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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 620 Sept 7th, 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.
Your co-pilot, Terry, is on vacation training next two weeks, Vesta is
still on the flight deck!
Employee Communications advises -
Travel alert?flights to/from Montreal could be busy this weekend. Montreal
is
hosting the ACRA System Soccer tournament, and as the event concludes tomorrow
night, there may be some tired but happy athletes trying to catch a flight home
this weekend. If you?re planning to travel this weekend, please verify the
loads beforehand as they may be heavier than usual.
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We recently welcomed
Ralph Sharp, formerly CAIL employee who retired in LAXAP 1993 with 34 years
service.
Lois Cadman recently retired from Air Canada (December 31st, 2000). Lois
worked for 28
years with Air Canada, most of the time in the Flight Operations Department.
Captain Ralph G. Nixon (retired 20 years ago Air Canada Winnipeg).
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. Bush Flies in Storied Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 that carried Richard Nixon to California after
his resignation and took Jimmy Carter to Germany to greet American hostages
from Iran took its final flight Wednesday as Air Force One.
President Bush's brief day trip to San Antonio for a speech at the American
Legion's annual convention was his first flight aboard the Boeing 707-353B,
known by the tail number 27000 - and as Air Force One when a president was
aboard.
``It will carry no more presidents, but it will carry forever the spirit of
American democracy,'' Bush said.
A retirement ceremony in San Antonio was canceled due to heavy rain there.
The event was moved to a hangar at Texas State Technical College near Waco
instead.
No. 27000 flew 444 missions as Air Force One, covering more than 1 million
miles. It served seven presidents, starting with Richard Nixon, and was
used most by Ronald Reagan.
The 707 will occupy a new hangar at the Reagan library in Simi Valley,
Calif., as part of an exhibit on presidential travel.
``It will remind us of Ronald Reagan's achievements for peace and
international security and permanently symbolize the soaring spirit of this
great man and our great country,'' Bush said.
Bush roamed the aircraft as soon as he boarded it Wednesday morning.
Touching a wood-paneled wall in the press cabin, Bush told reporters that
he'd never been on the plane before, although his father - as vice
president under Reagan - had flown around the world in it. Now presidents
fly almost exclusively aboard Boeing 747s.
Wednesday's final presidential flight lasted 36 minutes, taking Bush from
San Antonio to Waco. Bush spent the trip quietly scanning paperwork at a
table with his wife, Laura, while the Air Force crew served lunch of roast
beef sandwiches, potato chips, Oreos and pink lemonade.
The plane's previous journeys were the stuff of legend.
Nixon's presidency ended as he flew over the American heartland and Vice
President Gerald Ford was sworn in as president at noon Aug. 9, 1974, after
the Watergate affair forced Nixon to resign. Carter also was a former
president when he went to Germany to greet the 52 American hostages, who
were freed from Iran as Reagan was being sworn in on Jan. 20, 1981.
Carter's inability to win their freedom was a major factor in his election
defeat.
Reagan used the plane for his 1987 journey to Berlin, where he urged Soviet
President Mikhail Gorbachev to ``tear down this wall'' and reunite the
divided city. It also carried Reagan back to California when he left office
in January 1989.
Wednesday afternoon, the 707 touched down at 1:43 p.m. and rolled to a stop
just shy of an open hangar, where former crew members watched somberly as
the president and first lady disembarked.
Among them were Nixon's pilot, Ralph Albertazzie; Reagan's pilot, Col. Bob
Ruddick; Danny Barr, pilot for former President Bush; and Chief Master Sgt.
Joe Chappell, flight engineer aboard the plane's maiden voyage from the
Boeing factory to Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
``You have served your nation well,'' Bush told them. ``Thanks to you,
American history has been a little less turbulent than it might have
been.''
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. News from the Districts.
From the Montreal District -
National Aviation Museum Ottawa
Monday, September 24, 2001
Come join us for a delicious buffet luncheon and visit to the National Aviation
Museum for an all-inclusive price of $25.00.
The National Aviation Museum is one of the finest aviation museums in the
world. Over 120 aircraft chronicle the ancient dream of flight and the
significant part played by Canadians in the development of aviation. Major
themes of aeronautical history are reflected the efforts of pioneering
individuals to build and fly their own aircraft, the many Canadians who flew
the legendary machines of the two great conflicts of the last century, the
birth of air transport, and examples of jet engine technology as well as the
uniquely Canadian experience of bush flying, and the phenomenal growth of the
aviation industry in Canada over the past fifty years
The museum will be closed to the general public on this day, but the large
well-stocked Gift Shop will be open for the Pionairs to shop. The parking is
plentiful and free. The museum will open at 10:00 o’clock and close at 16:00
with the buffet lunch being served at noon. A bar service will be available.
There is a maximum of 200 places available and the last date to accept
reservations is September 10, 2001. Cancellations will not be refunded after
September 17, 2001.
The museum is totally accessible. For those in need, the museum has available a
(limited) number of wheelchairs and electric scooters. We want you to come
so, please let us know what your needs are and we’ll do all possible to
accommodate you. Let us know if you require transportation and a lift will be
arranged for you.
Guest Speaker: Our guest speaker, Mr. Christopher Terry, is the current
Chairperson of the Aviation Museum Group.
Mr. Terry joined The Canada Aviation Museum as its Director General in 1989
and assumed responsibility for the corporate development activities of the
Canada Science and Technology Corp. in 1994. In February 2001 he was appointed
Director of the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation.
For information contact: Robert Holmgren (613) 748-5972
Or e-mail to
Imprinter for passes, Buddy passes and Family Affairs Tickets will be
available. Make sure to bring your I.D. CARD.
Raffle tickets will be sold at $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 for a selection of
interesting prizes.
Cheques to:
Air Canada Pionairs, Mr. Bruce Wanamaker, 3421 River Road
Gloucester, Ontario, K1v 1H2
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*****PANCAKE BREAKFAST IN YVR*****
The AIR CANADA EMPLOYEES' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION is having its annual
PANCAKE Breakfast in YVR! Breakfast is served for only a TOONIE ($2)
All YVR employees and retirees are invited to join us on Wednesday,
September 12, 2001 for breakfast. This event is being held to kickoff the
annual Employees' Charitable Foundation Campaign for funds. All donations
will go towards local charities.
The "Toonie Breakfast" will be held in three locations;
- at the Operations Centre, west entrance from 06:00 to 9:30
- at the Lysander Building, outside the cafe from 07:00 to 10:00
- under Gate 30 DTB (airside), from 09:00 to 11:00
On the menu is pancakes, sausages, coffee and juice.
Please see: www.acfamily.org/acecf for more information and don't forget your
"Toonie".
Retirees are most welcome and are major
contributors, volunteers and trustees on the ACECF committee as well. We'd
love as many of them as possible to join us. Note: the location at Gate 30
is on the airside so most retirees wouldn't be able to access that area.
The other locations would not be a problem.
Alan Rust Web Administrator ACFamily Network http://www.acfamily.net
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. May Day!
Reed Park sends this request for help -
Subject: Info sought.
Greetings
Just wondering if one of your many readers might be able to help me. I have
once again taken up the task of trying to finish off a 7 foot wing span DC-3 in
TCA colours. It will be done in the after 1949 scheme of things and I am
wondering what the font style might have been for the words
TRANS-CANADA AIR LINES above the windows.
Makes me wonder if it wouldn't have been easier to have used the pre 1949
scheme, as the letters were vertical. :-)
This has been a very long on going project.
Started about 25 years ago with scratch building from a set of plans.
Finally gave that up for a Royal DC-3 kit. What with work, raising a
family etc, it got pushed to the back of the bench. My Dad has about
11,000 hours in DC-3's (most with TCA) and wants to know if it's going to
take me that long to finish it. :-) The original thought was a radio
controlled model, but now I have decided to make it static display only.
Fall is coming, and is a perfect time to get started at it again.
Many thanks for the help in the past,
Regards
Reed Park
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. Plussing!
Ah, yes ... the gate agent.
I find that courtesy and manners work better than charm and brevity. The
working life of a gate agent is arduous and most often unappreciated; the least
I can do is to take as little of his or her precious time as possible and say,
"please" and "thank you." Believe me, those two words are too seldom heard by
everybody, but especially by gate agents.
For most airlines, it is preferred that you wait until most, if not all, paying
passengers have boarded. Therefore, we linger a while longer around the
departure lounge. People watch. The drama continues.
Uh-oh! Who's that running to the gate with a look of desperation on his face?
Is that a pilot of this airline going to bump me out of the jumpseat?
Unconsciously, you are holding your breath while waiting for the axe to fall.
Whew! He was a passenger whose flight had arrived late from Chicago. Exhale.
As you pass the gate agent and pass onto the airplane, you relax. At last,
familiar territory. People, not only of the same profession, but of the same
mindset. Most cabin crewmembers and pilots have traveled this same road. We are
the dislocated -- well, from work at least -- and the fellowship of commuters
embraces members with help and empathy.
So ends Act I. Well, not really. It ain't over yet.
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. A memory from Edward Tierney
As a onetime TCA flight mechanic at Dorval (1954-1960) have some perhaps
interesting incidents as occurring during that period. During my time the
company magazine was dubbed as Between Ourselves. While I sometimes wear my TCA
5 year service pin in my lapel here in Ireland I do get the occasional
quizzical glance but never a recognition. I bet that brought on a grin.
In those years I was on crew 31 working out of hangar 3, my Crewchief most
times being Jimmy Sheasgreen. A great city, a great company, and a great lot of
guys, a priviledge all round.
Around 1957. Situation. Airport closed 2 days for security
purposes. Occasion. Visit by Howard Hughes to UL. Purpose. To evaluate
Vickers Viscount type for inclusion to his fleet. Circumstance. Parked in
Starliner Constellation on tarmac between the old overseas and domestic
terminals. Observations. Shrouded mutterings of "nuts" from guys at standby
at his plane. (another rather flat episode) so that aside. Incident. Gerry
Dyhkof doing a Viscount cockpit check and myself at the nosewheel looking
head-on at the steering gear, in broad daylight. SHOCK! Out from nowhere, a
voice behind me and a hand rubbing the nose dome riveting and eyes fixedly
staring at the skin..."Why is the riveting smooth here and not elsewhere?"
Reply "dont know"......."What is the purpose of those extra hydraulic
cylinders" (4, not the usual 2) Reply "dont know" (Steering dampeners).
Needless to say he hightailed it outta there and needless to say I didnt
report myself either. (Please dont tell RR or Vickers) What a downer! The
heck of it being that I knew the answers but my brain was on another planet.
I always blamed his silent plimsolls, what else. Where oh where is Gerry
Dyhkof now?
I'd sure like to contact anyone who remembers me, if only for a few words if
they be interested. Let me know
Eddie (ted) Tierney
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Regarding the information on Windsor Airport in NetLetter nr 618, Bill Hinds
tells us -
"Unless my memory is fading
faster than I think, North Star and Vanguards never did service Windsor,
Ont. They did land as an alternate to YYZ due bad weather. DC3s serviced
Windsor until the introduction of the Viscount in 1954 and then DC9s in
1969."
I was an F/O on the Vanguard from 1967-71 and my logbook shows that I had
regular layovers in YQG during the months of Dec 68 and Jan 69.
Pete Sigmen
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More tickets available for Canada's Wonderland in Toronto. Thanks to the Air
Canada Recreational Association (ACRA), active and retired Air Canada and Air
Canada Regional employees who are ACRA members, Associate members, family and
friends, can take advantage of discounts on admission tickets throughout the
summer to visit the amusement park. Tickets cost $34 CA for adults and $21 for
children three-six years old. Out-of-town requests should be forwarded to ACC
1001 and include your name, employee number, company zip, number of tickets
requested, and cheque for the total amount made payable to Montreal ACRA.
Please
allow at least 10 days for processing. The Montreal ACRA office is open from
12:00-1:00 pm on Wednesdays for local members to pick up their tickets. Tickets
are also available from the Toronto Credit Union at Terminal II, Arrivals
levels, from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. For details, contact your local ACRA
representatives.
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. Smilie.
Neil Gilson found this one for us -
Jerry Falwell was seated next to Former President Clinton on a recent
flight. After the plane was airborne, the flight attendant came around for
drink orders.
The President asked for a whisky & soda, which was brought and placed
before him.
The attendant then asked the minister if he would also like a drink.
The minister replied in disgust, "Ma'am, I'd rather be savagely raped by a
brazen whore than let liquor touch these lips!
The President then handed his drink back to the attendant and said,
"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a choice."
and from Pierre DuBois in Tampa we get these -
Here are some of the stories I had to deal with as a reservations agent....
"You have a week-end fare New-York to Montreal round trip, is the hotel
included?"
" I am calling to make an appointment".
"Do you fly from East to West?" On that one I was tempted to respond...."Yes,
and when we get to destination we put the aircraft on a float and bring it back
East."
And this one from a woman calling to reconfirm her return flight. Not knowing
what city she was calling from, I asked her
"where are you leaving from?" she said, "1342-17th Avenue NE
Hollywood Florida". The temptation was very strong on that one: "Sorry mam, our
767 cannot land on 17th street, you will have to get to an airport."
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. DID YOU KNOW?
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http://www.acfamily.org/netletter
and click on the "Archives" button.
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