We have welcomed 7 new subscribers so far in 2024.

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!

World Airline Road Race (WARR)

41st World Airline Road Race to be held at Auckland, New Zealand.

Race day Sunday October 6, 2024. Registration opens March 2024.

The World Airline Road Race (WARR) is a not-for-profit society, run by volunteers, who put on an event each year for airline industry professionals from all corners of the world.

Our goal is to provide a worldwide athletic event, promote travel within the airline industry and foster friendships and co-ordination between airlines. The highlights of this four-day event in Auckland, New Zealand, tentative October 4 - 6, 2024, are 5K and 10K run/walks for charity. The 2024 Charity will be Ronald McDonald House Auckland.

Check WorldAirlineRoadRace.com for details.

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds will headline the airshow at EAA AirVenture (Oshkosh) in July 2024.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds have unveiled their 18-city performance schedule for the 2024 season, highlighted with a Canada Day fly-past in Ottawa and a return to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in for the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

The Snowbirds begin their schedule May 18 in Comox, B.C., and will zig-zag across the country, with a July stop in Oshkosh, Wis., as well as a stop at Airshow London SkyDrive in September, before ending the season Oct. 6 in Reno, Nev.

They last performed at EAA AirVenture in 2016. This year they’ve scheduled a public practice session over the grounds of Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh on Friday, July 26, followed by afternoon performances during the daily airshow on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28.

The Snowbirds will be a key part of a year-long celebration of the RCAF’s centennial. April 1, 2024, marks 100 years of service for the RCAF as an independent military element.

Source: Skiesmag.comSkiesmag.com

Click the image below to view a YouTube video

We wish to thank the following subscribers who have sent in a few complimentary comments on our efforts in creating The NetLetter.

In our view, nothing so enjoyable can ever be hard work. It is a pleasure to share memories with our readers.

Thank you so much for putting The NetLetter together, it looks like a lot of work.

I thoroughly enjoy reading all the articles and looking at the pictures of times past.

Trudy Piccirilli,

YVR Passenger Services, 1973 - 2013

I would like to thank you for all your effort to send us so many great and interesting articles. I am in my 21st year of retirement and always read with interest every article of the NetLetter.

Wish you all a Happy New Year.

Alexander Scheu

Wayne, you are doing a super job. Please keep it up. While The NetLetter has excellent articles, I really enjoy your well researched stories. I worked in both areas, maintenance and sitting in the pointy end.

Merry Xmas to you and yours,

Captain Ranald MacDougall ( retired AC )

Submitted by Dave Ayton, 

Back in the day I was trying to get back to my home base in YYZ, on a stand-by pass. In those days at Heathrow, Air Canada and British Airways shared adjacent gates.

Though travelling by myself this particular flight was ram jam packed and getting a seat was very unlikely. Whilst standing at the counter I chanced to glance over to the British Airways gate and I spotted a BA employee I had met once at a party at the home of a friend in Montreal.

She was frantically waving to me and, pushing my way through the crowded gates, I stood before her position at the counter. She must have been able to lipread my predicament at AC's gate because she offered me a ticket to YYZ, 1st class would you believe?

In those days of mutual cooperation between our two airlines, stand-by was reciprocated in the early 80's. I thanked her most profusely and accepting her offer, I dashed off up the stairs to the gate with ticket in hand, departure times were then close together. I cannot now remember her name but I shall always remember her kindness.

Regards Dave Ayton,

formerly CAVT-AME YYZ

Submitted by Andre Lepine,

In your last NetLetter (#1524), that my good friend, Bernie Reid, retired SOC Manager forwarded to me, I am the fellow behind the photo 'Pilots do Windows'.

Indeed, I was a frequent flyer from Calgary, now living in Fernie, British Columbia. Hard to believe that was almost 30 years ago. I was heading home to YYC after a two-week business trip in Europe when I was with Shell Canada.

I went on to a second career as VP Global Sales for an aviation lubricants company in New Jersey. I flew even more miles after that 1994 photo. I now have flown over 1.3 million miles and am member of the Million Miler Group. In all my travels around the world, I knew I was almost home, wherever I was when I would see the Air Canada logo at check-in after a usually very long business trip.

I was not just an Air Canada customer, but Air Canada was also my customer. During my career, Air Canada purchased jet fuel from Shell, I remember dealing with gentleman by the name of John Sosnokowski (sp.??). Air Canada was also a lubricants customer when I was with Royal Lubricants, met many folks at Air Canada then.

My roots and connections go a long way with Air Canada. A cousin, Maurice Labine, now retired at one time was the youngest captain on B-747’s.

I am retired but still consult on aviation lubes, so I still speak with Air Canada folks at various conferences. Three weeks ago, I had lunch with a former school colleague, Carole Trottier, who is a retired FA based a YUL. My next-door neighbour in Fernie and ski friend is a retired FA that was based at YUL and YYC.

I also had a flying career as a commercial pilot (non-airline). My IFR instructor was Ron Distasio, before his Air Canada career he instructed out of CYHU. Now a retired Airbus 330 captain. Even though he trained me almost 40 years ago, I still meet with him whenever I go to Montreal.

So, you see my roots and connections go deep with Air Canada not just a frequent flyer. I can always say 99% of the folks I have met and dealt with from Air Canada over the many years are excellent individuals that have made Air Canada proud.

Best regards,

Andre Labine,
Fernie, British Columbia

Posted by Ivan Rahiman - Air Canada L-1011 advert - 1973.

Editors' Note: Notice the omission of the dash in 'L1011' in the heading. The aircraft is properly identified as 'L-1011' within  the text.

Found in 'Horizons' magazine

Issue dated March 1994

The Winnipeg Reservations Training Department had its hands full training 21 new Customer Sales and Service Agents.

This is the first time since 1989 that Winnipeg has offered basic reservations training classes for new hires.

The Class of '93 included, back row, left to right: Allen Schenkeveld, Leanne Deschenes, Brigitte Bisson, Suzanne Trottier, Pierre Desilets, Phil Ayotte and Instructor Anne Perry.

Second row: Lisa Jonatchick, Krista Friesen, Barbara Ntiamoah, Marjo Hébert, Ian Birt, Patricia Townson, Francine Champagne, Barbara Gmitrowski and Instructor Janet McNutt.

Seated:  Harriet Rosen, Rachelle Grandmont and Instructors Theresa Oye and John Ticzon.

Missing from photo: Janelle Boutin, Jeanine Sarrasin, Rhonda St. John, Belinda Bigold and Kieren Paul.

From 'Regional News' magazine 

Issue dated September / October 1981

NYCers Blitz Big Apple. 

Ask any passenger sales manager in Air Canada what he or she needs to effectively sell our products and services and the most likely response will be: "increase my sales staff".

Now, that might be all right in a different time, a different place, maybe even a different planet. But the way things are today, you've got to do more with what you have and that includes people.

John Finegan, New York, knows this probably more than most. He's trying to tap hundreds of agencies, to reach dozens of interline partners in the vast metropolis, affectionately known as The Big Apple.

And that's tough - even by telephone. But, there are ways. In a program designed by the New York district and funded by corporate sales and employee development, eight staffers out of 46 candidates from NYC reservations and airport sales were selected to participate in an interline and agency sales blitz.

In this photo are the team, from the left, back row: Phillip Bruno, Tom Tricarico and John Finegan.

Front row: Joan Saltanis, Regina Geber, Ed Frazier, Cathy Zoeller, Mona Pennycook and Cathy McKenzie. 

This photo was posted by Susan Fonseca on October 24, 2023.

Graduation class photo from October 1973, Barbara Beale suggested these names as identification in a later post.

Back row, left to right: Arlene Davey (Regeling), Hannah Kobblegard, Barbara Beale, Diana Johnson (Dougherty), David Johnson, Peter Demunck, Marjolaine Charpentier, Rosanna Leman and Colleen O’Pray.

Front row left to right: Gabi O’Brien (Svedic), Sylvia Perolli, Susan Bilton (Fonseca) and Shelley Warne.

Photo and information posted on VintageAirliners.com courtesy of Marlie Kelsey & Roger Collins.

CP Air Vancouver Airport Ticket Counter 1969 - Roger Collins, Dave Stockley, Ed Scromeda, Jim Melidones and Shirley Joe.

Pionairs President, Larry Johns, recently brought the Calgary Mosquito Society to our attention. 

Excerpt from their website:

The Mission of the Calgary Mosquito Society
Retain, Restore, Honour and Educate

The Mosquito:

"Working to preserve the last photo-survey Mosquito"

To serve as stewards for the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, RS700/CF-HMS, owned by the City of Calgary. Our plan is to preserve this important piece of Canadian peace-time aviation history, restore it to static condition as it was when operated by Spartan Air Services in the 1950s and to create materials that will educate the public on the Mosquito aircraft and role aviation has played on the exploration of Canada.

The Hurricane:

To serve as stewards for the Hawker Hurricane, RCAF 5389, owned by the City of Calgary. Our plan is to preserve this important piece of Canadian war-time aviation history, restore it to static condition and to create materials that will educate the public on Canadian's contribution to freedom during the Second World War. 

They have been quite active in YouTube posts so we invite you to view their videos beginning with the video linked to the image below.

Posted by Jim Smith at November 20, 2023.

Montreal Alouettes are flying on a 40 year old Nolinor B-737-200 complete with gravel kitted engines.

The story of Trans-Canada Air Lines Super Constellation –
CF-TGE and World Wide Airways.

From a blog by Larry Milbery at CANAV Books.

In 1964 World Wide Airways acquired ex-TCA Super Connie CF-TGE, which then became CF-RNR flying charters to Cuba and Europe. World Wide had its license revoked in August 1965 and RNR became a storehouse of spares for Nordair.

Late in 1968 a Mr. Ferrand, with visions of opening RNR as a restaurant, moved it about 100 miles to Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, downstream from Montreal. There it languished until purchased in 1985 for $15,000 by Bertrand Camirand. He had a small museum at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli below Quebec, but passed away before RNR was restored.

Here RNR is seen at Brussels along with an Aeroflot Tu-104. Photo by Tim Martin.

Jerry Fotheringham logged 145 hours in World Wide Airways Super Connies in July 1965, landing everywhere from Toronto to Gander, Amsterdam, Barcelona and London. At month's end WWA folded, the victim, Fotheringham recalled, of the R3350 engine.

CF-RNR alone had needed four engine changes that month! Here he sits in the captain's seat of RNR at its "roll-out" on August 22, 1996. RNR survived 35 years of dormancy and was rescued by Super Connie enthusiast Phil Yull, who had it restored for historic display at the Regal Constellation Hotel near Toronto's L.B. Pearson International Airport. 

In August 1996 Jerry Fotheringham and a crowd of fans attended the inauguration at the entrance to the old Constellation Hotel. That's where I met Jerry and got his photo in the Super Connie cockpit.

Later, in November 1997, the fun continued for those who braved a winter storm to attend our Air Transport in Canada book launching at the Constellation. Not surprisingly, Jerry turned up with a crowd of pals who had flown and maintained the 'propliners' of the 40's and 50's and once again sit in a Super Connie cockpit.

This grand Super Connie now is part of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. This is the same plane I suggested to the GTA ages ago that it should get hold of, restore to its TCA glory and hang from the rafters of the then-under-construction YYZ Terminal 1.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the GTA. Meanwhile, an enthusiastic American group led by retired Boeing tech rep, Bob Bogash, got hold of the plane. Thanks to them, today you can see it in its glorious TCA colours, but far from YYZ. 

Editors' Note: CF-TGE now resides at  the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

Following extensive restoration to its original appearance in TCA colours in Rome, New York, it was trucked to the Museum's main campus in 2009.

Photo by Eric Salard @ www.flickr.com

World Wide also operated this DC-4. It was at Malton September 16, 1961 awaiting a load for Havana. It later became OB-R-769 and crashed taking off at Panama City, Panama on August 4, 1965. Photo by Larry Milberry.

CF-PXX, at Prestwick in a nifty night shot, was an old Qantas machine (VH-EAA). It later served in Argentina, where it finally was scrapped. Photo by Wilf White. 

World-Wide Airways was a Canadian airline started in 1947 by Donald McVicar (1915-1997), a former RAF Command pilot.

Based at Montreal's Dorval Airport, it played a key role in massive airlift operations for Hollinger Ungava Transport and the Distant Early Warning Line in Northern Canada.

It also flew livestock and foodstuffs to embargoed Cuba during the 1960's. Its license was revoked in 1965 for political reasons. McVicar's publicized fight with the government led him to be featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1966.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World-Wide_Airways

CP Air Boeing 737-200 - Rare liveries

I'm always interested in aircraft with unusual liveries. While looking at photos of the CP Air B-737 fleet, I came across one that had been leased on several occasions by CP / Canadian from Britannia Airways.

Original registration G-BJCV was originally delivered to Britannia Airways in April 1982 and named for Viscount Trenchard. It seems to have been leased for most of its early lifecycle.

It was leased to CP Air in November 1985 and re-registered as C-GXCP. It flew in the hybrid livery below until returned in January 1986. 

It was again leased to Canadian Airlines in October 1987, this time re-registered as C-GCAU, returned in April 1988. It was then leased briefly to Air Sul of Portugal from January 1989 to April 1990.

Acquired by Ryanair in 1994, it was re-registered as EI-CJC and painted in Hertz special colours (hard to miss!).

It finished its career registered as OB-1839-P flying for Star Perú and Peruvian Airlines from June 2006. Rzjets indicates that it was withdrawn from service in March 2014 and placed in storage. 

View full lifecycle at: www.planespotters.net

C-GXCP - Photo by Gary Vincent 

Vancouver, November 1985

EI-CJC - Photo by Aero Icarus

Ryanair's Hertz 'logojet' taxiing at London Stansted Airport

May 2003

OB-1839-P - Photo by Lazaro Bugosen

Star Perú - at Lima, March 2007

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

Southwest Pilots Ink A Generous Deal.

Boeing’s 747 entered service in 1970 when pilot salaries were so high people joked that the signature hump atop the forward fuselage was designed in so that the captains could sit on their wallets. Based on terms of a new contract (December 20, 2023), Southwest Airlines (SWA) might need to send its fleet of 737s to the body shop for a 747-esque resto-mod. As announced by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), salaries will increase by 50% over five years for what amounts to a cumulative $12 billion dollar agreement for SWA’s 10,000-plus pilots.

The SWA pay hikes will come in increments over the course of the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through 2028. Pilots will realize an immediate raise of 29.15% upon ratification of the agreement, followed up by 4% annual increases over the next three years and a 3.25% increase in 2028. There is also enhanced financial protection for crew members who are unable to fly due to fatigue. Pilots will vote on the deal on January 22, 2024.

Source: AVWeb.com 

Effective February 2, 2023 fees for a British passport.

The fees include those newly applying or renewing their passport.

The fee for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport rose from £86.00 to £94.00 for adults and £56 to £61.00 for children.

Overseas standard paper applications increased from £95.50 to £104.50 for adults and £65.50 to £71.50 for children.

Source: www.gov.uk/government

Our cartoon is by Vince Baroncelli which appeared in the 'Regional News July/August 1981'.

Our hard working cartoonist, Vince Baroncelli, Regional Employee Relations Manager, NYC, celebrated his 25th with the company.

On the left; Viggo Carstensen, Regional Personnel & Administration Manager made the presentation.