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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 613 Aug 13th, 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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. Need to know.
With regard to the use of kiosks for checking in as mentioned in the last
NetLetter, the following should also have been mentioned -
The wonder of the kiosks is that we can and must use them to check in with
carry-on or checked baggage. Designated kiosk drop-off counters are located
near the kiosks, to make checking luggage easier.
Norman S. Bindon sends this information which points out the advantages of
using the kiosks -
The procedure is to use the kiosk and then give your bags to the
agent at the special express check in desk just beyond the kiosks. On a
recent flight the check in line snaked back and forth four times and then
ran from domestic check-in to the other end of terminal 2 at YYZ. My check
in took 30 seconds because no one was using the kiosks. I assume about 90%
of those in line could have.
The following was issued to the readership of RAPCAN (Retired Airline Pilots
of Canada)
penned by Duane Frerichs, reprinted here to give a wider readership of this
most
importatnet issue.
Subject: Pionairs Membership
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The Pionairs are the official retiree representatives and spokesmen with
Air Canada regarding Pension, Travel Benefits, etc.
The C1/J10 travel pass issue has highlighted, and emphasized, the need for
the Pionairs to speak for the interests of the retiree group with a strong
voice, and numbers count. At the present time about 8700 out of 13 - 14,000
Air Canada retirees are members of the Pionairs.
I am enclosing a Pionair Membership application and would encourage all
retirees, AC and CDN, who haven't already joined the Pionairs to do so. I
think you will find the annual membership fee, money well spent.
C1/Y10 Update:
I have rx'd a number of BCCs from our membership to Susan Welscheid
yesterday. Keep them coming!!!! At the end of the day, whether we are
successful or not in overturning this policy, I'd like to be able to know
that we gave it our best effort.
It appears that Air Canada has two standard form replies to our e-mails.
Don't worry about their reply, it's the number and quality of your letters
and e-mails that will count.
I've just received the following, it's encouraging that the retirees are
not the only ones unhappy with the C1?Y10 for active employees only.
The CEC is the Air Canada "Common Employer Council". They announced
the following through the IAM International Association of Machinists
on August 10, 2001.
"The CEC unanimously passed a motion calling on Air Canada to amend
its recent changes to Employee Travel. Although we agree with the
application of a common entry date which credits periods of layoff for
boarding priority, we are opposed to the new "type trial" C1/J10 pass
concept. This is the scheme whereby active employees can "buy" the
right to exercise super seniority over senior colleagues when
boarding an aircraft for leisure travel. The company will sell an
active member a C1 boarding priority for a fee of $60.00 to $160.00.
In effect this is nothing more than a cash grab that will see members
ante up hundreds of additional dollars when airport improvement and
immigration fees are added. All other employees utilizing the (also
increased) $25.00 to $55.00 C2 passes, will be subject to being bumped
by C1 purchasers, regardless of seniority. Even worse, this proposal
excludes all retired members from participation. We will now attempt
to change this ill-conceived policy to one that benefits all members."
Thank you,
Duane
Subject: PIONAIR APPLICATION FORM
MR/MRS/MISS/MS________________________________EMPLOYEE NO.___________
Surname Given Name
PHONE NO.__________________ FAX NO___________________________
E-MAIL_____________________________________
SPOUSES GIVEN NAME___________________
ADDRESS________________________________________________
CITY, PROV./STATE__________________________ POSTAL/ZIP CODE____________
DEPT. RETIRED FROM____________________________
LOCATION__________________________
SERVICE DATES: FROM / / / TO / / /
Day month year day month year
I AM A WIDOW/WIDOWER OF EMPLOYEE NAMED ABOVE: YES OR NO_____
ENCLOSE A CHEQUE FOR FIRST YEAR'S DUES PAYABLE TO: AIR CANADA PIONAIRS
RETIRED EMPLOYEE (including spouse) CA$ 7.50 US$ 7.50 UKP 3.40
WIDOW/WIDOWER OF EMPLOYEE CA$ 3.75 US$ 3.75 UKP 1.70
Mail to: William Fisher 21-2120 Malaview Ave, Sidney, BC V8L 2E4 (with
cheque or money order)
Future years dues will be deducted from your June 1 pension cheque. If
NOT on pension payroll indicate "NOT" here___________ You will be
invoiced annually.
Date of Application_________________
Signature_________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------
For office use: Application received___________ Package mailed____________
District_________________ District Director notified___________________
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We recently welcomed -
Al Webster. Al is a retired Air Canada Chief Pilot 747 living in Cameron ON.
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. Bill Willow sends this information -
Subject: Flight Tracking
Wondered if this website may be of interest to some of your readers.
http://www.biztravel.com
If you know someone travelling by air, you can go to the website - click
on Flight Tracker, under traveler Toolkit - it's about halfway down the
page on left of the main text body.
You can select any airline, put in flight number and it will track the
stats for the flight in progress - it shows a little map of the country
and the plane moves across the screen so you can see where it is - then
it shows the altitude, the speed and other stuff too!!
Only major Canadian airports are currently listed - other info also
that's available are lowest fares between city pairs etc.
A friend of ours was enroute YVR-YYZ the other day, when it was about 30
mins out of YYZ it was time to leave home & pick them up at Pearson -
fun - fun - fun.
Regards,
Bill
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. News from the Pionair Districts.-
Central Ontario District -
August 14, 2001 (Tue)
- Central Ontario District 6th Annual Golf Day, Oakville Executive Golf Club -
18 holes, 4414 4th Line, RR 4, Milton, ON, parking is free at the Golf Club and
at Fogolars.
$50.00/person -golf & dinner, $22.00/ person dinner only & Relaxation at
Fogolars,
Tee off is 10:00 am followed by a four course buffet dinner at 6:00 pm at
Fogolars Country Club.
Deadline: August 6, 2001
Sept. 19, 2001 (Wed)
- Mystery Theatre and Buffet Luncheon
11:15 at the Old Mill Restaurant - 21 Old Mill Road, Toronto, ON, Subway & Bus
accessible; free parking, $39.00 per person, inclusive.
Deadline: Sept. 3, 2001
September 12, 2002 -
C.ON District 7th Annual Pionair Golf Tournament The site selected by Stan
Molstad and his committee is Hunter's Glen Golf Club located North of Pearson
Airport in Kleinberg. Practice rounds are on September 11 and the tournament
with practice on the driving range commences at 10.00am and a shotgun start at
13.00 hours on Sept 12.
Check web site pionairs.ca for contact information.
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. Re the story on the North Star aircraft -
A friend of mine related the following story to your co-pilot Terry -
They were flying off the coast of Labrador with a trailing magnetometer,
which was used to map the ocean floor contours to check movement. On one
occasion, they were unable to retract the drone prior to landing. They alerted
St. Hubert airfield, who arranged for all traffic to be stopped, including
vehicles on the road at the end of the runway. The North Star
finally landed with the drone trailing behind it. My friend was looking out of
the side window to observe the antics of the drone, and notice the open mouths
of the astonished members of the public when, after the aircraft had passed
them, they saw the drone chasing after it.
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. From Vesta on the flight deck -
HEADLINE: Cars fly out of Dorval
By: JENNIFER SCRIMGER The Gazette
Dorval airport has become one of the worst international airports in Canada and
the U.S. for auto theft.
Last year, Montreal's main airport beat out such hot spots as Miami, New York
and Los Angeles in the number of vehicles stolen.
Vesta
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