The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
June 25, 2012 - Issue 1210
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First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
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NetLetter Past Issues
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Donation Information
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Send cheques payable to "ACFamily Network" to:
ACFamily Network
#800 - 15355 24th Ave, Suite 523
Surrey, BC V4A 2H9
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Sponsors
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Greetings!
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Welcome to the NetLetter!
We welcome you to allow the NetLetter to be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC, Wardair. etal. and share your experiences with us!
Terry Baker and the NetLetter Team
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ACRA Upcoming Events- Compiled by Alan Rust
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 Retirees Welcome!
The following events are available for retirees through ACRA, the Air Canada Recreation Association.
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ACRA System Golf turns 50!
Just as Air Canada celebrates its 75 year anniversary this year, the employees who started the Air Canada Recreation Association over 50 years ago are also celebrating with their 50th Anniversary System Golf Tournament!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone event that we hope you can attend.
Date: September 9 - 12, 2012
Where: San Diego, California
Venue: Sycuan Resort & Casino
Prizes: To help celebrate this event, Air Canada Vacations has donated a prize of a 7 Night all inclusive package for two to Mexico with Air and Hotel at the Gran Bahia Principe Coba in a Double Occupancy Junior Suite.
For further information and registration visit: www.acra.ca/events/system/golf.html
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| Our First 75 years - Compiled by Terry Baker |
 This year (2012) we are celebrating the 75th Anniversay of Air Canada which started way back in 1937. Below are some memories from those years. |
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 1939 - March - TCA operated their first official air mail and air express between Montreal and Vancouver.
passengers added during April.
1958 - Spring - Inaugural service YVR-YWG-Gander-LHR, named the "Hudson Bay" service, which did not actually fly over Hudson Bay, but passed over James Bay.
1966 - April 24th - Inauguration of Vancouver- London, England, The "Western Arrow" service.
1976 - April 30th - Airtransit (STOL) operation closed down.
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| Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker |
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 Reader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below have been submitted to us by our faithful readers.
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 Robert Arnold sends us more submissions from the Robert W. Arnold/Morien Collection: Attached is a blueprint I think your readers might be interested in. It shows in 1/48 scale the placement of all the markings and lettering that would go on the Viscount. Maybe someone would remember referring to it as they applied the stenciling. One must note that the drawing was "Printed in England" which makes it an important and historic document. It is dated March 5, 1954. |
 This photo is unidentified. Unfortunately the calendar in the background is not clear and there is nothing on the reverse of the photo except TCA8328.
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 Also from the Winnipeg base, it looks like he is operating a hole-punch and appears to be punching holes in a piece of sheet aluminum. Does anyone know the name of this gentleman? |
 Andrei Bobko sends us this photo:
Don't know if this pic, titled "CPAir Best Exposure" has been published before... 747 with a DC3 at Vancouver Airport circa 1969/70. The DC3 was sold to Harrison Airways shortly after. Andrei Bobko CP/Canadian 1969-1993.
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| TCA/Air Canada People Gallery - Compiled by Terry Baker |
 Below we have musings from the "Between Ourselves" and "Horizons" magazine, Air Canada publications from years gone by, as well as various in-house publications. The NetLetter has been fortunate enough to have our readers donate vintage Trans-Canada Air Lines and Air Canada publications from as far back as 1941 to share with you. These have been scanned and are being prepared for presenting in a special area of the ACFamily Network for archival and genealogy research.
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 Here we have the commemorative envelope for the inaugural flight from Mirabel on October 7th, 1975. |
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Issue dated - June 1976
Found in the pages of "Horizons" magazine -
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 In April, the first daily non-stop flight between Montreal and Cleveland was under the command of Capt. Albert M. Burns.
A cargo seminar was held at l'Esterel north of Montreal during the week of April 25th, 1976.
Attending the course were, from the left seated: Archie Segers, Brussels; Bernie Pilz, Paris; Manfred Harmens, DusseIdorf; Jim Opre, Buffalo; and John Buchanan, London, England. From the left standing are: Bob Fuhrman, Los AngeIes; Ron Maines, Halifax; Bill Fleming, Vancouver; Lucien Cuillaum, Montreal; Sam Tollestrup, Chicago; Anita David, Montreal; Phil Hebert, Windsor; Rainer Loewen, Lufthansa; Mark Rosenberg, Toronto; Herb Guilfoyle, Montreal; Bob Sedlak, CIeveland; Manjil Singh, Montreal; Paul Robillard, Sudbury; Mike Saucier, Mirabel; and Berl Laing, Los Angeles. Missing was Dave Roy of Montreal. (Rumour has it that Dave was at the bar buying drinks for everyone.) |
 This team came up with a better and cheaper way to make the repairs to the DC-8 nose cowl bulkheads:
Standing behind a Series 63 nose cowl are, from the left: Bill Fissel, Alex L eBlanc, Jacques Brunet, Henry Elliott and Foreman Jack Mcintosh. Missing from the photo is "Rosy" Galazzo. |
 Off to London LHR:
Prestwlck Warehouseman Robert Neilson is well armed for his new job as Cargo Agent, London. The gifts presented to him by employees of the Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland district enable him to calculate the time required to consume the contents of that odd-looking shiny item. Shown at the farewell reception are, from the left: Alf Allwright, Cargo Sales Service Manager; Ian Dawson, Passenger Agent; Robert Warehouseman, Gus Mackay and Jim McCall, Cargo Agent. |
 The Montreal ACRA Girls Basketball League completed another successful season in 1976, the winning team obviously pleased with their efforts. From the left are, front row: Vi Stasiuk, Patricia St. Germain, Lorraine Cook and Pat Saito. Back row: Helen Bain, Beverley Cotton, Marna Greig and Nicki Garratt. |
| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
 All Alone in the Night - Time-lapse footage of the Earth as seen from the ISS
Inspired by a clip called 'What does it feel like to fly over planet Earth?', the creator of this YouTube video tracked down the original time-lapse sequence taken on the International Space Station (ISS) via NASA, found some additional ones there, including the spectacular Aurora Australis sequences, and set it to a soundtrack that almost matches the awe and wonder you feel when seeing our home from above.
Sequences:
- North-to-south down the western coast of North and South America.
- North-to-south over Florida, the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands.
- South-East Asia, approaching the Philippine Sea.
- Western Europe, from France through Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East.
- Aurora Australis, over the Indian Ocean, approaching Australia.
- Aurora Australis, over the Indian Ocean.
- Aurora Australis, unknown location in the Southern Hemisphere.
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| All Alone in the Night - Time-lapse footage of the Earth as seen from the ISS |
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Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker
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 News and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and it's "ancestry" of contributing airlines. |
Regarding the photo DC10_Rome_Dec11_1979 in NetLetter nr 1209 was sent in by Harry Baedak who now sends this information:
the other names of the cockpit crew from the left as I remember are as follows: ck S/O- Don Davis - S/O ? Kennedy - Harry Baedak -F/O John McFarland Ck Capt. John McNee.
Cheers Harry
Don Saunders has sent us this information:
WARDAIR CANADA LTD 50 YEARS AGO
A reunion of a number of Wardair Canada employees was held on May 10, 2012 in Edmonton. Twenty-one original staff that started the first year of Wardair's overseas charter operation were on hand as well as a number of key Wardair employees during the twenty eight years that the company operated on overseas and domestic with both charter and scheduled service.
The evening was filled with memories, rumor, nostalgia and old stories- many embellished and exaggerated as so many years had passed.
 The first aircraft was a DC6C, CF-CZZ, leased from Canadian Pacific Airlines and utilized, initially, freighting in the high Arctic for the Polar Shelf Continental project.
The first overseas flight was completed on June 22,1962 from Edmonton to Copenhagen using CF-CZZ in a passenger mode In 1963, another DC-6B was purchased from KLM (CF-PCI) and operated on overseas until 1966 when the first jet aircraft a Boeing 727-11, CF-FUN was purchased.
It was a delight to have the founder and boss, Max Ward attend along with his wife Marjorie. Doreen Rouse, Mr. Wards personal secretary for so many years and Bob Ohara who ran the office were on hand.
Pilots, Flight Engineers and Navigators were: Bob Gartshore, Phil Gaunt, Bill Miles, Rae Audette, Garth Martin, Don Saunders, Doug Marfleet and Jo Storhaug.
Our first stewardesses, Maryanne McIndoe and Helen Maclagan attended, along with seven original young ladies who were attending university and flying in the busy summer months. Brenda Matas, Brenda Mallen, Jane Auxier, MargaretAnne Madison, Ida Vinkenberg, Kitty VanVliet and Marilynn Smith were present to enhance the exclusive group.
These were the first to serve all passengers a filet steak on Royal Dalton china that was the hallmark of Wardair cabin service. Don sent us the photo of the Wardair display.
This enthusiastic staff were the nucleus of an outstanding airline that had an unblemished, unique and proud safety record having never harmed a passenger or lost an aircraft on this overseas flying. Capt. Don Saunders tells us that they had such a grand time during the reunion, they forgot to take photos! (imagine - eds)
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| Reader's Feedback - Compiled by Terry Baker |
Every week we ask our readers for their stories or feedback on what they have read here in previous issues. Below is the feedback we have received recently.
Andre sent us this appeal: It would be very much appreciated by numerous ex-employees, both active and retired to add NORDAIR (to your list of contributing airlines). Nordair is a former (very successful) Airline, which always turned out PROFITS, had excellent employee/company relations, the only Airline covering all northern destinations of Quebec, and who was known to have the BEST PILOTS considering the weather conditions in that part of the world. A part of history, as well.
Sincerely Andre
PS: I invite all ex employees to forward pictures or other additional info!
Alan Rust, our Co-pilot, responded, and invited submissions of Nordair material: The Nordair logo has been present in every issue for quite a while now (see side panel). Also, I worked for Nordair briefly from March 1973 to Feb 1974 so I have an interest in Nordair as well. Any articles or photos are always welcome!
Roger Rouse send us this information:
Re NetLetter #1207. The Mexican photo has some familiar faces. Can't remember the names except for what looks like Guy Chiasson (3rd from right standing), at one time AC Airport Manager at Dorval. If right, then it's a Sales group function. Roger Rouse (ex Passenger Agent, YUL)
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Odds and Ends.
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 Sometimes we receive articles and information that just doesn't fit in our other areas. This is where it goes!
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 The first non-stop flight across the Pacific from Japan to the United States was accomplished when Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon II landed at Wenatchee, Washington, on October 5th, 1931. The landing was a "belly landing" as the undercarriage had been jettisoned to lessen the drag. |
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Jack Stephens, who is a researcher for the www.vickersviscount.net web site was exchanging emails regarding bird strikes, and passes them along for our readers - This is what Jack sent to the web site:
My father who was an Air Engineer (Inspection) TCA/Air Canada, DC-3, and the Viscount... was inspecting the leading edge de-icer boot on a DC-3, and noticed the head of bird. It was a small shore bird type. The sharp beak was imbedded in the rubber still attached to the head. No reports came in of the strange landing of a headless bird.
During the second world war, he was training pilots with the Commonwealth Air Training Plan at Fort William Ontario, Canada. He told the story of flying along beside a large flock of Canada Geese in their Tiger Moth. He said they were very close and all the geese did was glance at them, but never deviated from formation. Take care... Canada Jack (eh!)
Jack received this response from Brian Powell - Reading about bird-strikes: I recall an incident of a collision between a Canada Goose and a TCA Viscount. The goose was large enough to penetrate the wing leading-edge and embedded itself against the main spar. Has anybody any record of this incident?
Your story reminded me that we used to use thermals in Rhodesia to regain lost height while teaching aerobatics in Tiger Moths. It was not unusual to find ourselves accompanied by a dozen or so birds sharing our thermal!
I remember an incident on a Britannia flying over the Alps at night when we flew through a flock of starlings migrating south to Africa at the end of the European summer. Fortunately there was no damage to the aircraft; but my flight engineer subsequently identified evidence of more than thirty strikes after we had landed.
On a lighter note: I was assigned to train pilots of Turkish Airlines at Yesilkoy - the airport for Istanbul. Yesilkoy had a perennial problem with sea gulls during six weeks of the nesting season, so much so that it was the subject of a special flight-briefing. The breeding season ended during my stay there, and I remember a due reference from the briefing officer - in rather broken English, that the season was now considered ended because by then the seagulls were not flying because they were "too tired". (Dare I admit a certain sneaking sympathy for the sea-gulls?)
Yours, Brian Powell
Jack points out that Brian Powell was the first commercial pilot endorsed to fly the Viscount. He was a test pilot for Vickers Armstrong's. He sure has a keen memory!
Jack wonders if any readers will recall the Viscount/Goose incident?
The following was found on the internet, but not related to the above memory: A bird strike forced an Air Canada flight en route from Vancouver to Maui, Hawaii, to turn back Saturday, December 26th 2009. The 256 passengers landed safely back in Vancouver around 9:30 p.m. and the airline arranged for another flight for them, said Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick. The pilot "felt a bit of a vibration in the engine and turned back as a precaution." (Fitzpatrick said it was determined that a bird had flown into the engine. - eds)
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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 ZED flight listing changes. When traveling on ZED fares, please remember to check the listing process on the Employee Travel site under the News & Policies > Policies > List of OAL Zed Carriers > Carrier Name, as these processes can change. We have also been advised the www.flyzed.com website will cease to exist.
The following airlines have made changes effective immediately - make sure you list properly!
- Austrian Airlines
- Adria Airways
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Swiss Airlines
- Thai Airways
(Source: Daily issued June 12th 2012)
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| Smileys - Compiled by Terry Baker |
As we surf the internet and back issues of airline magazines we regularly find airline related jokes and cartoons. Below is our latest discovery.
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 This Dave Mathias cartoon appeared in the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued August 1962.
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The NetLetter is an email newsletter published (usually) once a week and contains a mixture of nostalgia, current news and travel tips. We encourage our readers to submit their stories, photos and/or comments from either days gone by or from present day experiences and trips. If we think that the rest of our readers will enjoy it, we will publish it here
We also welcome your feedback in regard to anything we post here. Many readers have commented with additional information, names and personal memories from the photos and articles presented here.
The NetLetter, which is free, is open to anyone that wishes to subscribe but is targeted to retired employees from Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and all the other companies that were part of what Air Canada is today. Thanks for joining us!
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
Sincerely,
Your NetLetter Team
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Disclaimer: Please note, that neither the NetLetter or the ACFamily Network necessarily endorse any of the airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers. We would be interested in any feedback (good or bad) when using these companies though and will report the results here. We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link.
E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted) - The historical information as well as any other information provided here is subject to correction and may have changed over time. We do publish corrections when they are brought to our attention.
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First published in October, 1995
- Chief Pilot - Terry Baker, Nanaimo, B.C.
- Co-pilot - Alan Rust, Surrey, B.C.
- Flight Engineer - Bill Rowsell, Londesboro, Ontario
- Stewardess - Lisa Ruck, Brooklin, Ontario
To contact us, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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