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From: Terry Baker <
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Subject: [The NetLetter] NetLetter nr 678 Apr 6/02 - The NetLetter
Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2002 15:50:06 -0800
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T H E _| TCA |_
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N E T L E T T E R > CANADA <
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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 678, Apr 6th, 2002. We first published in October 1995.
Circulation: 2300+
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
To get in touch with either editor/pilot our email address is
================================================================
. Need to know!
Air Canada Adjusts Domestic Fuel Surcharge. Yesterday, in response to
escalating fuel prices, we announced that we will increase the domestic fuel
surcharge to $15 Cdn one way on all tickets issued s of April 11. Introduced on
May 24, 2001, the fee was reduced to $7.50 Cdn in Nov. 2001 due to fluctuating
fuel prices. American carriers haven’t reduced their $18.60 U.S. ($27.16 Cdn)
surcharge since implementation in 2000. We continue to closely monitor jet fuel
prices and will adjust the surcharge accordingly
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. In NetLetter nr 674 we listed various sell-off's for Family Affair. Some of
the codes for the cities and provinces were uncommon and Ace McCool aka Jack
Desmarais (author of Ace McCool Collector Edition and which is still
available) noticed these anomolies and did some investigation, and these are
his findings -
When AC first replaced their published timetable by an electronic one they got
five of the ten provincial two-letter codes wrong! For instance they showed
Alberta as AL. But AL is Alabama. This was pretty surprising since the
timetable is reviewed at a very high level. I wrote AC and it was corrected.
WestJet, in a two-page spread in a magazine, showed a map of Canada...with
half the codes wrong.
The Port of San Diego, operator of San Diego Lindbergh Field, publishes
monthly a combined timetable showing all non-stop and prime connecting flights
from SAN. A few years ago, while I was living there, they started showing the
flights to Canada by cities and a two-lettter province identifier, which we had
recently adopted. Two thirds of them were wrong!
I don't know why this is so difficult. There are 50 states and they're always
right; we have 13 jurisdictions and people get half of them are wrong.
When I called the Port of San Diego timetable editor she told me they got the
codes from IATA. Well, IATA she be base in Montreal, by gar, and dey houghts to
know de Canadian codes eh, mon ami?
I gave San Diego the codes. To verify, they called the Canadian consulate in
L.A., the Right Honorable Kim being the consul. The woman called me back and
said the Canadian consulate told them that Quebec was PQ!!!
The Port of San Diego, not knowing who to believe -- or even believing worse
things about us -- now publishes the province name in full, e.g., Toronto,
Ontario. This replaces Toronto, OT. Not a typo; OT.
We never did find out who the ying-yang was who made up his own two-letter
IDs for Canada and who had everybody buying it, from IATA to, in late 2001, Air
Canada.
Canada Post, while not always a paragon of expertise, has, and always had,
all 13 codes right. But they never publicized them. Ah, but that's another
story.
Re city codes, for sales purposes. I have seen the use of CHI and NYC for
Chicago and New York where, presumably, the fare will be the same from both or
all three airports. Why they use YTO rather than YYZ though is beyond me. I
have also seen YML for Montreal rather than YUL. But in Montreal, by gar, dey
'ave two hairport.
(We responded with But dey 'av tree now wid St Herboit - eds)
I happened to be in Continental Airlines' website and saw what must be the
industry practice on city codes. Start on CO's home page and select a route to
or from New York, Chicago, etc., i.e., multi-airport cities. It gives you the
common code.
You will see, by gar, t is YMQ for Montrebec. Also LON for both London
airports. (They didn't include Stanstead.) It does list YTO for "Toronto, all
airports", this meaning the Toronto City Centre airport, formerly Island
airport.
And you are right, dere be t'ree hairport in de Montreal harea, de t'ird
being St.'ubash.
Ace
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. From Employee Communications -
Summer International Youth Exchange Program.
Is your child, aged 14 19 years, interested in experiencing a
new culture? Coordinated by a Northwest Airlines employee, the International
Youth Exchange (IYE) Program organizes summer
exchange programs for families of airline employees. One youth
visits an exchange family in another country for two weeks. Later
in the summer, the other youth visits them for two weeks. Since
1994, the IYE has facilitated exchanges for more than 600 youths.
For program details, contact Camille Wheeler at
or at IYE, P.O. Box 11625, St. Paul, MN 55111.
( We assume grandchildren would be eligible! - eds)
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. ARCHIVES ARE UPDATED TO NETLETTER # 648
End of 2001
In this area:
You need to go to: http://www.acfamily.org/netletter/archives.html
Click on enter and then use the following:
UserID: netletter
Password: vesta
Use all lower case (NOT CAPS) and do not use "quotes" ...
ARCHIVES FOR 2002
NetLetter for 2002 nrs 649 onwards will now be located in
ACFamily.net/forums area
Just go to: http://www.acfamily.net/forums
- Log in (if you aren't already)
- scroll down to Member Services
- Click on NetLetter
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. News from the districts.
Eric van der Holt sends this -
The Comox Valley Pionairs will be holding its monthly luncheon on
Thursday, April 25 at 12.00.
Location this month will be The Leeward Pub on Anderton Road, Comox.
All are welcome.
Out-of-towners please contact Eric van der Holt at 250-897-0322 if attending.
Glen Cawker sends this message to set the record straight -
Hi!Just a minor correction. The Italy Tour described in your #676 is
initiated by Jessie Rougeau, Director of the Ottawa Pionair District, not
Central Ontario as you spelled out. Jess did all the work and deserves the
credit.
Jess has had many questions regarding this tour and this is the complete
schedule -
ITALY BELLISSIMO TOUR
Day l Depart Canada Overnight flight to Rome.
Day 2 Arrive Rome You are met on arrival at the airport and transferred to
your hotel. Later, time to unwind maybe people-watch from a pavement café.
This afternoon, enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director Hotel; Hilton
Airport
Day 3/4 Rome Pompeii Isle of Capri (2) This morning we drive through the
area the Romans knew as the ‘Campania felix’ to Pompeii. Here we enjoy a
guided tour of the excavations of the Roman city petrified and preserved by
the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Next on to the Bay of Naples for our
short sea-crossing to the Isle of Capri for 2 nights Hotel Regina Cristina
Day 5 Isle of Capri Sorrento Monte Cassino Assisi We enjoy a morning
sail across the Mediterranean on our ‘return to Sorrento’. Here time to
enjoy the atmosphere of the Piazza Tasso. Next, we visit an inlaid wood
factory to admire the fine local craftsmanship. Then heading north, we view
the Abbey of Monte Cassino and visit the World War II Cemetary, before
heading into the Umbrian hills and mystical Assisi Hotel Giotto.
Day 6 Assisi Venice (Mestre) We enjoy a sighseeing tour of Assisi, the
town of the much-loved St. Francis. We’ll see the Basilica famous for its
serene Giotto frescoes, as well as the miraculous Church of St. Mary of the
Angels. Later we drive along the Adriatic Coast seeing the Abbey of Pomposa
before arriving at Venice Hotel Antony 2 nights
Day 7 Venice sightseeing & at leisure. A private motor launch takes us on a
canal cruise to St. Mark's Square, where we view the Byzantine Basilica,
Bridge of Sighs and Doges' Palace. After witnessing a demonstration of the
ancient art of Murano glass blowing, you are free to explore. Why not take
a cruise to the island of Burano, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch.
Day 8 Venice (Mestre Padua Montecatini (Tuscan Hills) We gaze on the
beauty of the Palladian villas as we drive along the scenic Brenta Canal.
Arriving in Padua, we view the Basilica of St. Anthony, before ascending
into the Apennine Mountains, the Emilla Romagna and Tuscany. Later we reach
the spa-resort of Montecatini. This evening, why not try some of the
reputed Tuscan cuisine and Chianti wines Hotel Tettuccio 2 nights
Day 9 Montecatini Florence Excursion Today a short drive brings us to
Florence where sightseeing on foot with out local guide highlights the Santa
Croce Basilica, the Cathedral with its magnificent Baptistry, and the Piazza
Signoria. Florence is truly a shopper’s paradise with bargains in leather and
gold. For ‘culture vultures’, there are many museums and art galleries to
visit. Later, return to Montecatini.
Day 10 Montecatini (Tuscan Hills) Siena Rome A short drive brings us to
Siena famous for its Palio horse race. Admire the architecture from one of
the open-air cafes on the fan-shaped Piazza del Campo. Or pick up some local
pottery before we continue past the towns of Orte and Orvieto and into the
Latium. Later we are back in Rome. Tonight, why not dine out in one of the
city’s fine trattorias Hotel Hotel Borromini 2 nights
Day ll Rome sightseeing & at leisure. A visit to the Sistine Capel to
marvel at the ceiling of Michelangelo provides a thrilling start to our
morning sighseeing tour with a local guide. From here we visit St. Peter’s
Basilica and then cross the Tiber to stop in the Forum and see the mighty
Colosseum. Finally, we reach the Trevi Fountain to ‘throw’ in our coin.
The rest of the day is free to take an excursion to the Catacombs or Tivoli
or simply while away the afternoon at a sidewalk café watching the world go by.
Day 12 Rome Canada Today we transfer you to the airport for your return
flight to Canada.
All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes
included.
Plus a stylish travel bag and wallet containing tour documents and helpful
information.
Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar’s luxury air conditioned motorcoaches with
reclining seats and washroom.
Your first class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private
facilities.
If further questions please call Jess (613) 841 7091 or email :
Or call Kazzrie of Interlining Plus, Phone 1 800 665 3100 Ext. 1326 or
email:
the info and deposits of $200.00 per person payable by Apr. 25th. She is
also offering cancellation and medical insurance. If required airfare from
Toronto to Rome on KLM or British Air please call Kazzrie about that.
Also hope you join the tour group.
Cheers
Jess
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. From the YYZNEWS issued by Brian Dunn -
Air Canada and ORBIS Canada unveiled the newly painted ORBIS DC-10
aircraft on
March 28th at the airline's paint hangar at Toronto Intl. airport. The world's
first and only Flying Eye Hospital. Air Canada's Technical Service employees,
as a gift -in-kind from the airline, painted the aircraft. The new look is in
celebration of ORBIS's 20th anniversary. ORBIS operates a fully equipped
teaching facility inside a DC-10 aircraft, aims to eradicate aviodable
blindness worldwide by 2020.
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. Remember when!
Setting the record straight -
The initial issue of Between Ourselves, which was sent to us by Jim Pearce.
had been saved all these years by Reg Watkins. Reg was an uncle of Jim's
wife, Judy.
Sadly Reg passed away last December and they came across the mentioned issues
amongst his belongings. Reg was a mechanic in the millwright shop in Toronto
until his retirement. He was also a Director of the Malton Credit Union.
Norman Garwood tells us about the beginnings of the employee magazines -
Further to Jim Pierce's historical info about Between Ourselves, perhaps I can
add a little. Rene Baudru, assistant to Dave Tennant for so many years was the
first editor of the airline's "house organ" (which is why he was the first to
be asked to join the editorial board first established many years later when Ed
Thackray joined the airline as editor), Don McLeod was the first
formal/official editor of the magazine and was followed by Al Carlson who had
been his assistant. This takes us to the early 50s when Betty Davidson then
took over the reins. A major change of format and frequency to a newspaper was
then overseen by a man named Stan Moncrieff (who later left the airline to
become night editor of the Honolulu Star Bulletin) Ed Thackray was subsequently
recruited by Public Relations chief Rod MacInnes. Ed had been the number two
man on Canadair's well-read and popular employee newspaper. Ed knew the
publications business but did not the airline so he took on a junior in the PR
department as his assistant. That was me, Norm Garwood. Following Ed's passing,
I returned from a Marketing position to become editor. During my stint in the
editor's chair, I introduced the French-language edition (before Federal
legislation dictated we do so) and renamed the publication(s) Horizons as a
practical title in either language. After I moved on to other work in the
Publics Affairs branch in Headquarters and in the field, I was succeeded by Bob
Todd who had worked with me and he was followed by Pat Budgeon, a long-time
employee in the PR Branch. Of course, all of us before and since, have been
supported by HQ and Field colleagues and the general employee population which
made Between Ourselves/Horizons and award winning publication which was
appreciated by employees and their families.
Norm Garwood
Some extracts from the Between Ourselves issue 43 October 1946 -
Joe Sky, Regina Station Manager, was asking for Between Ourselves to publish
a list
of all radio Amateurs in the company, so that TCA dial-twisters may contact
each other
easily. Joe was asking all interested 'hams' to send in their information.
In Sept 1946, TCA extended its Trans-Atlantic route to London, England by
sending its
flights beyond Prestwick in Scotland. Fares quoted from YUL C$375 one way and
$675
return.
(Interestingly enough the present seat sale YVR-LHR is c$390 one way plus a
multitude of taxes, fuel surcharge, AIF and security tax - eds)
More info from Fred Meredith on TCA's first transcontinental passenger
flights
Eastbound April 1st 1939-
Seattle-Vancouver
captain G.B.Lothian, f/o B.S.Macklin, stewardess R.Crispin
Vancouver-Lethbridge-Regina-Winnipeg
captain B.Middleton, f/o W.E.Barnes, stewardess N.T.Wallace
Winnipeg-Kapuskasing-Ottawa-Toronto
captain W.W.Fowler, f/o H.Umphrey, stewardess G.Brunelle
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. Memories from R. Fowler -
I can remember a DC 6B, I believe it was A/C 446, Canadian Pacific Airlines,
being returned to YVR from lease with a temporary repair on its missing belly.
The patch extended from the aft lower baggage compartment to the tail heater
compartment. Also the lower surface of the left elevator was damaged. The
understanding at the time was that the A/C flying in haze pulled up just as it
grazed the top of a mountain. I may be wrong about who had the A/C, but I think
it was Ward Air. R.Fowler A/C Overhaul YVR.(Ret).
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. From the RAPCAN eMailNews issued by Duane Frerichs -
From: Rien van Tilborg <
Subject: Re: TCA NORTH STAR CRASH - 1956
I am researching the TCA North Star crash on Mount Slesse, British
Columbia, December 9, 1956.
Do any of your members have any records / photos that might further my
research?
thank you for your assistance. Rien van Tilborg
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. Smilie,
Forwarded by Bill Woods -
Ah the Good-old-Days when we worked for a Living!!!!
[or--Another Night at the Ramp!}
It's like the time Teddy Hawkins and I taxied a B737 from the boonies
to what used to be gate 31 early one
summer morning and headed directly into the sun just rising. With the
sun blazing in our eyes after doing the
cockpit check on the CSD that they changed on night shift we headed for
gate 31 we were both looking out the side
windows so that we wouldn't be blinded by the sun. Unfortunately night
shift forgot to bolt the captains seat to the
floor after changing a bus tie breaker or something. Teddy was in the
captains seat. I heard him say "I can't
see, I can't see " and I thought to myself " what a wimp " then I
looked over and Teddy wasn't there, where he
was supposed to be sitting, and where you would expect someone in
control of a very expensive aircraft was
supposed to be. He was horizontal on the floor of the cockpit floor
after the seat fell over backwards.
Now this is the honest to god truth, I was laughing so hard it was
all I could to bring the A/C slowly to a stop and
set the park brake. We then put the seat back where it should be
normally and Teddy used the steering wheel and
I was on the brakes. What a team, and we taxied into gate 31. We
told the drivers ( pilots ) on the bridge who
were waiting, that we were not finished with the work and told them to
stand by while we finished the job and that
we had to bolt the Capt.'s seat to the floor. We quickly got our tools
and bolted the damn thing to the floor and
very quietly informed the people on night shift of their " WHOOPS "
Maybe it was one of those ( You had to
be there things ) but damn it was funny at
the time. [Signed --Jim Low]
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