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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995



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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 594 June 6th, 2001,  We first Published in October 1995



Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson   -      Co-pilot  - Terry Baker



To get in touch with either editor/pilot our  email address is
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. We welcome -


Diane (Lorraine)        Loader          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John    Longo                                       This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave    Lord                                        This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patricia        Maxwell                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Norman  Pellatt                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Keith   Rhodes                                      This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Noel    Roderick                                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ed      Row                                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joseph(Joe)L.   St Martin               This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Willem  Stevense                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clive   Turriff                                     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Velma   Wall                            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
George J.       Ward                            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gayle   Watson                                      This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Werner  Werner                          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Larry P Wintrup                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joseph  Zimoch                          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Robert  Adams                           This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thomas M        Bryant                          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cynthia Butler                          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patricia Joan   Danyluk             This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Alex S  Edward                          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Margaret        Farch                           This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gordon A        Finch                           This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ronald  Gerroir                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Douglas Howlett                         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PIONAIRS 24TH  ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
May 18 - 20 in Calgary, AB
'Some Said It Was The Best Ever !'
Over 400 Pionairs, the best turnout since 1996, got a foot stomping start to
3 days of work and play with a Western Theme Reception Friday night.
"Miss Molly", a local legend on the Calgary entertainment scene, had Pionairs
up line dancing, square dancing and even doing the 'chicken' dance…pretty old chickens!
Saturday morning was the Pionairs'  business session with the first order of the
day to officially welcome our Canadian Airlines colleagues into our Airline retiree family by a unanimous vote amending our by-laws to make them eligible for all positions within our organization. This was followed by presentations on
a) membership (we're now over 8200 strong) by Bill Fisher, 1st VP,
b) a Pensions report by Bill Rowe, our Pension and Benefits Rep.
( our fund is now worth $6.26 billion and performed well compared to others)
c) a financial report by Norm Stoddart, Treasurer (a very positive report on our
finances and that Pionair shareholder value should be up again this year)
d) Kay Napolitano, 2nd VP reported that 25% of those attending this years
AGM took tours in and around Calgary…easily a record.
Saville Hambleton, President, reported on two new Pionairs initiatives:
1.  An official Pionair Website pionair.ca, for our many new and computer literate
members
2.  A Retiree Assistance Program that will focus on our older members who can
get information from local District RAP Coordinators.  The RAP coordinators
will provide guidance or coaching on community services available on a wide
range of problems affecting the elderly.  In addition, these RAP Coordinators
will assist with tasks that most of us take for granted, like filling out a pass or
registering for a flight!
The highlight of the meeting appeared to be the announcement of the city hosting
our 25th Annual General Meeting in 2002.
Naming Halifax as the host city brought wild applause.
The last official matter on the agenda was to elect a new Executive Board to take
us through to 2003.
With no nominations from the floor, Fraser O'Shaughnessy and his team of Mae Watson, Mary Moore, Ed Storrie and Frank Marando were elected by acclamation .  Rounding out Fraser's team will be Bill Rowe who is just starting his second year as Pension & Benefits Rep.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 AM
The afternoon was devoted to the USA District Meeting.  the two major features
were improved comments on Great West Life's handling of medical claims and the passing of the torch from Art Thrun to the new District Director, Art Suffron.
A plaque was presented to Art Thrun for his leadership of the last 2 1/2 years as Director. The US Pionairs continue to be plagued by the inequities of being billed in US dollars for passes that have only a Canadian dollar tariff figure.
A fantastic Dinner/Dance closed the day for everyone.  The music of the 14 piece "Prime Time Big Band" orchestra had Pionairs on the dance floor until 11:00 PM.
A prize from Dargal Interline for a trip for two on the Rocky Mountaineer was won by June Walker and from Interlining Plus the prize was a 7 day Caribbean Cruise for two won by Sheila Freckleton.
On Sunday, Rev. Lee Donahue, District Director for Southern Ontario conducted
a morning all faiths service offering the message that we can all find ourselves in the greatness of God.
The business session for May 20 was the Company's opportunity to bring Pionairs
up to date on pensions, benefits and reduced rate travel.  We were fortunate to have 5 Air Canada personnel attend……
Robert Petryk, Director People Services,
Caroline Drouin, Director Pensions and Employees Benefits,
Vicki Benoit, Manager Industry Travel,
Linda Kwoon, Administrative Assistant Industry Travel
Caterina Trotto, Administrative Assistant Archives/Corporate Records.
Mrs. Trottos' 3 day presence at our AGM was proof positive that Air Canada
is serious about maintenance and display of archival material.
VICKI BENOIT
1.  There is no proposed date at this time for harmonizing boarding priorities
for AC and CP retirees.
2.  Power of Attorney authority for infirm Pionairs is being worked on with more
information in a few weeks.
3.  Immigration fines for improperly documented AC personnel, including
Pionairs and travel partners, will have to be paid personally.
4.  Select pass agreements with Lufthansa, Swissair, Continental and Alitalia
remain in effect, but travel on British Airways will be discontinued shortly.
5.  Partner travel passes (14) in effect until Dec. 31, 2001.
Effective Jan. 2002 that number is reduced to 10.
Star Alliance partner travel for 2002 is 8 passes but Pionair must travel with
partner (limit 2 partners per trip).
6.  Service charge deduction backlog is being cleared up.
7.  Airport improvement fees must now be collected on pass travel….this will appear
on pension cheque.
8.  Pionair widows/widowers still not allowed to use 421 pass document.
9.  Employees/Pionairs working or living in other countries must pay for passes in
currency of that country.
10.  When traveling both AC and CP on same trip, enter the priority of airline of first
leg, computer handles the rest.
11.  Going beyond your partner pass limit will result in a full fare charge for every
excess pass used.
12.  A new partner travel brochure will be available soon.
13.  Spouses photo ID cards are now discontinued.
Spouses may use their ID card they have now (the old gray and white one)
if it has no expiry date on it.  Otherwise, a passport or Drivers license will be
accepted for ID.
14.  Access to CICs (travel reference information - formerly DRIs) will be available
soon on the Internet.
15.  Anniversary "J" class pass reservations may be booked positive "Y" at anytime.
Computer automatically rebooks to "J" 72 hours prior to flight, subject to
availability.
16.  Off line Pionairs should load up on pass blanks when they go through on line
cities.
17.  Fedex discount still has bugs, solution is ongoing.
18.  Speech recognition system still has problems with callers who have accents…
this is being worked on.
19.  For family affaire travel, infants under 2 require validation form even though
they don't pay for a seat.


BOB PETRYK


Looking forward the Company is:
a)  Focusing on self service, automation and greater Web access.
b)  Exploring 'sector' billing for trips of more than 90 days.
c)  Considering instituting payment by credit card instead of payroll deduction.
d)  Examining the possibility of Pionairs looking at their billing account (pass charges)
on the Web.
e)  Planning to have interline travel agreements on our Employee Website.


CAROLINE DROUIN


HEALTH:
1.  Basic plan (no cost to retiree) still administered by great West Life
2.  Voluntary plan (enhanced coverage for medical and dental services) is not available
for retirees who opted for basic plan at retirement and is administered by Sun Life.
3.  Canadian Airlines retirees ….management retirees only were entitled to post
retirement medical coverage.  It was very limited and ceased at age 65.
Other employee groups did not have access to any other company sponsored
coverage.  They were however given access to a separate medical plan,
Pacific Blue Cross.
Participation: since 1995 the participation to the Basic plan has decreased 8.7%. New retirees are now joining the Voluntary plan so it has increased participation by 45%.
This now represents 58% of all Air Canada retirees participating in the Voluntary plan.
Financial: In 1995 the Basic plan was paying out approx.  $862,000. but we are now paying out $1.5 million ….76% increase.  The Voluntary plan payments have increased 132%…from $2.1million to $5 million in the year 2000.  The per capita costs on the basic plan has increased by 91% whereas on the Voluntary plan it has increased by 70%.  This is because the majority of newly retired employees are joining the Voluntary plan and the age of the basic plan participants is increasing therefore requiring more medical attention.  This trend is expected in the future.  The Basic plan is not affected by medical inflation as is the Voluntary plan because most provinces provide drugs to older retirees. Therefore our company medical plan does not have the expense of these whereas with the rising cost of drugs, we see a definite increase in these costs for our younger retirees in the Voluntary plan.
4.  58% of AC retirees now in Voluntary Plan
5.  Contributing to higher costs for both plans are………
a)  higher new drug costs and government shifting of costs
b)  increased utilization rate(advertising creating awareness of new drugs)


PENSIONS
1.  The pension payroll (Canada..main plus pilots) increased 4% over last year and
now is 11,273 retirees not including Canadian Airlines retirees.
2.  Canadian retirees number 4,126 who have a total of 7 plans compared to
Air Canada  with 3.
3.  Average age of AC retirees is 69.3
4.  The main plan paid out $173million in 2000
The pilots plan paid out $54million in 2000
US & UK plans paid out $74million in 2000
5.  The adhoc adjustment in Canada was 1.25% and in the US was 2.6%
(covering 2 years)
This annual indexation for all countries cost AC $12million in 2000.
6.  To improve the dental coverage in voluntary plan would very likely require an
increase in premiums.
7.  Any change in the adhoc (ie 50% to 60% of the CPI) would require approval
by the AC Board of Directors.
8.  Increasing the adhoc to full indexation may result in a lower base pension.
9.  Voluntary health plan premiums are reviewed annually to take in changes to
Provincial health care funding.


CATERINA TROTTO


Thanks were given to Fraser and Joan Muir for their many volunteer hours put in.
Air Canada is committed to preserving the integrity of Aviation Heritage and sharing it with others.  She thanked everyone for their donations to the Archives.


The meeting adjourned at 12:00 Noon.


The Air Canada Banquet on Sunday evening featured Sue Welscheid, Vice President People and a great supporter of the Pionairs.  She spoke on the many integration stages that have been successfully completed.  The outstanding ones relating to seniority issues with the collective bargaining units are more difficult to achieve.  Sue detailed the very aggressive route expansion program the Company has embarked on and the acquisition of Skyservice, a Toronto based non scheduled carrier.  This majority ownership position may result in Skyservice operating a low cost Airline operation on behalf of Air Canada if ongoing discussions with ACPA (the airline pilots union) do not come to fruition.  Even if Skyservice does not operate this low cost airline, the purchase is worth it by the acquiring of Skyservices corporate jet fleet and very successful business.
Sue concluded by drawing for positive space tickets for 2, good anywhere in Air Canadas' system.  The lucky winner was Carol Malec from Winnipeg.
Sue received a great round of applause and was presented with a white Stetson, symbol of the friendly city of Calgary.


Complete details of all business sessions are available in "minutes" form from your District Director upon request.


CALGARY WAS A GREAT HOST CITY…..HALIFAX IS GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER -
MAY 10 - 12, 2002!


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. Smilie.
A Globemaster and a Phantom met on intersecting runways at Frankfurt,
The F-4 Phantom asked the control tower what the Globemasters intentions
were, upon which the C-124 pilot opened the clamshell doors and said
"I'm going to eat you."


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