The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
August 8, 2012 - Issue 1215
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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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| Vacation Time - by Alan Rust |
 We may be a bit delayed in getting the NetLetter out to you in the next month or so.
Our target is to send out the NetLetter every 7 to 10 days if possible.
I managed to get a good deal on an Alaska Cruise and am not sure if I'll have a very good internet access on board or not. We actually have three trips planned before the end of September, so we'll see how it goes.
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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.
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR
ACRA GOLF!!!
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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 |
1942 - May 2nd - Airmail, air express and passenger service to Newfoundland commenced this date with Lockheed L10A CF-TCG under the command of Capt. Trerice, Capt. "Walt" Fowler.and Stewardess Reid.
1948 - Schedule for Transcontinental, International and Trans-Atlantic issued effective June 1st. |
| Women in Aviation - Compiled by Terry Baker |
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This is from the "Between Ourselves" magazine issued April 1966.
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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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 To complement the promotion that we have been running for many months now for the 50th System Golf Tournament, we received this from Ron Castelli -
Hi, I am Ron Castelli. i have been on the Air Canada System Golf Committee for over 25 years.
I joined the committee in 1986 which happened to be Air Canada's 50th anniversary year. I was asked to be the site host at the beautiful Palm Desert Country Club in Palm Desert, California. This ended up as being our largest golf event with 250 golfers and guests attending.
This year is Air Canada's 75th anniversary year and I am still on the committee and now I find myself again being the site host. This years event is at Sycuan Golf and Casino Resort in San Diego County, CA.
Throughout my last 25 years with the help of the other committee members, we have tried to bring everyone to many different and wonderful locations throughout Canada, Europe and the U.S. I attempted to find unique locations that many would never have gone to. At the same time I was trying to never go back to a previous site only new sites.
My 25 years in searching out many sites and procuring them with the committee has been rewarding in itself, knowing that we were giving the attendees a new and different location to see and enjoy each and every year.
When I thought of doing the last 50 years (my last 50 years) I assumed that this was when ACRA System Golf started, however I was mistaken. As you can see, the annual system golf event has been going on for many years. With the assistance of Terry Baker, of the NetLetter, we have located information that goes back to 1954 and possibly earlier. but no news articles are available to confirm earlier tournaments.
The bag tags that I have put together show the locations and the golf clubs that were used throughout the years.
- 1954 YWG ELMHURST
- 1955 IDL BETPAGE BLACK
- 1956 YQR REGINA,
- 1957 YUL LACHUTE
- 1958 IDL NOW JFK
- 1959 YYZ BOLTON GOLF
- 1960 YVR MARINE DR.
- 1961 YWG ELMHURST
- 1962 IDL OLD BROOKVILLE
- 1963 YOW HUNT & G.C
- 1964 YYZ PINE VALLEY
- 1965 YUL WHITLOCK
- 1966 YEG GLENDALE C.C
- 1967 SYD LINGAN G.C.
- 1968 YVR PEACE PORTAL
- 1969 YSJ WESTFIELD G.C.,
- 1970 YWG BEL ACRES,
- 1971 YQI BRIGHTWOOD G.C
- 1972 LAX LOS VERDDES
- 1973 PIK OLD PRESTWICK
- 1974 YVR PEACE PORTAL
- 1975 YYZ GLEN EAGLE
- 1976 YUL ILE PERROT
- 1977 SNN KILLARNEY
- 1978 YUY RESEAU
- 1979 HOU TEXAS
- 1980 NAS SOUTH OCEAN
- 1981 YEG WINDERMERE
- 1982 LAX ANAHEIM HILLS
- 1983 ORD INDIAN LAKES
- 1984 YSJ RIVERSIDE
- 1985 YVR WHISTLER
- 1986 PSP PALM DESERT C.C.
- 1987 YOW OUTAQUAIS
- 1988 PEI BELVEDERE
- 1989 PSP MISSION HILLS
- 1990 PSP DESERT PRINCESS
- 1991 MIA DORAL C.C.
- 1992 SAN CARMEL HILAND
- 1993 NIA WHIRLPOOL
- 1994 TPA SADDLEBROOK
- 1995 YSJ TERRA NOVA
- 1996 YYC FAIRMONT HOT SP
- 1997 PEI BRUDENELLE RIVER
- 1998 PILOTS STRIKE
- 1999 YWG HECLA
- 2000 GLA TROON
- 2001 PHX EAGLE MOUNTAIN
- 2002 PSP INDIAN WELLS
- 2003 PHX CAMELBACK
- 2004 PHX STONECREEK
- 2005 PHX FRANCISCO GRAN
- 2006 PHX LEGEND TRAIL,
- 2007 ATL HAMPTON CLUB
- 2008 TUS OMNI
- 2009 RDU LITTLE RIVER
- 2010 SFO FOXTAIL
- 2011 MCO MYSTIC DUNES
- 2012 SAN SYUCAN.
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 From the collection of photos sent in by the family of Martin Betts, we have this one taken at an unknown location, date or identities. Anyone? |
| 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 more on the TCA emblem story from Jim Bruce started in NetLetter nr 1214.
Check out the markings on this DC-3. The photo is dated Nov 28, 1946 (snow on the ground). Maintenance people starting the engine with the cowling off. Note the roadster in the background and parking lot. I assume this is YWG and the building is Cafeteria/Engineering.
Jack Stephens passed this comment to Jim - Have been reading with interest your observations. Let me add all the bikes parked along the wall. I suspect this would give indication that it must be spring in good old Wpg. Could those be hoist frames for engine changes?
Jim followed up with - I find it very interesting that although this is winter, there is a guy walking towards the plane seemingly in shirt sleeves, the cockpit window is open, and the baggage door. I can now make out two heads in the cockpit, the captain looking at the No.1 engine, and the prop isn't turning and there are visible signs of exhaust (suggesting colder air?). It seems the camera caught the image right at the instant starting was initiated! It does look like a small snow drift near that roadster and the small structure. And snow on the roof and window sills. Are those things leaning against the buildings tow bars?
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 I have the DC-3 Engineering Drawing 6-05-3096 Exterior Marking & Registration/Fuselage (Dec 13, 1948). So that's the date that the "traditional" markings began. The drawing was "checked by" Ed Winnik, who I didn't meet until going to Montreal. So he was from YWG, I guess. I can't fathom the draftsman's initials: it was "Approved By", D.C.B.
Regarding the BOAC Speedbird on the maple leaf in 1937, I think that only lasted less than a year, before BOAC got TCA to remove what was basically their logo.
Clayton Glenn (YUL) told me a story long ago about how the TCA markings design came into being. He said, if my memory serves me, that he and Jim Bain and maybe Fred Ades were in Bain's office (YUL) and worked it out amongst themselves (no high priced designers involved)! So, I guess what's shown on this photo didn't last, (See detail of Markings Drawing above).
The white edging on the left side of the leaf is gone, and the three rings were replaced by two thin black concentric ones. The leaf itself didn't change much from what the photo shows. The type style on the leaf is what we ended up with in the end. The round top "A" changed and the letters sloped more.
Anyone have any more photos with these markings?
Jim
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On the same subject of TCA Logos, I read somewhere??? that the TCA logo was copied from the City of New York Parks and Recreation logo (see above). Or they copied it from TCA? Maybe it's just a co-incidence as well, but they look very similar.
Maybe someone has some more information on this - Alan Rust
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 (We thought that this cartoon by Dave Mathias from "Between Ourselves" issued June 1956 was appropriate - eds) |
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Issue dated - September 1944
Extract from "Between Ourselves" magazine -
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 Here we have two photographs under the heading "Gander 1942 - 1944"
In 1942 the following were on staff.
Left to right: Harris Bowering, Myron Zegarchuck, Harry Beardsell, Pete Majdonik, Art Balfour, Ron James and Bill Anders.
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 In 1944 this was the staff. Only two of the original 1942 staff.
Left to right: Frank Lukeman, Art Balfour, Ralph Wilcox, Ian Edwards, Bruce Bettinson, Brian Kemp, Dave Weir, and Bill Stanley, Cec Burton, Kneeling are Harry Bowering and Steve Glavine.
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| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
2012 Boundary Bay Airshow
(submitted by Tony Walsh)
The YouTube video below was created by John McManus, ex-Air Canada - YVR (John is retired but is still involved with YVR deicing centre operations in season). It contains a large number of photos of the 2012 Boundary Bay Airport Airshow on July 28, 2012 in Delta, B.C.
A large portion of the performing pilots in the warbirds and classic aircraft are active or retired AC/CAL Pilots and in one case an ex-AC - YVR ground staff member.
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| Boundary Bay Air Show 2012 |
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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.
- 1986 - Apr 29th - Non stop service between Canada and Shanghai commenced.
- 1987 - June 1st CP Air Holidays and Pacific Western Holidays merged with Treasure Tours.
- Oct 27th - Inaugural service between Canada and Beijing.
- Oct 29th - Inauguration of service between Vancouver and Bangkok
- 1988 - January 11th - inaugurated a weekly service between Puerto Vallarta and Toronto with B737 equipment.
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Issue dated - July 1987
Gleaned from the "Info Canadi>n" magazine -
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 Stan Wereschuk's hot air balloon C-FAME proudly flew the Canadian colours for the first time July 3 at the Calgary Stampede, the city's world famous annual rodeo.
Wereschuk, a Toronto-based Aircraft Mechanic, has been flying hot air balloons for 14 years and was the first balloonist to fly over Lake Ontario at night. He will be flying the Canadian colour during the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships in Barrie, Ont., July 16-27 and Aug. 8-18 in St. Jean-sur-Richilieu, Que.
Canadian Airlines employees were able to book a flight on the balloon for a reduced rate of $125 per person. (Did anyone take a trip in this balloon? - eds)
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Issue dated - April 1997
Found in the "Canadian Flyer" magazine-
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 Gathered together in London, Ontario are former CP Air employees, 1973-1984 vintage, along with their boney friends!
(L to R Back) Louis Gagnon, Wayne Cummins, retired Sales manager, Saskatchewan; John Turcot. retired passenger agent. YXU; Bill McMurray, retired Sales rep, YXU; Tony Hodgson, passenger agent, YVR airport; Rob Siddall. passenger agent YYZ airport; Brian Burbridge, passenger agent, YYZ airport; and Barb Lemmon.
Centre row: Maryann Burbridge; Antoinette Hodgson; Cheryl Gagnon, passenger agent YYZ airport; Kathy Percy; Fran Conway with Halloween ghost. Fred, retired passenger agent, YXU; Jane Leschasin; and Suzanne Siddall.
Front Row: Mike Lemmon, retired DSM. YXU 1973-1984; John Percy current Sales manager, YXU; and Darlene Havers, retired secretary, YXU. Thanks to Mike Lemmon for the photo.
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Issue dated - June 1997 Featured on the 1997 Colour Catalogue -
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 Toronto Flight Attendants (from left) Cynthia Cusimano, Eugenia Venchiarutti-Ambrose and Gabriella Tanner don Canadian Airlines beanie caps
Photo by Rick Sloboda.
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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.
Rosemary Malo has sent us this information. Rosemary has health challenges which requires expensive medication and she wishes to make others aware of the following situation...
I was advised by Air Canada/ClaimSecure that I have reached my lifetime maximum medical benefits!! No formal letter of notification that this termination was imminent! My husband and I are on fixed incomes, I turn 65 next March which will help with the drugs. I sincerely hope there are not any other retirees in my predicament. As I said, we should be advised if we are reaching our maximum limits before they happen so that alternative arrangements might have been made before there is nothing left.
In NetLetter nr 1213, under "Alan's Space" was the comment
"For all of our train enthusiasts, I'm not sure what type of train is shown at the beginning of the video!
Robert Yorke sent us this suggestion -
The train shown looks like a Burlington Northern Santa Fe G-9 type 4400 HP diesel engine max speed 84 mph Bob Yorke, RAPCAN
and Bill Evans went all out and provided this information -
The BNSF means Burlington Northern- Santa Fe. At one point the CN was attempting a takeover but Uncle Sam blocked it.
CN is about 10 times the size of the Union Pacific RR, which is a big RR. e.g. UP has maybe 7500 locomotives. CNR has closer to 80,000 Rolling stock. At 180 cars per train with 6 locos each, the CNR could have 2.4 million cars. My info might be 10 years old.
There are really only two manufacturers (and only room for 2) of Locomotives. General Motors and General Electric.
One way or another Montreal Locomotive Works, Fairbanks, Alco at Albany NY, and all the rest are gone. The humorous bit is that GE never wanted to build locos. They wanted to build electric motors and generators and control systems. But Fairbanks made such bad locos from GE parts that when they got into trouble, GE started up their own division. I think they now use Caterpillar engines, but there was that Dodge ad saying that locos use Cummins engines.
I think that the GM loco plant was closed after it's last large export order. One day I saw a whole trainload of Locos heading for the port of Montreal. In those days loco's delivered about 4000 hp, but are a little bigger now, maybe 4400 hp.
No locomotive today compares to the giants of the steam locomotive era. The biggest successful steam loco was the ALCO Big Boy. Wheel configuration 4-8-8-4. It weighed 1.25 million pound and delivered 8000 HP. One Big Boy would haul a train 5 miles long at 40 mph. If you Google on Big Boy Locomotives, I'm sure you'll satisfy your curiosity.
It was a different world, Alan. There were real men that ran the railroad, hardly any remain today.
Bill
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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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 Canada's efforts during WWII depicted on postage stamps issued November 10th, 1980.
There were 430 Lancaster aircraft produced by Victory Aircraft. The first being named "Ruhr Express".
Over 1000 Hawker Hurricane's were produced by Victory Aircraft. In 1950 Canada's first jet fighter CF-100 of 692 produced by Avro Canada For the WW1, almost 1300 Curtiss JN-4 "Canucks" were manufactured by Canadian Aeroplane Limited in Toronto.
North Caribou Air has added a BAe146-200 to its fleet. The aircraft c/n E2140 was with Air Nova and Jazz as fin #206 C-GRNT originally leased from BAe. Ex AirBC C-FBAB fin 401 c/n E2090 is serving as a source for spares. (Airways June 2012).
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Comfortable Home for Sale - Well-maintained and ready to move right in!
Pionair Elizabeth Garrett must sell her home due to health reasons. It contains 1.7 Acres on St. Joseph Island (half-hour from Sault Ste. Marie) situated on Lake Huron.
It's a year-round Ranch-style home, built in 1984, 3 Bedrooms, 2 full Bathrooms (ensuite with Bidet), walk-in closet in master bedroom, and ceramic-tiled foyer.
The house is 1,357 sq. ft. with lake-view from all rooms; detached oversize garage. Walk-out from sunroom to large deck with powered retractable awning at the push of a button; new roof and new hot water tank, pella windows, satellite dish, heavy duty trash compactor; three-sided propane fireplace plus electric baseboard eating, if ever required.
Will negotiate furnishings - Annual Property Tax approx. $2,100
Price has been reduced for quick-sale to $227,900. Elizabeth can be reached at: 705-246-3939. Alternate contact: (niece) Susan Richards (Barrie) 705-424-6199 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
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Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
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Be awarethat the Family Affair has been extended until September 3, 2012. All travel must be completed by September 10, 2012.
Air Canada boosts non-stop flights between Vancouver and Sydney Australia this winter; flights increased to 10 flights each week from December 14 through January for peak Canadian ski season.
Departure tax from the Cook Islands is us$55.00 for adults and us$15 for children.
Airway Vacations Interline Deals To GO!
Amalfi Coast Package7 Nights with confirmed air from us$1199*
Sorrento. The name is enchanting, alluring, enticing. Much like the siren's call from which the name Sorrento is believed to be derived, Sorrento summons you to discover the riches it has to offer. Includes 7 nights accommodations at Hotel Gardenia in Sorrento, round trip confirmed air from JFK (ask about other departure cities), weekly manual shift economy car rental. Airline taxes are additional. Travel Nov. 1 through March 31, 2012 Except holidays.
9-day Sicilian Fantasy Escorted Tour
from only us$2,499 with confirmed airfare and taxes. Depart for one of the most popular destinations in Europe without breaking your wallet with this exclusive offer. For a limited time, save up to $200 per couple on our 9-day Sicilian Fantasy escorted tour package!
What's Included:
- International round trip confirmed airfare departing from NYC (ask about other departure cities).
- 7 nights first class accommodations.
- Extensive sightseeing tours and entrance fees.
- Daily breakfast, 6 lunches and 7 dinners.
- Arrival and departure transfers.
- Touring by deluxe, air conditioned motor coach with professional tour director.
*Prices shown are per person based on double occupancy, during the month of July through December, 2012. Call for confirmed air options, additional nights and other tours in Costa Rica.
For more information call: 800 422 3727
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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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 Cartoon from "Blue Skies" a CP Air magazine issued July 1979. by B.Fallwell (YXT) Caption "CP Air to have many types of economy fares.!".
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 From the July 1987 edition of the "Info Canadi>n" magazine. What's In a name, eh? Quite a chuckle when the peculiar Canadianism "eh" is added to the corporate logo! Some Calgary maintenance staffers used cardboard letters to conjure up this humorous photo. No harm In a little fun, eh?
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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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