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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 646 Dec 22nd, 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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o/o o\o Christmas Greetings from
/* o *\ Vesta and Terry.
o/ \U/ \o
/ o o \
o/!!!!!0!!!!!\o
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Vesta and I have enjoyed this year and we can brag about our growing
mailing list in the past year.
Thanks to all our readers for their Christmas greetings and best wishes.
. Need to know.
When budgeting for the new security tax - don't forget the GST!
A New Sun Destination Starts Up This Weekend.
We have a new route ready to take customers to their favourite
sun getaway just in time for the holidays. Beginning Sunday,
Dec. 23, customers can enjoy weekly non-stop service between
Ottawa and Fort Lauderdale. The route will be operated with
Air Canada A320 aircraft.
Got your beach towel ready?
Active and retired employees can start calling YWG Employee Travel Service as
of
January 14th to arrange for C1/J10 ticketing for 2002.
From: "Fraser O'Shaughnessy" <
Pionairs
Subject: Re: C1 passses
Bob Petryk, Director, People Services confirmed today that C1/Y10 Pass
Program is continued for another year and that, largely due to the efforts
of the Pionairs, the program has been extended to include retirees/widows
and widowers. We will ask if this extension applies to the surviving spouse
of employees/retirees. Bob stated further improvements to the whole pass
program (including unaccompanied partner pass travel) are being proposed
and if accepted may be implemented by midsummer. .These announcements
should make Christmas merrier and the New Year happier for all retirees!!!
All the best of health and wealth to everyone.
Rosemary & Fraser O'Shaughnessy
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: Myron Olsen sent us this information -
WCAM 2002 AIR CANADA/TCA CALENDAR
For those of you interested in both a worthy cause and need a calendar with a
potential to
win it back with cash prizes here is your chance to order one, and be a
winner.
The calendar is Air Canada 65th Anniversary Editon.
When a calendar is purchased, the name goes into a drum.
If your name is picked, a cheque will be mailed to you and your name goes back
into the drum and you could possibly win again.
There is $15,000 in prizes to be won with the first draw taking place at the
end of January for
$1,000.00. This lottery calendar is a major fund raiser in support of the
Museum
If any of you would like to purchase calendars, you can either
email or phone (204) 786-5503) your credit card number to me or send a cheque
to us as
WCAM, 958 Ferry Rd.Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y8.
Please indicate where you want the calendars sent (in the case of gifts) and
the names and
addresses of the recipients of the calendar for the draw drum.
The calendar is $20.00 and $2.00 for postage & handling.
Calendars can also be purchased in person at the Museum's front desk or office.
If you wish to see the calendar, please go to our web site -
>
>
> <http://www.wcam.mb.ca/NewWeb/index.html>http://www.wcam.mb.ca/NewWeb/inde
> x.html
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" ' "
. Norman Pellatt comments on our recent story -
Subject: Glen Miller Story
The story about Glen Miller's plane being "bombed" by Lancaster
bombers should have noted
that in an unfortunate incident, the bombers were returning due
to weather conditions over the
target. They had to dump the bombs before landing, and this was
the designated area for it
to be done. Miller's plane, a Norduuyn Norseman, a Canadian-built
aircraft, was unfortunately
in the wrong place at the wrong time!
N. Pellatt <
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" ' "
. Recently, several members of the Canadian Maple Wings gave an interview with
the Montreal Gazette -
Back when Dorothy Gilmore-Labelle started working as an airline stewardess,
there was no such thing as air rage or boxcutter terrorists. In 1943, the world
of airline travel was glamourous and new, offering the promise of foreign
travel and the opportunity to meet people.
Gilmore-Labelle, who was working as a nurse, had taken only one flight as a
teenager before becoming a stewardess for Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada's
predecessor.
"I loved the idea of of the adventure and the whole bit," Gilmore-Labelle,
recalls. "our job was to reassure the passengers because it was new and they
were apprehensive."
Her first flight "so exciting" was from Moncton, N.B. to St. John's Nfld,
with just 12 passengers aboard. Besides offering a reassuring presence, as
modern-day flight attendants do, stewardesses also handed out boxed meals to
the passengers, as well as gum and cigarettes - but no cigars.
Back in the 1940s, the airline industry was in its infancy and women had to
meet strict requirements to be a stewardess. They needed nurse's training, had
to be single and under the age of 26, and had to meet certain height and weight
restrictions. Marriage and pregnancy meant the end of their flying careers.
"I know some women who married in secret so they could keep their jobs," said
Maxine Llewellyn of Hudson, who worked as a stewardess for three years in the
1940s until her marriage to a pilot from Moncton.
Llewellyn and Gilmore-Labelle were among 50 people who met for lunch recently
at a restaurant just under the flight path to Dorval airport. They're all
members of the Montreal chapter of Canadian Maple Wings Association, a Canada
wide organization of TCA and Air Canada flight attendants.
Lucille Grant was the first stewardess ever with TCA, which was created in
1937. A pilot she knew told her that TCA was going to start passenger service
in 1939 and needed stewardesses. Grant, who now lives in Lachine, took a few
flights and then began training other women to work for TCA and then for
Vancouver based Yukon Southern Airlines.
"It was the romantic era of the airlines" Grant recalls. "There was just a
wonderful spirit."
Those early "luxurious" flights were a far cry from the jumbo jets
crisscrossing the skies today. There was no air conditioning, no heat and
oxygen masks had to be used when the plane went above 10,000 feet.
The stewardesses were responsible for their passengers from the time they got
on the plane until they got off - including the stops the planes would make
before arriving at their final destination.
Marjorie Crowley recalled one overseas flight from London to Montreal that
took 22 hours, with stops in Iceland and Labrador. "We were delayed in Iceland
and everyone got off the plane, but you were still on duty," she said. "They
had ground crews then."
Llewellyn was already a seasoned traveller when she began work for TCA in
1946. She was a trained nurse in Victoria, and worked at the Canadian hospital
in Perugin, Italy during World War II and applied to be a stewardess when one
of the other nurses she worked with gave her an application. "I loved nursing
with a passion, and I had never heard of TCA", Llewellyn recalled. "But it was
a wonderful company to work for and it was wonderful to be part of it."
Earning $350 a month, she was based in Moncton and flew in the Maritimes to
England and the United States. Llewellyn played tourist on her days off,
catching baseball games and the local culture on stopovers in Boston for
example.
The state of the airline industry today - with struggling carriers, stepped
up security and frightened passengers concerns the retired stewardesses. "I
worry about Air canada because they seem to be in such a bind," said Margaret
Townsend of Dorval.
But Grant hasn't let the current state of affairs bother her. She got on a
flight in October and didn't think twice.
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" ' "
. Air Canada news.
From the YYZNEWS issued by brian Dunn -
For all you fans of the Douglas DC-9 jets....get your nostalgia pictures real
soon! December 31st is the last day of planned scheduled service for the
remaining seven DC-9s still flying out of Toronto base. The last routes still
using them are Toronto to Thunder Bay, Quebec City, Philadelphia, and Moncton.
There is also the occassional trip to Ottawa.
This will be the end of an era which saw the first model DC-9-14 delivered on
Jan 6, 1966 (FIN702 CF-TLC) and the first DC-9-32 delivered on March 7, 1967
(FIN707 CF-TLH). The original fleet of "short" DC-9s were sold off in 1968 to a
variety of airlines such as Trans Texas, Hawaiian and Southern (via Douglas).
They were then replaced with a second-hand fleet of DC-9-15Fs acquired from
Continental Airlines. They were subsequently sold off as more DC-9-32s arrived
to Air Florida starting in 1977. How many of you remember that Air Canada flew
one DC-9-32F for awhile? It was FIN771 registered CF-TMN and was acquired from
ONA and subsequently sold off in June of 1977. It then turned up at Republic
Airlines as N59T. One more piece of DC-9 trivia ---- AC also flew one model
DC-9-31 (FIN754 C-FBKT) which was delivered June 13, 1988 from Van Nuys CA via
Tulsa to Mirabel. It was leased from Eastern (N8950E) and was withdrawn on Aug
13, 1989 and returned to the lessor (Eastern Airlines).
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" ' "
. Star Alliance news -
From the YYZNEWS issued by Brian Dunn
Lufthansa is naming one of its planes "Halifax" to thank the city for taking
care of passengers stranded by the September 11th terrorist crisis. Lufthansa
praised Halifax International airport and the city for helping passengers and
crew members diverted there after U.S. airspace was closed. About 7000
passengers were stranded when 40 planes were diverted to Halifax. Three of
Lufthansa's transAtlantic flights were forced to land in Halifax and wait.
Passengers were billeted in private homes, schools and churches.
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. Computers!
Employee Communications advises -
Thinking of Buying A Computer During the Holiday?
If you were planning to look for a new computer you might like
to know that Air Canada is currently negotiating with IBM to
offer a Computer Purchase Program for employees and retirees.
Using our purchasing power with IBM the prices should be
attractive. The details will be confirmed soon, so you may
want to put off buying that computer for the moment.
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" ' "
. Terry's travel tips.
Travelling to the UK. The Travelodge chain has 179 establishments up and
down England, with a further 12 in Scotland, 12 in Wales and 6 in Ireland. Cost
from gpb39.95 per room per night. Check web site www.travelodge.co.uk
The Travelinn chain has over 300 establishments in the UK. Prices from
gbp41.95 per room per night. Check web site www.travelinn.co.uk
Events being planned for Star Alliance employees and retirees are -
January - Sunshine Village - ski week in Banff.
February - Snow train to Jasper adventure
- Banff Lake Louise adventure.
check our web site www.acfamily.net for the link.
In NetLetter 644, John & Teresa Glew of the UK told us about some
accommodations, but has had to revise the information -
Well that super discount at the Holiday Inn LHR didn't last long did it !!! I
just phoned to make a Travel Industry rate booking for February and was told
that the £ 35.00 rate including breakfasts finishes on December 31st !!! From
1st. January the NEW Travel Industry rate is £ 42.50 per room (single or
double)and that DOES NOT include breakfast either !!! If one fancies breakfast
that,s another £ 15.95 per person (less 30% discount for guests). I guess all
good things must come to an end eh ! Still, £ 42.50 is still about the cheapest
you will get for a 5 star hotel so close to LHR.
Sorry for any inconvenience ... ... John and Teresa
DARGAL INTERLINE and Don Carlos Tours have created some spectacular tour
packages exclusively for you - all designed to make your stay in Costa Rica,
also known as Nature's Playground, a truly memorable one.
COSTA RICA BEACH AND FUN PACKAGE ~ 6 Nights/7 Days
Arrive in San Jose and transfer to the Hotel Don Carlos.
$479 USD per person including transfers to and from airport and taxes
COSTA RICA ADVENTURE PACKAGE ~ 6 Nights/7 Days
Arrive in San Jose and transfer to the Hotel Don Carlos
$599 USD per person including transfers to and from airport and taxes
COSTA RICA TURTLES & LAVA PACKAGE ~ 7 Nights/8 Days
Arrive in San Jose and transfer to the Hotel Don Carlos
$599 USD per person including transfers to and from airport and taxes
COSTA RICA PALETTE PACKAGE ~ 11 Nights/12 Days
Arrive in San Jose and transfer to the Hotel Don Carlos
$899 USD per person including transfers to and from airport and taxes
COSTA RICA HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE ~ 11 Nights/12 Days
Arrive in San Jose and transfer to the Hotel Don Carlos
$929 USD per person including transfers to and from airport and taxes
DON CARLOS TOURS & PALACE RESORTS: Rates are quoted in US dollars per person
(based on double occupancy) and are subject to change, availability and
eligibility.
For more information on these and other specials, contact us at:
DARGAL Interline 1-800-690-3223 (North America)
International: (Country Code)-800-2832-7425
Fax: (250) 861-3283
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. Smilie.
"Ladies and geltemen, this is your captain speaking, thank you for flying
Air Alaska. We are beginning our descent, please stow your baggage and bring
your tables into the upright position. I have been remined to inform you that
you may notice tons of mistletoe hanging at the gates of our competitors. Don't
be alarmed - it's just to remind you that when you fly with our competitors you
can plan of kissing yur baggage goodbye"
(Unless you fly through YYZ - eds)
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. DID YOU KNOW?
That you can read or retrieve back issues of "theNetLetter" ?
Just visit our web site at:
http://www.acfamily.org/netletter
and click on the "Archives" button.
This area is only open to "the NetLetter" subscribers and you will
need the following password to enter -
User Name: netletter Password: vesta
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