Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995
June 22, 2024
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Quebecair C-GQBG - DC-8-54F
Photographed by Caz Caswell
Toronto, January 1, 1986
Used with permission
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Dear
Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees.
We have evolved into the longest running aviation-based newsletter for Air Canada, TCA, CP Air, Canadian Airlines and all other Canadian-based airlines that once graced the skies.
The NetLetter is self-funded and is always free to subscribers. It is operated by a group of volunteers and is not affiliated with any airline or associated organizations.
The NetLetter is published on the second and fourth weekend of each month.
If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, and vintage aviation photos, especially as it relates to Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines International and their constituent airlines, then we're sure you'll enjoy this newsletter.
Please note: We do our best to identify and credit the original source of all content presented. However, should you recognize your material and are not credited; please advise us so that we can correct our oversight.
Our website is located at www.TheNetLetter.net
Please click the links below to visit our archives and for more info about The NetLetter.
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 We have welcomed 64 new subscribers so far in 2024.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
Restoration and posting of archive issues is an ongoing project. We hope to post every issue back to the beginning in 1995.
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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.
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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Budapest, Hungary
September 5 - 8, 2024
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Budapest is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the largest city on the Danube river.
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Shirlee Schacter shares this information and photos -
The Friends of Front St. (FoFS) group held their 20th Reunion on May 11th, 2024 at the Irish Shebeen Pub in Etobicoke, Ontario.
While these reunions were usually an annual event, this 20th had been a long time coming for obvious reasons. Judging from the happy faces it was worth the wait. Everyone had a good time catching up with friends and colleagues from their working days in the Computer & Systems Services (C&SS) Branch of Air Canada which was located at 151 Front St. W. in Toronto.'
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Susan (Lee) Garnet
& Shirlee Schacter |
Linda Haywood, Brigitte Comier
& Roman Klein |
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Tim Malloy, Liveen Richards
& Milton Bertrand |
Ted Zubek & Annie Matusiak |
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Mel D'Mello, Sylvia Adams,
Cathy Chamandy & Colleen Salokannel |
Linda Haywood & Jeannie Lindo |
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Bob Haywood, Brian Speed, Bruce Castator
& (NetLetter photo contributor) George Trussell
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C&SS Group plus some Gemini/Galileo Alumni
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Continuation of the trip by Pierre Gillard of Musée de l'aérospatiale du Québec (MAQ) from YUL to Dawson City.
Sunday March 24, 2024.
My friend Brent has some contacts in the aviation community in the Vancouver area, so we were invited to walk around the docks where the seaplanes of Harbour Air and affiliated companies depart and arrive.
We were given a life jacket and we were free to photograph whatever we wanted.
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C-GHAS - De Havilland Canada DHC-3T
Harbour Air
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C-FODH - De Havilland Canada DHC-3T
Harbour Air
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C-GHAN - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Harbour Air
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C-FLAP - De Havilland Canada DHC-3T
Saltspring Air
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C-FHRT - De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Gulf Island Seaplanes |
C-FPCG - De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Seair Seaplanes |
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At Vancouver airport later, we viewed various types of aircraft.
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C-FPCU - Saab 340B
Pacific Coastal
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C-GPCQ - Saab 340A
Pacific Coastal |
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Monday March 25, 2024.
The hotel shuttle took me to the Vancouver airport in a few minutes. At check-in, there were a few people at the Air North counters, but ultimately, the process went well.
There were also people at security, but, once again, it's pretty smooth and after about 10 minutes, I go to gate B18 where our flight 4N-554 to Whitehorse will depart.
I see that there were many opportunities for photography at the Vancouver airport. I set up near gate B18 so that I could photograph the arrival of our plane (photos below).
This one is the Boeing 737-55D, C-GANU, a good old 500 model from the time when the Seattle manufacturer did things more or less correctly. Boarding took place in a well-organized manner and I noticed that the passengers respected the instructions, which is becoming increasingly rare in our uncivil world.
I have seat 8E and I'm stuck between two strong guys, like lumberjacks or mine workers. So I won't be able to take photos during the flight. The plane is full.
A few minutes late, we leave gate B18 for takeoff on runway 26R. In flight the service is impeccable. The hostesses come by once to serve drinks, a second time to offer a ham or turkey sandwich, a third time with a warm chocolate chip cupcake and finally, a fourth time again with drinks.
And then, it is already time to begin our descent. After a flight of just under two hours, we landed in Whitehorse. Yukon, here I come!
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C-GANU - Boeing 737-55D,
Air North
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Tuesday March 26, 2024.
Today I'm leaving for Dawson City. The hotel shuttle takes me to the Whitehorse airport where my baggage check-in is instantaneous.
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C-FVGP - ATR-42-300 - Air North
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From the NetLetter archives -
Memories of C & SS at Dorval by Terry Baker.
In the 70's & 80's, the Computer & Systems Services (C & SS) group were accommodated in a room over the wash bay of the Dorval maintenance complex.
My memory of the people there were Bill Heska, Manager; Bob Bishop, Senior Supervisor; Bob Belding & Shirley Graham.
A visiting system analyst built a model Viscount and donated it to me. I fixed a three bladed propeller on its nose and coloured it red, blue and green. This was used to signal to Bob Bishop the mood of Shirley each morning!
Later our group was moved into a room near the Purchasing & Supply accommodations. This room did not have any outside window and was very dreary. We nicknamed the room 'Happy Valley'.
After the computer building was completed, the group moved onto the second floor with an airy open-plan concept and windows on three sides. In the centre were several meeting rooms.
I recall the following personnel:
Bill Downard, Director; Maryse ?, Secretary; Ken Taylor, Manager; Andy McCready; Ray Valois; Joe Mallory; Aron Charad; Al Kurys; Bob Herron; Roger Rouse; Edna Morrison; Lois Morrison (who ran a messy desk, smoked and beat the guys in the hockey pool); Jim Pearce; Hans Parnigoni; Guy Langavin; Bonnie Alexander; Sheldon Doskie; Mike Duff; Anne Marie Stiegler; Barry Bogert; Lilian ?; Steve Charlton (who organized car rallies); Norman Roberts; Kevin Boyle (proud owner of a DAF 600 car) and Brian Ward.
Editors' Note: We contacted Bob Belding in YUL and he advised of a few more names from the era: Ed Mason, Harold Macdonald, Gord Pope, Marty Hill, Tony Spina, Marty Hill, and Maeve Morrison sister of Lois Morrison.
We also found the photo below in the March 1979 issue of Horizons.
If any of the people mentioned above are NetLetter subscribers and have any photos or additional info to share, we would love to hear from you.
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Seated are S. Graham, left and R. Clermont.
Standing, from the left to right are: NetLetter editor, Terry Baker, R. Heramchuk, Project Leader, F. Deschenes-Renaud, P. Williams, M. Castonguay, R. Stuart, G. Belanger, R. Allard and B. Bogert.
Missing from the photo are: E. Masson, R. Belding, R. Legere and Systems Analysts in Purchasing & Supply E. Black and G. Kobor.
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Editors' Note: In context of a past era, with smaller aircraft cabins, this article appeared in the October 1946 issue of 'Between Ourselves' -
Taller Stewardesses for Larger Planes.
In 1946, with the introduction by TCA of the North Star, good things may come in small packages, but who will say a word against larger ones?
Somehow, the tidings that new TCA stewardesses may henceforth be an inch taller than previously strikes an enthusiastic chord.
Although we know that these renowned girls already approach perfection, we are still great believers in variety.
From now on, TCA will accept stewardesses up to five feet six inches, with, the minimum remaining the same at five feet. Weight limitations still draw the line at 125 pounds.
These larger aircraft of ours seem to bring blessings innumerable.
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Air Canada has renewed its partnership as the Official Airline of Team Canada.
The new agreement, showcasing the airline's deep passion for sport and commitment to sharing the best of Canada with the world, extends through the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and includes Paris 2024.
Adding to the excitement, Air Canada also unveiled at an event in Toronto a Boeing 777 with a special livery to transport Team Canada Olympians and Paralympians, coaches and support staff to and from the Games.
Click the image below to view the video posted on the Air Canada YouTube channel.
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 for the latest posts at the Air Canada Media Centre. |
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 Click the logo to open the Air Canada YouTube channel. |
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Issue dated February 1972
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You'll be in good hands.
During 1972, if you had an accident in Saint John, New Brunswick several employees had completed a course in First Aid conducted by G. J. Doucet, Regional Supervisor of First Aid for CNR, Moncton, and are shown proudly displaying their certificates.
From the left are: Norm Duffley, Wilma Ross, Frank Foley, Colleen Appt, Jim Smith, Joan King and Ken Sparks.
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Photos from the 'Teamsters' magazine by Tony Ludica - Boston 1983 -
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Boston has been served by TCA/Air Canada since 1947. Here is a DC-9 (fin# 729) being refuelled after a flight from Halifax in 1983.
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Climbing the stairs are, Customer Service Agents Frank Nuzzo, Susan Guarino and Betty Mandracchia.
See below for a pic of the same trio inside the aircraft.
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Standing in the cockpit is Gaetan Jolicoeur.
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Taking an order on the phone we have Dorothy Roberts, Customer Cargo Agent.
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 Len Cote, Cargo Agent sends an order on his 'CRT'.
Editors' Note: CRT (cathode-ray tube) was a common term used to refer to the original computer terminals used in 1980's.
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Dotti Scandone, Cargo Agent makes a copy of a document.
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Lead Agent Rick Clark (left) smiles as Republic Lead Agent Tex Hansen gets a call in the office. Tony Ludica looks on.
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Checking the comfort of the DC-9 passenger seats are Frank Nuzzo, Susan Guarino and Betty Mandracchia
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Vice President William Lyden chats with District Manager John Finegan, Maurice Simoneau, Cargo Sales and Service Manager and Steward Tony Ludica.
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Looking over flight orders are George O'Brien, Aircraft Service Coordinator, with pilots Don Nattress and Gary White.
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Waiting to help customers, are Customer Service Agents Florence Staples, Dee Cameron and Adriana Nassor.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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Continuation of the DC-6 story started in NetLetter #1531 through 1535.
Northwest Territorial Airways.
Like Wardair, Northwest Territorial Airways was another company founded by a bush pilot, on this occasion an experienced aviator named Robert Engle, and was also based at Yellowknife and was a competitor of Wardair. Bob Engle also wanted to introduce larger aircraft into his fleet, and he acquired DC-3's and two DC-6's, our subject CF-CZZ and DC-6A CF-NWY.
Their main activity was to transport cargo and supplies in support of mining, oil and gas industry operations throughout the Northwest Territories. According to Mr. Engle, "the DC-6 is a wonderful bush plane, that does everything, and more than a DC-3 could do."
In November 1972 CF-CZZ was ferried from Yellowknife via Calgary to Tucson, Arizona. The purpose of the trip was to have time-expired components overhauled. 
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From the "Canadian Pacific Airlines NEWSLETTER" magazine.
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Issue dated July 17, 1963
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Vancouver to Tokyo in 8:28
A new trans-Pacific record from Vancouver to Tokyo of 8 hours 28 minutes was established July 3, 1963 by Captain Craig Stevenson and his crew in DC-8 Fin #603. It eclipsed the previous record of 8:50 set by Captain Cec McNeal in January.
Average speed for the flight of almost 5,000 miles was 590 miles per hour at altitudes ranging up to 35,000 feet. Navigator Joe Nowazek said there were tail winds of over 100 mph during the last two hours. Captain Stevenson explained that crews do not set out to establish records, but follow standard operating procedures. When favorable winds are around, it is more efficient and economical to take the fullest advantage of them.
Record-breaking crew on return to Vancouver:
From left; Judy Inamasu, Carol Shim-Ozawa, W. Tu (replaced steward Frank Ling at Hong Kong), Navigator Joe Nowazek, First Officer Rick Kilburn, Captain Craig Stevenson, Second Officer Gordon Richardson, Purser Arnie Roeske, Joanne Louie (trainee stewardess) and Edith Underhill.
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From 'Contact' magazine issued January 2000
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Maintenance and Engineering launched a new and improved Machine Shop at the east end of Vancouver Ops Centre in November 1999.
Editors' Note: People in the photo are not identified in the original. Do you recognize anyone?
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Canada’s First Air Traffic Control Tower Celebrates 85th Anniversary.
 It was in 1939 that the first air traffic control tower was built in Canada, and Nav Canada celebrated its 85th anniversary at the Saint-Hubert airport.
Within a year of its opening, the tower's workload increased dramatically in 1940 as the airport in the Montreal suburb was made into a military training base to support Canada's Second World War effort.
The airport has marked several milestones over the years, including the hosting of a stopover in 1985 for the Paris to New York air race. Transport Canada had just built and opened a new control tower.
In 2004 Transport Canada ownership of the airport was turned over to Développement de l'aéroport Saint-Hubert de Longueuil (DASH-L).
Last year Porter Airlines of Toronto announced plans to build a passenger terminal at the airport, and earlier this year DASH-L announced the renaming of the airport to the Montreal Metropolitan Airport, or 'the MET', for short.
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 Interestingly, the tower mentioned above was not the first tower built on those grounds. Going back to England in 1926, Canada's then prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie-King, was attending the Imperial Conference in London. At that time, Britain was proposing an airship service for the British Empire and wanted Canada to contribute an airship base.
So, the first tower built on this site was a 208-foot-tall mooring tower, completed in May 1930. It hosted His Majesty's Airship (an R-100 airship) in 1930, at that time the largest airship in the world. This led to the establishment of the country’s first aerodrome at Saint-Hubert to serve nearby Montreal, at that time Canada's largest city.
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The airship stayed in Canada for 13 days, touring various locations in Quebec and Ontario.
Three times longer than a Boeing 747, it could carry 100 passengers in a level of luxury more associated with first class travel on trains and ocean liners of that period.
The photo includes the Canadian Bank of Commerce building in Toronto, tallest building in the British Empire when it opened in 1931 and until 1962 when the Place Ville Marie tower in Montreal took that title as tallest in the Commonwealth for some years.
More on that Toronto building here:
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After a journey of 79 hours over the Atlantic, it was on August 1, 1930 that the British airship R-100 reached its mooring at Saint-Hubert airport.
The mast was specially built for the occasion by Canadian Vickers. Some 40,000 people turn out to see its arrival. But in total, it is said that no fewer than a million curious onlookers came to see the flying behemoth up until August 14 1930.
Three thousand of them will also have the opportunity to visit it. A railway station had even been set up on the edge of the airport especially for the occasion and La Bolduc "hits it big" with her song 'Toujours R100'. That's how much excitement there was!
 So, to perpetuate the memory of this unforgettable visit, our friends of the Fondation Aérovision Québec created a commemorative wall plaque. The central consists of a piece of canvas from the collection of Dr. Jean-Claude Marcoux.
Photo by Philippe Bernard and Pierre Gillard.
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Quebecair DC-8's
In 1984 Quebecair, in an effort to enter the transatlantic charter market, leased two Douglas DC-8-63's. Also, in July 1985, they leased one DC-8-54F to try to enter the air cargo market.
These attempts to increase revenue were not successful and, by July of 1986, Quebecair was acquired by CP Air and the three aircraft were returned to the lessors. The two passenger aircraft would then be leased to start up charter carrier Nationair until the early 1990's.
C-GQBA and C-GQBF (photos below) were both originally delivered to Iberia in 1970, leased to Aviaco in 1981 (both airlines headquartered in Spain) and then to Arrow Air in the U.S. in 1983. Quebecair acquired both in May and November of 1984, respectively. Both aircraft would to be converted to cargo configuration and continue to fly until the early 2000's until scrapped.
C-GQBG (pictured in the issue's header) actually began life as CF-TJR, a Douglas DC-8-54F Jet Trader, (pictured below) with Air Canada in March 1966.
It was sold to United Air Leasing in March 1984 and also briefly flew for Arrow Air. Sadly, it crashed on February 15, 1992 on approach to Kano International Airport (Nigeria) while flying for MK Air Cargo d'Or of Ghana.
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CF-TJR (fin #818) at Frankfurt May 24, 1980
Photo courtesy of Jan Buisman
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C-GQBF - Paris May 1985
Photo courtesy of Alain Iger
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C-GQBF in transition livery from Quebecair to Nationair livery
Montreal - October 1986
Photo courtesy of Pierre Langlois
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C-GQBF after repainting in Nationair livery
Paris, France - June 1989
Photo courtesy of Felix Goetting
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N821AX (formerly C-GQBF) in its final Airborne Express livery
Minneapolis - St. Paul International - September 2000
Photo courtesy of Felix Goetting
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Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips |
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 Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.
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A few last flight updates.
Air Canada said good-bye to the B-767-200 on November 2, 2008 with flight 156, the red-eye from Vancouver to Toronto, our last commercial flight operated with this aircraft.
Air Canada's Rapidair flight AC439 from Montreal to Toronto on June 2, 2020 marked the end of an era as the airline retired the last aircraft from its mainline Boeing 767-300 fleet.
Air Canada took delivery of C-GAUB (fin #601), the first of our B-767-200's, in October 1983 and had a total of 23 aircraft in this fleet. Throughout its lifetime, C-GAUB logged more than 82,200 hours of flying. That's the equivalent of flying around the world approximately 1,745 times. It was broken up in March 2009. The company continues to operate 8 B-767-300's in cargo configuration.
Flight 865 from London-Heathrow to Montreal on November 20, 2008 marked Air Canada's last "four-engine" commercial flight operated with the A340.
Air Canada took delivery of the first of 12 A340-313's, C-FTNQ (fin #981), on June 5, 1995. One A340-312 previously with Air Mauritius and Air Jamaica was also operated from 2005 to 2007, as well as two very long range A340-541's.
Of the 15 A340's operated by AC, only one appears to remain in service, a VIP aircraft with the Government of Iran after at least five other operators since being returned to the lessor by AC in 2002 after only three years in AC service, then registered C-GDVV. The others have almost all been scrapped, with a couple shown as stored or withdrawn from service.
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From the NetLetter archives -
The first flight of the Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic Air Service (CGTAS) roared eastward over the ocean on July 22, 1943 with its Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) crew.
Twelve hours and 26 minutes after taking the air with official passengers and a load of mail for the Canadian Armed Forces Overseas, it had landed on the other side, a new record for a non-stop trans-Atlantic flight from Montreal to Britain, bettering the old mark by 25 minutes.
The first return flight was on July 24, 1943.
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Imagine in 1946 - This posted notice -
Plusses please note space east of Montreal is very, very poor at present. However, if you get this far, we can usually put you in the Dorval Inn at the airport, for a night or two at $1.00 per night.
This comes as a pleasant surprise these days, when $4.00 and $5.00 a day is not an uncommon charge for a hotel room.
Editors' Note: At the time, 'Plusses' was a term used for contingent passengers. After loading the full revenue passengers, 'Plusses' (or Standbys) could be loaded.
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Issue dated June 1997
By Don Rice
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Contributing photographer, Caz Caswell, shares a few more of his cartoons from the YYZ 'Airport News' as originally published in 1992.
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Wayne, Ken & Terry
Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph)
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Wayne, Bob & Ken
Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph)
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We wish to honur the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust.
They remain a part of every edition published.
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E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted):
The historical information as well as any other information provided in the "NetLetter" is subject to correction and may have changed over time.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
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