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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 866 Dec 12th., 2004. We first published in October 1995.
Circulation: 2700+
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
To get in touch with either editor/pilot our email address is
To make changes to your e-mail address or unsubscribe please
send information to
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NetLetter readers.
Be Prepared in the New Year 2005.
This post is to warn you that there will be changes in the way Terry and I
bring
The NetLetter to you via email.
Our webmaster Alan Rust, who has been giving us (Terry and I) his services
Gratis
for the past ten years will be upgrading his ACFamily Network and with that
so will we. Probably in the future your reading of the NetLetter will be
directly
off the ACFN forums and not via Electronic mail packets etc. On your part,
this just means that you will have to register yourselves (if you haven't
already done so) on ACFN and read the from the NetLetter in the Netletter
forums. FYI, I (or rather my alias) has been uploading the NetLetter in
ACFN for a number of years.
So it's been there all along for you to read.
FYI you don't need an email address to read anything on ACFN website
you only need to register so this saves the extra work involved in making
email changes.
Please advise me if this new procedure will be difficult for you to
accomplish.
BTW you can test this out at anytime.
Vesta and Terry for the NetLetter.
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. Need to know.
Holiday time makes employee travel difficult. Regardless of which
destination you’re thinking about visiting, please be aware that
employee travel will be difficult for the next few weeks. From Dec. 15
to Jan. 15, flight loads on many international and sun destinations
will be full with both passengers and cargo. If you intend to travel,
be prepared for the possibility that you may not make it to your
destination, or may not be able to return home with ease. Loads during
this holiday period are high and while a flight may show open seats, it
doesn’t guarantee you will be boarded as cargo will take priority over
pass riders. Therefore, you’re encouraged to consider shopping around
for other travel choices. Be prepared rather than sorry. Buy ZED fare
tickets on other carriers before leaving home, they can always be refunded
if not used.
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Jim Murray sends this info -
Just FYI,
Fed Ex in Burnaby, BC will not accept anything for Interline shipping,
(their term for retiree shipping) on a weekend. I found out the hard way
after calling the Fed Ex 1-800 # where I was told no problem. Fed Ex will
not give you the individual shipping point phone #s so it is hard to check
specific locations. Perhaps Burnaby is an individual case, I am not sure,
but you might want to ship on a weekday just in case.
Their service is space available but my experiences have been very good.
Regards, Jim Murray
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Robert’s book making a difference for DTF. Employees are snapping up copies
of Robert’s book “Straight from the Top” and Dreams Take Flight is reaping
the benefit. While all Robert’s personal royalties are being donated to
Dreams. So far, over 700 books have been sold this way and the net proceeds
now tally up to $3,500. “On behalf of Dreams Take Flight,” said Beverly
Watson, President, Dreams Take Flight Canada, “I would like to express my
thanks to all the employees and retirees who, by buying this book, are
supporting this wonderful charity. Also, a huge thanks to Micheline
Villeneuve, Coordinator Provincial Government and Community Relations, who
ensures the books are signed by Robert and delivered.” To place an order,
check www.achorizons.ca.
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. George Brien sends this piece of history -
Stephenville NL (A.K.A. "Harmon Field)
Trans-Canada Airlines first began service into this Station
in Sept 1949 and TCA/AC continued service to this western NL
airport until 1989.
The land for the airport, about 8,000 acres, was leased to the US
Government on a 99 year lease in 1940. Construction began in 1941 and when
finished, it was the largest US Army Air Force Base outside of the
Continental USA. Its main mission to handle and service Trans-Atlantic
flights for the US Military.
Some history and pictures http://www.town.stephenville.nf.ca/march5.html
By 1950, the runway was extended to 10,000ft and the base was reported to
be "one of the most elegant on any overseas military installation".
Trans-Canada Airlines began service into Stephenville (YJT) on Sept 1 1949.
The aircraft was likely the "North Star" Flight 400 ? which was already
running the milk run YYZ/YUL/YQM/YQY/YQX/YYT.
It was four years later when I first saw YJT. It was a 2 month Regional
Spare assignment in the late fall of 1954.
The USAF base was very impressive and lived up to its "most Elegant " title
and TCA had space
in their "Terminal Bldg". The Nfld staff were great people to work with.
Downtown Stephenville was a bit of a disappointment however,
Click here and you will see why.
http://www.pinetreeline.org/photos/stephe/steph374.jpg
On a rainy day, the main street was really muddy!!
The Station Manager at the time was Henry F "Hank" Holand
and Opns Agents name that I can recall included Walter March, Bill Payn,
Earl Young, Vern Oake, Neil Dingwall.
The Station was quite busy, with lots of GI's heading out on leave etc.
along with the regular western NL travellers to and from YYZ etc.
The Air Cargo traffic inbound was very heavy as most of the stores,
especially fresh veg/fruit and meat, were supplied from wholesalers in
Sydney NS.
A DC3 was often flown in overnight from YQY. Seat loaded full of Cargo.
Especially near Xmas with all the Eatons parcels arriving.
As access to the base was restricted, TCA had a small office just outside
the main gate for handling
Air Cargo and ticketing for the non US personnel.
Ticketing etc for base personnel was all handled at the terminal. In
addition, all reservations for western Newfoundland were done from this
location. As there were no Sales staff at this station, all functions were
the responsibility of the Operations Agents.
It was quite unique for a Canadian Airline to be operating out of a USAF
controlled Air Base but it appeared to work well.
My time there was very short but hopefully some readers can fill in some
more details as there seems to be very little info available about this
TCA/Air Canada station.
p.s. The Main street was paved at last in the mid 50's .
In 1957, Dept. of Transport built a separate Terminal Building
for TCA.
1966- The USAF closed the base and it was sold back , including all the
buildings/infrastructure for one $dollar.
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The best part of buying a CABIN FEVER calendar is knowing that every dollar
of the $20 purchase price goes to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
to help fund cancer research and patient care.
“CABIN FEVER” features flight attendants who are fun, fabulous, and
fifty-ish in playful but tasteful photos in their work environment. All net
proceeds from the sale of the calendars, at $20 each, will be donated to
cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Below is the web address at which CABIN FEVER calendars can be mail
ordered. There is no charge for shipping and handling and no tax - a flat
$20 per calendar.
http://www.pmhf-uhn.ca/html/events/whatson.asp
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. Found on the internet.
Ryanair, Europe's No. 1 low fares airline, today gave the people of
Luton an early Christmas present, when it announced an incredible 50,000
FREE* SEATS ON ALL ROUTES FROM LUTON
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. Terry's travel tips.
Following comment from Jean Lukan
We had a great trip but apart from boasting to you we travelled business
class Singapore Airlines and all airline execs should do that to see how it
really should be done - everything was first class for us and all confirmed
so hard to tell airline people about it and for me after standby for 25
years was excellent. Jean
Air Only - Honolulu from $259
For a limited time only we are offering confirmed air from Los Angeles to
Honolulu Travel between Jan. 10 and March 10, 2005 Mon - Thursday and Save!
Airline taxes are additional. Add hotels, car rentals, island hopping and
more! At these prices, this offer won't last long!
Honolulu 5 Days/ 4 Nights with confirmed air from $349* Friends & Family
Eligible!
Call 1 800 422 3727 for more information
Airline employees and retirees are reminded that in order to
participate in one of the WACA events listed below, they must be members of
an interline/airline club affiliated with WACA or be WACA members-at-large.
DATE NAME OF EVENT HOST CLUB DEADLINE COST PPD
MAR11-21 Thailand Excursion THAILAND 01 FEB
US$650
21-28 China Capitals Tour THAILAND 01 FEB US$650
APR 03-09 WACA Ski Week 2005 BASLE/ZURICH 01 DEC CHF780
20-24 Friendship Weekend RHEIN-MAIN TBA
TBA
24-29 Fun in the Sun TRINIDAD/TOBAGO 15 MAR US$590
MAY 09-19 Discover China Tour HONG KONG 24 FEB US$1243
12-15 Sunshine Break FLORIDA 10 JAN
US$320
14-17 Visit to Lebanon LEBANON TBA
TBA
15-20 Wine Tour VANCOUVER TBA TBA
TBA Kenya Safari NAIROBI TBA TBA
22-26 Aphrodite Tour CYPRUS 20 APR CYP200
26-29 Visit to Spitzbergen OSLO 01 APR
US$520
JUN 02-05 Jamaica Jump-Up JAMAICA TBA
TBA
02-09 Holyland Highlight ISRAEL 01 MAY
US$639
13-17 Sauna Party HELSINKI TBA
TBA
TBA Dodo's Nest MAURITIUS TBA TBA
SEP 10-15 38th AGA - "A" Pkg DELHI 10 MAY
US$520
"B" Pkg DELHI 10 MAY US$175
OCT 01-06 Jordan Adventure JORDAN TBA
TBA
06-09 Sharm "Red Sea" Egypt JORDAN TBA TBA
TBA Discover China HONG KONG TBA TBA
DEC 02-04 X'Mas Gala Ball RHEIN-MAIN TBA TBA
2006
APR 20-02MAY Great Barrier Reef SYDNEY 15 AUG 05 Aus.$2500
OCT 01-06 39th AGA - Shanghai HONG KONG TBA US$500
For further information contact
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. DID YOU KNOW?
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