The NetLetter is about people.

We wish to say thank you to all of our subscribers, many of whom share stories of their personal experiences.  Also special thanks to the photographers, videographers and bloggers who so graciously allow us to link to their fine work.

We wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season
and the very best in 2024.

The NetLetter team 

We have welcomed 170 new subscribers 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.

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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!

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Derek Buckell shares this memory.

Hello, just to say thanks for the item on the LHR flight kitchen in NetLetter #1522.

Was it really 30 years ago?? It was a big project, and we were indebted to Hollis Harris, as he “kept the faith”, and agreed to the price, to protect the jobs of the workforce. He returned to LHR when it was finished and officially re-opened the unit.

It was a mammoth task, to keep production going, at the same time as the work was going on, including mobile kitchens in the car park, and moving work around as the job progressed.

The staff were magnificent, and put up with a lot of turmoil and difficult working conditions. What was a shame was that a few years later, Heathrow Airport compulsorily purchased the land, and the kitchen was closed.

The purchase included the El Al flight kitchen, American Airlines stores and commissary, and other businesses. And now it’s a car park for Terminal 5!!

I suddenly remembered there was a photo in our family album, of Hollis and myself, cutting the ribbon, below.

Cheers,
Derek Buckell

Contributed by NetLetter team member Bob Sheppard. Here is the first in a series chronicling his family visit to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg this past summer. 

A minor bucket list experience was fulfilled this past summer, partly due to a suggestion by our oldest grandson. Looking for a unique activity for our yearly holiday time with our two grandsons, aged 14 and 11, he suggested we spend a week in Winnipeg. After picking them up in Calgary, it was another two days of driving to arrive in the "Peg".

I had seen some Viscounts parked at the Winnipeg airport and many coworkers had worked on the aircraft. I knew that the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada had Fin #637 CF-THS on display and I was keen to have a look.

Bob shares his photos and comments on touring the Vickers Viscount on display beginning in NetLetter #1522.

Four heavy duty cables on the aft door.

Aft door with handle and operating directions. A escape pack on the door.

Port side view of aircraft with emergency exit windows outlined in white and fuselage marked 'Exit Sortie' in red in the white paint band, with a small handle.

Some complimentary items such as toiletry kits and travel guide.

Cutlery and blanket.

An old Trans-Canada Air Lines baggage cart. I recognize that style of bags even though my first flight was in 1972 - Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto on a DC-9.

Hawaiian Airlines hailed the duo of mom Captain Kamelia Zarka and daughter First Officer Maria Zarka as the first such pair in the airline's 93 years in service.

They flew a Boeing 717 together on September 1, 2022 to neighbour island flights from their base in Honolulu.

Kamelia joined Hawaiian Airlines as a flight attendant in 1992 and became a pilot in 1999, which led to her being the first Tongan woman to captain a commercial airliner. Maria, who flew with Republic Airlines for two years, was hired by Hawaiian Airlines in April 2022.

“Everybody always tells me how amazing it is to fly with my mom, and today I got to experience that. She's an amazing pilot and learning from her is one of the best. Now I call her 'Captain Mom', Maria shared.

Source: newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com

Air Canada: Once Upon a Tree

Click the image below to view the video

Air Canada first airline to test new de-icing solution.

This winter, Air Canada will become the first airline in the world to test a novel way of de-icing planes. The new system, created by Boston-based De-Ice, consists of strips attached to the exterior of the airplane that connect to proprietary electronics inside the aircraft. When activated from the Flight Deck these strips generate a high-frequency current that causes adjacent materials to produce heat. The process is similar to an induction stove top, melting snow and ice without the need to go to a de-icing station, which typically adds 30-45 minutes to the journey.

Source: Air Canada Daily (ACAeronet access required) 

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated March 1994

Twenty new Employee Assistance Coordinators were trained to help employees find counselling for all types of problems.

Front row, left to right: Bernie Curwin, Customer Sales & Service Agent - Moncton; Claudette Sabourin, Manager, Employee Rehabilitation Services - Dorval; Marina Philippot, Finance Agent - Winnipeg; Barry Jones, Employee Records Coordinator - Dorval.

Second row: Kim McCallum-Grier, Finance Agent - Winnipeg; John Sturdy, Check Pilot - Winnipeg; Dennis Leach, Manager, Flight Training - Toronto; June Elliott, Audio-Visual Specialist - Dorval.

Third row: Colette Ries, Customer Service Manager - Edmonton; Steve Thalmann, Customer Sales & Service Agent - Tampa; Catherine McLean, Customer Sales Service Agent - Edmonton; Brian Murray, from Humanitas; Gisele Baird, Customer Sales & Service Agent - Halifax; Gus McDonald, Customer Service Training Instructor - Halifax; Brenda Sedunow, Customer Sales & Service Agent - Vancouver; Frances Ford, Customer Sales & Service Support Supervisor - Toronto; Carole Watters, Manager, Compensation & Administration - Air Nova; Rob Fairbairn, Finance Agent – Winnipeg.

Fourth row: Keith Winsor, Station Attendant - St. John's; Corinna McGuire, Customer Sales & Service Agent - Toronto and Chantal Baril, Customer Service Support Supervisor - Dorval.

Houston celebrates anniversaries.

Some of the Air Canada Houston staff gathered at the Hotel Sofitel to celebrate six months of service.

Back row, from left to right: Customer Service Agents Suzanne Kalap, Desna Francis and Joyce Harmison; Dennis Lerchbacker, Aircraft Services Coordinator; Customer Service Agents Robert Cassidy and Donna Felker; Michele Stevens, Lead Customer Service Agent and Customer Service Agents Lalo Bayarena and Robert Kinkead.

Front row (seated): Janet Ferguson, Customer Service Manager; Frank Leggett, Regional Sales Manager, Southwest U.S.A. and Patti Yoshimura, Airport Secretary. 

Editors' Note: Photo has 13 employees but only 12 are identified.

Wine tasters extraordinaire.

Air Canada staff in Paris sampled a bottle of Beaujolais nouveau. Taking part in the wine tasting were, from left to right:  Annie Broquet, Manager, Personnel Services; Claude Morin, General Manager; Martine Danel, Senior Passenger Agent; Lysiane Prudhomme, Senior Sales Agent; Sarah Contour, Passenger Agent; Valerie Gilles, student; Pascale Marteau, Passenger Agent and Micheline Breton, Senior Passenger Agent. 

Editors' note: Once again, not everyone in the photo is identified in the original text. There are 9 people in the photo but only 8 identified.

First Officer's second job.

Calgary frequent flyer André Labine couldn't resist this photo opportunity. He snapped this picture at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) while waiting for a flight home.

Vancouver Luncheon.

Keeping up a long-standing tradition, this group of retired Air Canada management got together for their annual luncheon.

This year's participants included (front row, left to right) Glen Steeves, Sandie Dexter, Raul Suarez, Jack McLean, Sandy Sandilands, Bill Dickinson and Bill Rowe.

Back row:  Fred Pope, John Wilton, Bob Hough, Roger Gadsden, Roger Bertoia, Jack Dalby, Marv Lohnes, Bill Garven, Duncan Laing, Dave Fairweather, John Maxwell and Hal Cameron.

From CP Air News

Issue dated May 1971

Brilliant Inaugural to Israel Features Fanfare, Publicity

One of the most impressive sights in history of Israel's Lod Airport was the inaugural arrival on April 2, 1971 of CP Air DC-8-63 Spacemaster with President John C. Gilmer; VP Marketing and Sales H. B. Renwick and a load of revenue passengers.

While the first-flight passengers were presented with flowers and souvenir scrolls, the President and Vice-President were greeted officially by local dignitaries including the Israel Director of Civil Aviation, the Canadian ambassador and the President of El Al.

Crew members on the historic first flight to Israel were: Captain R. F. Thorne, Check Captain A. W. Weatherbe, First Officer A. W. Clark, Second Officer R. O. Wilson, Purser M. Ruggiero, Steward F. Saudelli, Stewardesses B. A. Ebster, B. A. Langpap and T. M. Anderson.

President Gilmer arriving on the inaugural flight to Israel. 

Issue dated September 1977

The NetLetter #1519 had quite a history for the DC-8 Fin #608 'Empress of Santiago'.

Here is some information from the 'CP Air News' magazine issued September 1977.

Short-Term Lease of DC-8 To Flying Tigers.

The 'Empress of Santiago', aircraft #608 (CF-CPT) moved to Flying Tiger Line on a temporary lease. The DC-8-55F aircraft was taken out of service on August 30, 1977 for maintenance, removal of seats and galleys and the installation of ground proximity warning system.

The lease commenced on September 17 and runs for three months with the option of extending it to April 1978 if required. During the lease period it will fly in a freighter configuration.

The aircraft will be required by CP Air next spring (1978) in order to maintain the summer schedule.

The Flying Tiger Line required the additional freight capacity of aircraft #608 because of the need to check their fleet of DC-8 series 63 aircraft for spar damage. A similar check was completed on the CP Air DC-8 63 series aircraft earlier this year. Flying Tiger Line has 16 of the series 63 aircraft in its fleet.

Flying Tiger Line is no stranger to CP Air as it leased two DC-8-63 series aircraft from us in 1968/69. The 'Empress of Santiago' has been with CP Air since it was purchased from Braniff International in 1967.

Glasgow - Prestwick
September 1975

Photo courtesy of David A. Montgomery

More from issue dated February 1978

England to purchase DC-8-55F aircraft 'Empress of Santiago'. 

The aircraft has been surplus to fleet plan since September 1977 when it was leased to Flying Tiger Line for use in an air freight configuration.

It is owned by the parent company (C.P. Ltd.) and was purchased from the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967. It was used by CP Air in all-passenger configuration except for a period of time in 1972 when it was converted to passenger/cargo for one Canada - Hong Kong weekly and five times weekly cross Canada Cargo with 69 economy seats.

Under the Letter of Intent the 'Empress' listed as #608 with CP Air was acquired by IAS Cargo Airlines of the U.K in August 1978.

Editors' Note: IAS was renamed British Cargo Airlines and ceased operation in March 1980. The aircraft was stored from March 1980 to February 1982 when it was leased by ANDES of Ecuador and re-registered as HC-BJT.

G-BSKY at Dusseldorf, Germany April 29, 1979

Photo courtesy of Udo Haafke

This photo, by Pierre Gillard, is of Wardair Boeing 747-1D1 c/n 20208 C-FDJC at Gatwick, UK on May 9, 1983. 

Source: QAM magazine issue # 5.

The Ultimate Paper Airplane

Over the last decade, designer Luca Iaconi-Stewart has been building an incredibly detailed model of a Boeing 777, right down to the tiny seats and moving landing gear, using only paper folders and glue.

Posted on the 'Wired' YouTube channel

Here is a photo of Beechcraft 18 CF-MCH at Malton in the summer of 1959. Having started its life in US military colours, it became N6424C.

After the war, then "MCH" in 1956 for Maritime Central Airways (MCA) based at Charlottetown. In 1960, it was acquired by Curran and Briggs, a Toronto public works company which had obtained major contracts during the Second War world to build aerodromes for the RCAF as well as for the Alaska Highway.

After the war, the company obtained other contracts ranging from highway 401 in Ontario to the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador. With such sites everywhere in Canada, using an airplane is obvious. 

However, when the recession began, "MCH" was sold. Subsequently, its destiny was not known, apart from that it was struck off from the registration register in July 1964.

In the photo, "MCH" seems very chic with its aluminum finish brilliant, its white roof and its green forest strips. Note also, the logo of the company present on the nose.

Photo Larry Milberry.​

The Gift of Friendship

We are a different breed, aren't we? We could not have had careers in so-called '9 to 5' jobs. We chose long hours, shift work, working outside in all kinds of weather or working in cylinders high in the air and spending most of our lives with quite a variety of interesting 'characters'. 

Diverse groups of people form a synergy (in the air or on the ground) to work together to load & unload baggage, maintain aircraft, schedule flights and move passengers safely to their destinations. It's the 'characters' that make working in aviation fun and provide the most treasured memories.

For myself, there are no bad memories, I loved working with these characters. Luckily, I have continued many of the friendships formed during my career. 

I have also realized that reaching my senior years, unfortunately, includes saying goodbye to many dear friends. I never met Vesta Stevenson but I did enjoy a long friendship with Alan Rust. As stated in every edition of The NetLetter, their inspiration remains with us.

Below is a photo taken on December 6 of myself, Bob Sheppard and Ken Pickford taken in Richmond, B.C. Ken lives near Geneva but tries to make an annual trip to Vancouver each December to visit with friends. Bob and I were able to join him for lunch at the White Spot restaurant. Terry Baker was unable to join us on this occasion but his presence was definitely felt. 

We are all extremely fortunate to share friendship with over 4,500 NetLetter readers, the most precious gift - and lots of fun! 

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

Click the image to view a PDF copy of a brochure issued in 1964 on the Air Canada base at YUL.

Below is a sampling of photos extracted from the brochure.

From 'Horizons' magazine December 13, 1989

Customer care - Christmas-style