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The NetLetter # 1536

The NetLetter # 1536

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The NetLetter #1536

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995

June 22, 2024

 ‍ ‍ ‍

Quebecair C-GQBG‍

Quebecair C-GQBG‍ - DC-8-54F

Photographed by Caz Caswell

Toronto, January 1, 1986

Used with permission

Dear  ‍

 

Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees. 
 

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new subscriber 200wWe 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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We invite you to visit our website at www.thenetletter.net  and select 'NetLetter Archives'.
 
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.
 
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Coming Events

aviation football cup emblem
Budapest, Hungary
September 5 - 8, 2024
 
 
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.
 
Full details available at: www.aviationcup.com/budapest2024

Submitted Photos

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.'
 
tmb 250 fofs 1 tmb 250 fofs 2
Susan (Lee) Garnet
& Shirlee Schacter
Linda Haywood, Brigitte Comier
& Roman Klein
tmb 250 fofs 3 tmb 250 fofs 7
Tim Malloy, Liveen Richards
& Milton Bertrand
Ted Zubek & Annie Matusiak
tmb 250 fofs 6 tmb 250 fofs 4
Mel D'Mello, Sylvia Adams,
Cathy Chamandy & Colleen Salokannel
Linda Haywood & Jeannie Lindo
tmb 550 fofs 5
 
Bob Haywood, Brian Speed, Bruce Castator
& (NetLetter photo contributor) George Trussell
 
tmb 550 fofs 8
 
C&SS Group plus some Gemini/Galileo Alumni
 

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.
 
tmb 250 yvr harbour air tmb 250 yvr harbour air 1
C-GHAS - De Havilland Canada DHC-3T
Harbour Air
C-FODH - De Havilland Canada DHC-3T
Harbour Air
tmb 250 yvr harbour air 2 tmb 250 yvr slaltspring air
C-GHAN - Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Harbour Air
C-FLAP - De Havilland Canada DHC-3T
Saltspring Air
tmb 250 yvr gulf island tmb 250 yvr seair seaplanes
C-FHRT - De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Gulf Island Seaplanes
C-FPCG - De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Seair Seaplanes
 
At Vancouver airport later, we viewed various types of aircraft.
 
tmb 250 yvr pacific central tmb 250 yvr pacific central. 1
C-FPCU - Saab 340B
Pacific Coastal
C-GPCQ - Saab 340A
Pacific Coastal

 
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!
 
tmb 250 yxy air north
C-GANU - Boeing 737-55D, 
Air North
 
tmb 250 yxy atr 42 air north
 
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. 
C-FVGP - ATR-42-300 - Air North

Remember When

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 McCreadyRay ValoisJoe MalloryAron CharadAl KurysBob HerronRoger RouseEdna 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.
 

tmb 550 CSS Horizons 524 15May79
 
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.

Women in Aviation

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.

Air Canada News

tmb 550 go canada go 1
 
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.
 
tmb 550 go canada go

for the latest posts at the Air Canada Media Centre.

Click the logo to open the Air Canada YouTube channel. 

TCA / AC People Gallery

Between Ourselves 70
 
Issue dated February 1972
 
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.
 
tmb 550 saint john safety

 
Photos from the 'Teamsters' magazine by Tony Ludica - Boston 1983 -
 
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.
 
tmb 550 boston dc 9 fin 729

tmb 250 boston staff
 
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.
 

tmb 250 boston gaetanjolicoeur
 
Standing in the cockpit is Gaetan Jolicoeur.

tmb 250 boston dorothy roberts
Taking an order on the phone we have Dorothy Roberts, Customer Cargo Agent.

tmb 250 boston lencoteLen 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.

tmb 250 boston dotti scandone
 
Dotti Scandone, Cargo Agent makes a copy of a document.

Lead Agent Rick Clark (left) smiles as Republic Lead Agent Tex Hansen gets a call in the office. Tony Ludica looks on.
 
tmb 550 boston rick clark tony ludica

Checking the comfort of the DC-9 passenger seats are Frank Nuzzo, Susan Guarino and Betty Mandracchia
 
boston nuzzoguarinomandraccha

Vice President William Lyden chats with District Manager John Finegan, Maurice Simoneau, Cargo Sales and Service Manager and Steward Tony Ludica.
 
tmb 550 boston lyden,finegan,simoneau,ludica

Looking over flight orders are George O'Brien, Aircraft Service Coordinator, with pilots Don Nattress and Gary White.
 
boston obrien,nattrass,white

Waiting to help customers, are Customer Service Agents Florence Staples, Dee Cameron and Adriana Nassor.
 
boston staples,cameron,nassor

CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery

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. read more120t
tmb 550 CF CZZ NWT

tmb info canadian

From the "Canadian Pacific Airlines NEWSLETTER" magazine.
 
Issue dated July 17, 1963
 
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.
 
tmb 550 cpa record yvr tyo crew

From 'Contact' magazine issued January 2000
 
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?
 
tmb 550 cpa shop 740

Odds & Ends

 
Canada’s First Air Traffic Control Tower Celebrates 85th Anniversary​.
 
Excerpt from canadianaviator.com
 
tmb 250 saint hubert towerIt 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.

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.

 
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:
 
 
 

Extracted from Newsletter #18 of the Quebec Aerospace Museum.

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.
 

Wayne's Wings

wayne albertson articles

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. 
 
tmb 550 cf tjr Buisman
 
CF-TJR (fin #818) at Frankfurt May 24, 1980
 
Photo courtesy of Jan Buisman
 

tmb 550 C GQBF Quebecair 
 C-GQBF - Paris May 1985
 
Photo courtesy of Alain Iger
 

tmb 550 C GQBF Quebecair Nationair
 
C-GQBF in transition livery from Quebecair to Nationair livery
Montreal - October 1986
 
Photo courtesy of  Pierre Langlois
 

tmb 550 C GQBF Nationair
 
C-GQBF after repainting in Nationair livery
Paris, France - June 1989
 
Photo courtesy of Felix Goetting
 

tmb 550 N821AX Airborne Express
 N821AX (formerly C-GQBF) in its final Airborne Express livery
Minneapolis -  St. Paul International - September 2000
 
Photo courtesy of Felix Goetting

Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips

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

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.
 

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. 

Smileys 

Canadian Flyer
 
Issue dated June 1997
By Don Rice
 
tmb 550 1 3 Jun 1997 1502

 
Contributing photographer, Caz Caswell, shares a few more of his cartoons from the YYZ  'Airport News' as originally published in 1992. 
 
tmb 550 top gun cartoon 01 may92

tmb 550 top gun cartoon 02 apr92

The NetLetter Team

Wayne, Ken Terry

Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph)


Wayne, Bob & Ken

Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph)


We wish to honur the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust.

They remain a part of every edition published.

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