Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Found in the "Horizons" magazine dated December 1981.

December 4, 1981 - Opening of new hangar at YYZ. 

The new hangar contained Bays 6 and 7 and was connected on the east side to the original DC-8 hangar (Bays 1 through 5).

 "A" checks on the wide body fleet were done in Bay 6 with Bay 7 later converted for aircraft painting.

The 10th anniversary of the TCA Alumni took place in St. Petersburg, Florida recently. Main speaker was retired Executive V.P. Herb Seagrim.

Clint Morgan, a charter member of the Alumni reminisced on the formation of the organization and noted that it was the brainchild of Chuck Gibson, Bill Fabro and Percy Heffrer.

At head table was members of the executive which were in the middle of their two year term, Gordon Webster, President: Helen Moore, V.P; Jean Webster, Secretary/Treasurer; and Mary Young, Social Director.

Former Alumni President Bill Williamson was present as was George Fox, President of the larger and more formally organized Air Canada Pionairs, who announced the Pionairs annual meeting would be in Anaheim, California, May 14-17, 1982.

Here we have photos of some Vienna staff.

Sales Manager Horst Wurm plows through a stack of waiting documents.

While Senior Secretary Inge Stingl keeps the office running smoothly. 

Senior Passenger Agent Renate Andrea and Cargo Agent Hans Proidl are also part of the Vienna staff.

The Toronto chapter of the Pionairs held its first annual pre-Christmas function at the Old Mill on November 24th.

Seventy retirees and spouses were in attendance to listen to reports from District Director Gord Smith who introduced Pionairs President George Fox, V.P. Bill Spratt and Montreal District Director Evelyn Desjardins.

Saint John held a reception and dinner in late 1981 to honour 4 employees celebrating 120 years of service. Bob Taylor (20), Paul Mitchell (30), Bill Scott (35), Denise Richardson (35). Also in attendance were Airport Manager Jim Henderson and Saint John Manager Dave Russell. We have this photo of the group.

The first of a series of charter flights landed in Honolulu on November 3rd, 1981 carrying 156 happy passengers. The aircraft used was an L1011-500. On arrival Station Manager Alan Lock presented the female flight attendants with orchid leis.

Shown in the photo from the left, front row are: Flight Service Director Trev Trower; Flight Attendants Marg Walbank and Alix McNeilly; Alan Lock and Flight Attendant Margaret Redfern.

Back row: Second Officer Larry Obrien; Flight Attendant Kathy Gass; First Officer Lin Wolfe; Flight Attendant Sophie Szarek; Supervisor Mannie Eiberger; Flight Attendants Pat Ostrander and Betty Fasche; Captain A. Shaw, and Flight Attendant Marian Denyes.

This photo, taken in 1944, shows a different insignia for TCA. The insignia shows two speedbirds above the letters TCA, and a different shape from the standard speedbird.

In the photo are, from the left: Bill English, Jack Dyment, O.T. Hill of the British MOA and O.T. Larson.

Working start-up on the ramp at YYZ. (used with permission)

It’s 7:15 a.m. on April 25. On this day, the sun is peeking through the clouds on the ramp in Toronto. Airplanes are arriving and departing. At Air Canada, 6 - 9 a.m. is known as "start-up". It’s an important part of the day as safe, on-time departures from the start typically result in a smooth operation for the rest of the day.

Meet the crew (left to right): Doug Riseborough, Station Attendant; Gino Fazari, Station Attendant; Rick Brown, Station Attendant; Brian Burns, Lead Station Attendant; Vic Trento, Station Attendant.

Their day started earlier this morning. They’ve completed the departure of Chicago-bound AC501.