesday June 28, 1960 Glasgow - Montreal - Toronto and travelled during August, coincidentally, on TC507.

That was my flight number with Super Connie from Prestwick to Montreal! I added the time and flight number!

Ralph Quick has sent us this memory –

North from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

After 10 years as First Officer with CPA, my first opportunity for a captaincy was an opening on the DC-3, flying the route Whitehorse - Mayo - Dawson City in the Yukon.

It would not have been my first choice if I had had another option, but as it turned out, it was one of the best years of my life.

Only those that have lived in the north will know what I mean. After a year you don’t want to leave and go “outside“. 

Jack Morath has sent us this information and photo -

We are now back to 1967 when we arranged a River boat Shuffle on the river Thames.

Two coaches were arranged to take colleagues to the Thames at Charing Cross Pier. A full boat and a great band. A good friend of mine was part of the band.

The singer became part of the Hot Chocolate Pop group in its early days.

(Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline of women in aviation)

An early TCA advertisement for New York visitors to Toronto.

(Source: vintageadbrowser.com)

The Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA) Campground in the Outaouais opened as of June 1, 2020 only for members who already have a site and campers will be subject to the same government mandated public health rules.

(Source: acrayul.com/nouvelles-news)

Issue dated February 1992.

Preparing for B747-400 introduction.

On the wing of the simulator, at the new In-Flight Training Center in Dorval, we see the training instructors:

From left to right, standing: Flight Attendants Alain Grenier, YYZ; Ron Allain, YHZ; Mark Adams, Purser, YYZ; Flight Attendants Arlene Murphy, YYZ; Michel Casavant, YUL; Chantal Viau, YYZ; Mark Olivier, YUL; Bonnie Simpson, Purser, YVR and Flight Attendants Ravi Zilka, YYC and Carol O'Connell, YYZ.

In the front row, from left to right: Christian Aveline, Training Supervisor, Dorval; Paul Bouchard, Supervisor, B-747-400 Program, Dorval; Flight Attendants Christiane Mineau, YUL; Jacques Johnson, YWG and Linda Valiquette, YUL.

Heathrow goes green.

Air Canada, with the help of British Alcan Aluminium launched its first recycling project in the U.K. Empty aluminium cans are now being collected from all transatlantic flights arriving at Heathrow (LHR) and stored in a "cotton wagon", which was supplied by British Alcan. When the wagon is full, British Alcan empties it.

British Alcan's alligator, “Alican” also showed up to help collect Air Canada's first load.

Pictured here with “Alican” are, standing from left to right: Commissary Attendants Micky Dray, Paul Clarke, Derek Buckell and George Thomas; Doug Ritchie, Managing Director, British Alcan Aluminium; Peter Baldry, Manager, Airport Services, U.K. & Ireland; Chris Sofocli, Lead Commissary Attendant and in the front row, left to right, Micky Moore, Commissary Attendant and Frank Owen, Lead Commissary Attendant.

Kamloops, B.C. Airport.

Neil Burton has sent us this information and these photos, taken by Alan Giolma -

This CPA B-737 is on approach to Fulton Field, Kamloops with Mt. Paul & Mt. Peter under the aircraft.

Both photos would have been taken in winter 1968/1969 by Alan Giolma. 

This photo, also by Alan Giolma, was taken in August 1967 (Centennial Year) of a Nordair L-1049H Super Constellation on Fulton Field airport, Kamloops, B.C.

Alan thought the aircraft brought a band or choir to Kamloops, but I so far have not located any information of any special concert.

(Editor Note: Do any former Nordair flight crew remember a journey out west in Centennial year? Unfortunately there is no registration visible).

Some more photos from early days at Kamloops airport.

Aircraft positioned in front of the first passenger hangar building on Kamloops Municipal Airport on August 5, 1939 (Official Opening of airport) is registration NC 17074 Beechcraft C17B, C/N 132 Operator: Mamer-Schreck Air Transport, Spokane, Washington.

Aircraft was piloted by Roy Schreck arriving from Spokane in just over 1 1/2 hours.

The aircraft left for Spokane, just after 4 p.m. as it was to fly over Spokane, at 7 p.m. to do meteorological readings.

Pilot Schreck expected to make the return to Spokane in 1 hour and 20 minutes. This photo is from a panoramic photo of the 1939 official opening of Kamloops Municipal airport on August 5, 1939 at the south side of that airport.

Our first "Featured Video" comes from the 'jaimonvoyage' YouTube channel.

It shows an ex-Nordair/Canadian Airlines Boeing 737-200C turnaround in Hall Beach, Nunavut in Winter 1988 or 89. 

Our second video comes from YouTuber James Defty and shows a caravan pod built by Steve Jones using the nacelle from a VC10 aircraft.

More information at thedrive.com.

Below are a few screen captures of images from our 'Featured Video' in NetLetter #1441.

Monday February 18, 2019 – Large crowds gathered at Heathrow today to watch the much-anticipated arrival of a British Airways Boeing 747 painted in the iconic design of its predecessor British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

The aircraft entered the IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport on February 5 where it was stripped of its current British Airways Chatham Dockyard design before being repainted with the BOAC livery which adorned the BOAC fleet between 1964 and 1974.

This latest livery will bring back a flood of emotions and pride in not only British Airways, but the UK’s impressive aviation history – and what better time to do that than in our centenary year as we celebrate our past and look to the future.

(Source: www.heathrow.com). 

Editor's note: Registration G-BYGC (pictured above) was delivered to British Airways in January 1999 and (as per FlightAware.com) last flew on June 20, 2020 and is now stored at Cardiff International (CWL).

British Airways is now in the process of retiring its Boeing 747 fleet after 50 years of service.

Source: SimpleFlying.com

Editor's Note from Ken Pickford:

I came across the video below which includes footage at London Heathrow over the past 2 years of all 31 BA 747-400's that were still in service at the time of the Covid-19 grounding and BA's recent announcement that they will not be returning to service.

Over the years BA operated over 100 Boeing 747's, including 94 delivered new (18 -100's, 19 -200's, 57 -400's). They've been retiring the -400's gradually over the past several years, leaving 31 in the fleet as of March.

They appear in order of delivery date. The 3 in "retro" liveries appear at 1:24, 3:35 and 37:25. Also note interesting footage of one departing in a strong crosswind at 27:00.

Although BA (still BOAC then) took delivery of their first 747-100 in April 1970 (and two more in May and June), their pilots refused to fly them due to a pay dispute that took a full year to resolve.

They finally operated their inaugural 747 flight LHR-JFK on April 14, 1971. By then they had 6 747-100's parked. It gave several of their competitors more than a year's headstart with 747 service.

Also, a couple of out favourite YouTube videographers have posted very nice tributes to the British Airways B-747 fleet at Canadian airports.

Eye Trapper clips taken at YVR

National Film Board of Canada - Trans Pacific Flight 1953

I'm not sure how and why I saw short National Film Board of Canada vignettes on television when I was young. I would guess that they may have been broadcast on the CBC on Saturday nights around the time of Hockey Night in Canada. 

Unsurprisingly, today the NFB broadcasts much of their excellent documentaries via YouTube, although they do have their web site where we can watch streaming content and registration is free. Of course, it did not take me long to lose myself there for a few hours. 

I particularly enjoyed an episode of an early TV show called "On the Spot" hosted by Fred Davis on a Trans Pacific flight from Vancouver to Tokyo on board a Canadian Pacific Airlines Douglas DC-6B (CF-CUQ) in 1953. 

The aircraft was new at the time and was named the "Empress of Tokyo" during this trip. It was later renamed "Empress of Buenos Aires."

Sadly, it was destined to be lost on July 8, 1965 on the Vancouver - Prince George leg of a flight to Whitehorse.

Click the image below to view the video on YouTube

Additional Info:

The National Film Board of Canada website

The fate of CF-CUQ at aviation-safety.net

I am very happy to pass along my congratulations to some good friends on their retirements.

Vancouver Purchasing and Supply Manager Stephen Vasseur (no photo available), Duty Manager Mike Feldmann with Lead Stock keeper Tamara Tendeck (below left) and Stock keeper Miron Gazda (below right) received their 'promotions' to the retirement team this past June.

Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to celebrate their 'promotions' together in the future. 

Best of luck to all!

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

Answer for the mystery airline in Odds and Ends.

Breeze Airways is a planned U.S. airline that is due to begin operations in 2021. 

The start-up passenger carrier headed by serial aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, who previously co-founded JetBlue Airways among other airlines, has applied to acquire the certificate of now-defunct Compass Airlines, and published plans for its first year of operation.

Source: flightglobal.com

Early aircraft interiors - B-707 Service.

A Lufthansa steward serves dinner on a Boeing 707 international flight in 1967.

Photo: Getty Images.

Source: aviationweek.com,  May 13, 2020