We have welcomed 86 new subscribers so far in 2023.

We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.

Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.

We invite you to visit our website at www.thenetletter.net/netletters to view our archives.

Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.

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: Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Maritime Central Airways, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair, Transair, Air BC, Time Air, Quebecair, Calm Air, NWT Air, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Georgian and all other Canadian based airlines that once graced the Canadian skies.

Please feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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

Thanks!

Gimli Glider 40th anniversary of the landing

Event details for the milestone 40th anniversary taking place Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Our Gimli Glider team is experiencing high interest in this Anniversary and we will attempt to answer some of the frequently asked questions.

We appreciate the public interest and are working towards a memory making weekend.

Additional info:

www.facebook.com/gimligliderexhibit1/

Pionairs UK/EU district announce their ‘Party in the Park’ -

This exciting event will take place on Tuesday June 27, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. at Runnymede Pleasure Grounds, Windsor Road, Egham, TW20 0AE

Please bring your own picnic, drinks, blankets and chairs. There are cafes serving ice creams and other snacks as well as toilet facilities nearby.

A good way to socialise with old friends and colleagues. Ideal for all the family – everyone is most welcome. In case the weather is inclement we shall be providing Gazebos….

Looking forward to seeing you there! Please let us know by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  if you will be able to join us. 

Another date for your diary:

Pionairs UK / EC Christmas Lunch scheduled for Sunday December 3, 2023
Venue: The Ship Hotel, Monument Green, Weybridge KT13 8BQ.

Further details to come…

John Amy shares this memory.-

Regarding King Charles' horse being the first equine transport for Air Canada Cargo mentioned in NetLetter #1511.

On my final flight for Air Canada in a B-747-400 (Flt 862/23 October 1998), the cargo load included 26 race horses and one more that had been given to the Queen by the RCMP. It was not unusual to carry horses.

John Amy

Editors' Note: John is, of course, correct. Reviewing the reference article at www.aviacionline.com, it may be referring to the first transport of a horse on a B-767-300F in a new specifically designed stall. 

Captain Norm Snihur, retired, shares this memory -

DC-8 Manual #3 engine start 1970's

During 14 years on the DC-8, one manual engine start valve activation was required at Edmonton International Airport (CYEG).

Early morning winter departure, after the aircraft sat overnight in sub zero temperatures. The start valves operated in response to flight deck engine start switch selection, and would route high pressure air to the air-operated start motor.

The valves were fitted with a manual start lever that would be selected off when the engine start sequence was stabilized.

The mechanic was unable to manually turn the lever. It was decided to employ a conveniently located 2" x 4" to loosen the lever with a tap. Several taps were required, which did not go unnoticed by passengers, either on the aircraft, or in the terminal.

After the engine stabilized it was possible to return the lever to the off position with hand pressure. The use of lumber to effect the #3 engine start was reported to the company. A notice was issued that it would be preferred if this type of ramp activity should, where possible, be done out of view of passengers.

Norm Snihur,

Wings4wildaid Rescue & Transport.

More about Captain Snihur @ vancouversun.com/news

Photo by Lorinne Anderson - Vancouver Sun

New U.S. subscriber Richard Kruszka sent in the following -

I came across your newsletter when I was doing a search on Nordair and I must say, I was very impressed with the content and I clearly have a lot of catch-up to do on reading this summer!

My interest in the airline industry started in 1972 when my father brought home an OAG, which I read nearly cover-to-cover. I then worked in the industry with Empire, American, and Qantas for 15 years.

From my early recollections, I was just curious if you had articles on some of the Canadian regional and commuter airlines like Pem Air, Northern Wings, International Jet Air, Wagner Aviation, and others, most of which are now well-forgotten?

I will be certain to read through your content but with my career starting with Empire, I've always had an interest in the smaller aspects of the industry and have considered writing some articles for various publications. I'd appreciate your comments.

Thanks very much and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Rich Kruszka
Charlotte, North Carolina

Editors' Note: Rich's suggestions will definitely have us doing some research on the airlines mentioned.

Posted on the Facebook Air Canada Alumni page by Cathy Dawson on May 28, 2023.

My late father, Doug Dawson, at his desk at the Dorval location in the 1980's. He was so proud of Air Canada! 

The number of 'sisters' or black female pilots in 2016 was dismal with a total of 15 at United and 5 in the US Coast Guard.

During the conversation, they named all of the black female pilots they each knew personally and it became overwhelmingly evident that little progress had been made since Nia Gilliam-Wordlaw began flying as a teenager in 1993, and since Angel Hughes started flying as a teenager in 2003.

With such little representation and not having an effective way to address the issue, Nia and Angel made it a personal quest to connect all the black female pilots they knew. The intent was to provide a platform to support and encourage each other in a profession that didn’t speak to the unique challenges of black female pilots.

On April 20, 2016, Angel initiated a group text message and invited Nia to be an initial participant of what would be known as 'Sisters of the Skies' or S.O.S.

Major sponsors are United and Boeing, other sponsors include American Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines and Republic Airways. The 5th Annual Scholarship and Fundraising Gala was held in Houston, Texas on February 11, 2023.

Source: SistersoftheSkies.org

PAL Airlines inches closer to deal to fly more routes under Air Canada Express brand.

PAL Airlines has signed a letter of intent with Air Canada that could see more routes for eastern Canada, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

The proposal, which hasn't been finalized, would see PAL acquire up to six more Dash 8-400 planes, which would be operated on behalf of Air Canada under its Express brand. The term is up to five years for regional routes in eastern Canada.

The routes operated by PAL on behalf of Air Canada would be an addition to the company's existing schedule and chartered flight network in eastern and Atlantic Canada.

Source: www.cbc.ca/news

Air New Zealand is asking passengers to voluntarily weigh in before boarding so it can better understand the load their planes are carrying. The company wants the data to better plan fuel loads and routing to make their operation more efficient and it won't be making a public spectacle of those who take part. "We know stepping on the scales can be daunting.

We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere," airline spokesman Alastair James said. "By weighing in, you'll be helping us fly safely and efficiently every time."

Airlines now use standard weights for passengers for load calculations, adjusting them upward for winter, but those estimates are widely believed to be unrealistically low. People have gotten heavier and they're carrying more stuff onto the plane thanks to increasing baggage fees. The airline wants to weigh 10,000 passengers between May 2 and July 2, 2023.

The airline did a similar survey with domestic passengers in 2021.

Source www.AVWeb.com

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated January 1977

Cargo's tenth in Miami.

The tenth anniversary of cargo operations in Miami was celebrated by the company with a reception at its cargo terminal for the major freight forwarders and Interline partners.

At the time, the largest foreign carrier in Miami, the Company's operation in that city has been a major growth center in the company's United States expansion during the last decade.

On hand to welcome some 275 guests at the very successful reception were, from the left: John de Groot, Cargo Sales Manager, South; Mike Scullion, U.S. Regional Cargo Manager; Bob Munro, Senior Cargo Supervisor; Bob Hau, Cargo Supervisor; Miss Anita David, Sales Program Supervisor, Cargo, Montreal; Peter de Sisto, District Manager, Miami & Latin America; Gene Stockett, Airport Customer Service Manager and Rocco Patane, Customer Service Supervisor.

Trinidad cargo update.

Trinidad and Tobago air freight agents, importers and exporters were up to date on the company's cargo services during a breakfast at the Holiday Inn where they saw a slide presentation on Expedair and Sea/Air services from the Orient.

Chatting with members of the group are Pete Pemberton, General Manager, South, third from the left; Emanuel Gibbons, Manager, Trinidad & Tobago, fourth from the right and Ken Shaw, Regional Cargo Development, New York, third from right.

April 1991 - Canadian Airlines receives its first Airbus A320's. 

Registration C-GPWG (Fin #401) and C-FPWE (Fin #402, photo below) were delivered in April 1991 and are still both in service with the Air Canada fleet.

Photo by Ken Fielding at commons.wikimedia.org

From the 'Info:Cargo' magazine.

Issue dated April 1991

Pacific Pride Chicks Ltd. of Abbotsford, British Columbia, used to send 10,000 one-day-old chicks to Honolulu every week with Canadian Air Cargo.

The chicks must arrive at their new home in Honolulu before they are 72 hours old, as that is the longest they can survive without feed or water. 

In our photo we have Georges St. Pierre, Cargo Sales Representative, YVR (left) with Marvin Friesen, Pacific Pride Chicks Ltd. in the incubation room of the hatchery.

The 1991 Boston Seafood Show was held March 12-14. The annual Show provides us with an opportunity to sell transportation services to members of the seafood industry.

Shown here, left to right: Ramendra Sahai, Cargo Supervisor, Nadi International Airport (NAN); Georges St. Pierre, Cargo Sales Representative, YVR and Denise Dubois, Cargo Sales Representative, YUL.

The China Airlines marketing agreement, effective February 1, 1991, was signed in Taipei.

Shown here in this photo, left to right: Al Ridgway, Regional Manager, Cargo Sales and Service, South Pacific/Southeast Asia, YVR; Peter Yap, Director of Cargo, China Airlines and Mel Crothers, Director, Cargo Marketing and Support Services, YYC.

Montreal-based videographer Mark Brandon has posted this video on YouTube featuring Canadair CL-215T's operated by Montana-based Bridger Aerospace departing Maniwaki, Quebec (YMW) to fight forest fires in Quebec.

More on the CL-215 series in 'Wayne's Wings' below.

The Business Suite: flydubai Reveals New Premium Seat

The Business Suite has been designed by flydubai and its partners exclusively for narrowbody airliners.

Six of the carrier's Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will see new 10 suites onboard before the end of the year. The operator looks to take on widebody competition with direct aisle access via its comfy new premium business class offering.

Source: SimpleFlying.com

From Express newsletter #7 by the Musée de l'aérospatiale du Québec.

Pascan Aviation, based at Montreal Saint-Hubert airport (YHU), is undertaking the renewal of its British Aerospace Jetstream fleet with the larger Saab SF340B.

This is the second aircraft of this type to join the regional carrier's fleet. Pictured on February 19, 2021, it is registered C-GANR and carries the serial number 340B- 341. 

Canadair CL-215 (Scooper)

It is (unfortunately) once again the beginning of forest fire season in Canada. For us residents of British Columbia's 'Lower Mainland', red skies and the stench of burning embers have become all too familiar during the summer months.

While watching this issue's 'Featured Video' by Mark Brandon on some of the aircraft deployed to fight the fires in Quebec, I became quite curious about the CL-215 series of amphibious flying boats developed primarily for fighting fires.

A versatile aircraft that can fly at low altitude and speed capable of reloading its water tanks by dipping into a lake and 'scooping' up water to dump over a nearby forest fire is quite an impressive accomplishment; and it is Canadian! 

Excerpt from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair_CL-215

The Canadair CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing general-purpose amphibious aircraft. It features an atypically spacious fuselage for an amphibian, which is designed to accommodate for the operational needs of various roles that the aircraft was developed to perform. The CL-215 can be used as an airborne firefighting platform, in which capacity it is used as a water bomber; it has been claimed to be the first aircraft designed to withstand the severe aerodynamic and hydrodynamic loads imposed by such usage. Beyond the water bomber role, the CL-215 was designed for use in other capacities, such as a search and rescue platform, passenger transport, and freighter; for this purpose, the cabin can be configured in various different ways, including a flexible combi configuration. 

The CL-215 was designed to perform well in the aerial firefighter role. The apparatus is designed around previously-proven concepts and careful design.The aircraft's belly houses a pair of 1,400 litres (300 imperial gallon) water tanks of which large downward-facing doors forms their bottoms; these open to rapidly discharge water over a target area. 

Bombardier Aerospace acquired Canadair during the 1980's and decided to terminate production of the type during the late 1980's. Although manufacturing did come to an end in 1990, a further improved model, designated as the CL-415, entered production during 1993. The last newly-built CL-415 was delivered in 2015 when production ended.

Additionally, multiple conversion and refit programmes have been launched over the following decades to renovate and improve existing aircraft, typically focused on improving aspects such as the engines, avionics and structure.

In 2018 Bombardier sold their design documents, and intellectual property rights, to the CL-215 and CL-415 to Viking Air who announced plans to open a production line to build the CL-515, an improvement over the CL-415, with more recent avionics, instrumentation to allow it to continue fighting fires at night, and the ability to fill other roles, like maritime surveillance, and maritime search and rescue, when it wasn't fire season.

Editors' Note: Currently there are 54 CL-215, -215T and -415 aircraft registered in Canada. Note that -215T designates aircraft originally built with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 piston engines (as used on DC-6) and later converted to turboprops.

Those factory-built with turboprops are designated CL-415. The 2nd CL-215 built, with the original piston engines, is still flying at age 55 (built 1968) with Yellowknife, Northwest Territories-based Buffalo Airways.

Click the image below for the YouTube video, posted by Polyus, detailing the history, development and current status of this 'Scooper' firefighting series of aircraft.

Water Bombing Workhorse That Keeps On Evolving;
the story of the Canadair CL-215, 415, and 515

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

History of El Avion, the aircraft restaurant mentioned in NetLetter #1511.

Our Fairchild C-123 was a part of one of the biggest scandals in the 1980’s. The Reagan Administration set up a bizarre network of arms sales to Iran designed to win the release of US hostages held in Lebanon and raise money to fund the Nicaraguan, counter-revolutionary guerrilla fighters, commonly referred to as the “Contras”.

By artificially inflating the prices of arms, “National Security Council” NSC official Oliver North, was able to reap profits that could be diverted to fund the counter-revolutionaries of the Cuban allied Sandinista government.

Full story at www.elavion.net/history

Delivery of new transport planes behind schedule, RCAF confirms.

During 2022, the RCAF bought two used Airbus A330-200 wide-body passenger planes from Kuwait Airways. The government pegged the value of the contract at $102 million US.

The new aircraft were supposed to arrive in Canada last winter. After both aircraft have received maintenance checks in Basel, Switzerland, they'll be repainted in Chateauroux, France, the home of Satys Aerospace, which specializes in repainting large aircraft.

The first Airbus to be delivered will be painted in the red, white and blue colour scheme that was unveiled for the prime minister's aircraft ten years ago by the Harper government. The second Airbus will be painted in a glossy grey used by some of the current Polaris fleet.

The first of the two Airbus A330's is expected to arrive at CFB Trenton sometime over the summer. The second is set to arrive by the fall.

According to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.com, the first Airbus arrived in Basel three months ago. It has since been moved to Chateauroux for painting.

The second Airbus arrived in Basel for its maintenance checks from Kuwait City late last month. These new aircraft will start the replacement of the RCAF's fleet of five smaller Airbus A310's. These five Polaris aircraft were built for Wardair in the late 1980's.

Source: www.cbc.ca