The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
December 31, 2012 - Issue 1235
|
|
| |
|
First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
|
|
NetLetter Past Issues
|
 |
|
Donation Information
|
Send cheques payable to "ACFamily Network" to:
ACFamily Network
#800 - 15355 24th Ave, Suite 523
Surrey, BC V4A 2H9
|
|
Sponsors
|
 |
|
|
|
Greetings!
|
Welcome to the NetLetter!
We want to be the "last" to wish you a Happy New Year (as we're a bit late with this issue). It's hard to believe that we've been bringing you the NetLetter Since 1995, 18 years!
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
|
| Star Alliance News |
United will launch new flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, beginning on May 1, 2013. The airline also serves Edmonton from its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, and San Francisco.
New service between the Washington-Dulles hub and Vancouver will begin on June 8, 2013. United serves Vancouver year-round from Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and seasonally from New York-Newark.
On June 6, 2013 United will start service between Denver and Fort McMurray, the only nonstop service offered from Fort McMurray to the United States. SkyWest Airlines will operate the daily flights.
|
| Air Canada News |
"Virtual Hold" now at Call Centres.
"Virtual Hold" has now successfully rolled out at our Call Centres in Canada and the USA and it is currently offered for General Reservations and Web Support services. With this new product, customers are now given an estimated wait time and the option of a call-back rather than remaining on hold.
|
| Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker |
|
 Reader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below have been submitted to us by our faithful readers.
|
 Gerry Meyers took this photo of the Vancouver airport CPA employees (YVRAP) back dropped by the famous statue at the airport. This was taken just days before the merger with Air Canada. (No names are supplied, but here is a challenge for you - who is in this
photo - eds)
|
|
|
| |
| 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.
|
Front covers of "Between Ourselves" magazine issue #122 Jan 1954 through #132 Dec 1954.
(Note, issue #132 was the final edition in booklet form. Issue #133 January 1955 onwards are a full sized paper without any front cover picture - eds)
1940
- Early in the year, air mail and passenger service to Moncton was in operation.
- Air mail and express were carried between Toronto, London and Windsor beginning in July, and in August passenger service was established
- A second daily flight went into effect on the transcontinental route and another daily trip was added between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal
- Six Lockheed Lodestars were purchased
- The hangar at Moncton was opened
- Shop facilities at Winnipeg were expanded to provide the additional accommodation required to take care of instrument repairs for military aircraft
- Operation and traffic headquarters were transferred from Montreal to Winnipeg. (source 1942 annual report)
1974 - Dec 1st - Inaugural service to SFO.First
1975
- April 27th - Service to Charlottetown commenced.
- July 1st - Inauguration of service to Texas, USA
- Oct 4th - Official opening of the company facilities at Mirabel (YMX)
- Nov 30th - First scheduled flight from Mirabel (YMX) departed for YYZ & Nassau.
1988 - May 19th - Air Canada Public Privatization Participation Bill tabled in House of Commons.
|
|
Mae Wilson sent us this report and photos.
Our Pionairs Christmas party was held on December 2nd, 2012 and there were 60 people in attendance,
it was at the upstairs section of the Casa Grecque, known as the Olympia Room. on boul St. Jean, Dollard des Ormeaux QC. We had Soups and Salads, dinner choices of delicious Roast Beef or grilled Atlantic Salmon, equally as delicious. Music was provided by
Retired F/A Louise Arseneault and many were up dancing between courses and after the meal. We had a selection of Door Prizes of SAQ Gift Certificates, $50 bills and $25 cash. The lucky winners were pleased with their various prizes.  
|
|
In NetLetter nr 1226, we ran information supplied by Mae Wilson regarding the information meetings for retirees held in Dorval, here is an update on the latest such meeting -
The Information Meeting held in October was a great success, with 245 Pionair Members in attendance. It was held at the Holiday Inn on Cote de Liesse in Dorval, and followed by a buffet lunch served around the indoor pool. We had Bruce Aubin talking about the Pension Plan and an Air Canada representative talking about the Claims Secure Medical Plan. Our own John Gomes, member of our Pionairs Committee and Retired AC Employee, gave a Power Point presentation on Personal Financial Services, which was well received.
All presenters took questions after their presentations, thus adding to the success of the meeting. This is the third of these meetings we have held. They were held in 2008, 2010 and now this year. They have become a very popular event in YUL.
Mae gave us this short bio -
I've been on the committee for over 10 years, in various positions from Director on. A few years ago John Rodger was President and I was Treasurer of National. We had the AGMs at Quebec City and at Niagara Falls, ON. A lot of work but fun to be on the Planning Committee for them both. We offer services to members who are unable to book their own travel due lack of knowledge or no computers, and answer their questions or direct them to where answers can be found. Right now I am part of a YUL Social Events Committee of 4. We make arrangements for all our events, from booking the venues to organizing the events, advertising them, and taking the registrations. We keep a file of these activities hopefully to be helpful for future event planning.
Note: You can join the Pionairs by visiting their website at: www.pionairs.ca
|
|
Issue dated - April 1949
Some items gleaned from the "Between Ourselves" magazines.
|
|
 Stewardesses all!
Latest graduates in charm and dignity from Stewardess training classes at Winnipeg are these brand new TCA Stewardesses.
Standing, left to right: M.Gough, E. Robertson, D. Mortimer, R. Segal, S. Taylor, J.Thomson, A. Potvin., M. Viel, F. Perkins, Flight Service Instructor. Sitting, left to right: M. McGillivray, P. Workum, L. Sundberg, A. McAllister, A. Bourque, J. Telford, D. Coulthard.
|
Issued April 1972.
Service Bases have been meeting with the In-Flight Service Improvement Project Team members to identify problems and opportunities as seen from the Flight Attendant perspective. Shown at recent meetings are the Montreal and Toronto groups.
In the Toronto Group are. from the left standing: Rick Begin. Marilyn Carew. Project Team Member; Shurl Israel; Andrea Findley; Hans Birsfelder; Linda Faucher; and Project Team Members Jean Rousseau and Joan Jaegar. Seated. from the left: Bill Hartman; Jennifer Kirton; Erika Moghal; Jean Crossan.
Missing from photo: Margaret Shannon; Francine Roberts.
|
 Shown in the Montreal Group are. from the left standing: Roger Leclerc; Claude LeVallee; Ursula Rose; Yves Brunelle; Gunther Voss; Claude Dumas: Jean Rousseau. Project Team Member; Patricia Fisher; Jean Guillot. Seated from the left: Susan Dempsey, Monique Delisle. Irma Eibich, Monique Forget. Missing are Marie-France Gonneville. Denis Sarrazin, M. F. Genty. D. Brien, M. Mirabelli.
|
|
Issue dated - December 1975
From the "Horizons" magazine.
|
In December 1975, Two contracts were signed with Cubana Airlines. One contract for a General Sales Agreement and the other for two Conway powered DC-8-43 series aircraft leased to Cubana for two years. The first aircraft was delivered on February 3rd 1976, the second on February 28th. The painting in Cubana colours was carried out at Dorval. The contract included flight, maintenance and ground training to be carried out at Dorval.
Mirabel opens with no fuss
The company's operation out of Mirabel International Airport began November 30 when a charter flight took off al 7:30 a.m. for Toronto and Nassau. The first scheduled passenger flight (970) left at 9:30 a.m. bound for the Caribbean, followed minutes later by a cargo flight to the Maritimes." It was a smooth start-up, and everything worked as planned," said Marcel Limoges, Airport Customer Service Manager for the new airport. " In spite of facing new systems and concepts in operation, all areas are functioning well , and subsequent flights have been operating relatively smoothly ever since," he said.
 Among the passengers on the first scheduled flight were Dorval Baggage Agent Jean Verreault, his wife Lucille and children Lyne and Josee, shown being greeted by Passenger Agent Eric Painter. |
 Issue dated January 1976 -
San Francisco beauties help celebrate the company's first on-line birthday at the
Air Canada sponsored Interline Club party. Shown from the left are San Francisco passenger agents Betty Hirschfeld, Liz Napetschnig, Ellen Graziano, Susan Ross and Ann Pulford. The company began service to San Francisco December 1, 1974.
|
| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
|
Submitted by Rob Hemmett
From pilot John Veale,
Join me for another flight over some of the most beautiful country anywhere. We depart Nanaimo Airport (CYCD) for a flight of an hour and twenty minutes (Edited down to nineteen) We fly over some of the southern BC 'Gulf' Islands to the Saanich Peninsula, over Victoria International Airport (CYYJ) and follow the shoreline down the peninsula and around Victoria, BC's Capital city.
We continue NW along the coast and above the Strait of Juan de Fuca for approximately 90 miles or so. We then turn inland over Vancouver Island and follow tidal Nitinat Lake to its head and then on further to the head of Cowichan Lake. (Some very beautiful video here) From here we fly on to our point of departure, Nanaimo Airport.
Enjoy, as we once again take in the view from the 'Best Seat on the Planet" our Bushby Mustang ll C-GAIF. (Forgive me, I'm biased. :-))
Enjoy your ride in the right seat! The view is superb! Questions? Contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 |
| The Best Seat on the Planet - for exploring Victoria & Southern Vancouver Island |
|
Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker
|
 News and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and its "ancestry" of contributing airlines. |
 In December 1987. A booklet titled "Meet the Canadians" was issued containing photos of the North American Sales Group, here we have the seventh page. |
|
Issue dated - May 1988
Items from the "Info Canadi>n" magazine -
|
 Nine passenger agents from European bases recently attended a training
course in Vancouver. Front, from left, Istl Hadlnoto, Frankfurt; Instructor Jean Haldane, Vancouver; Ursula Peters, Frankfurt; Lone Nielsen, Copenhagen,
Claudia Zelenka, Vienna. Second row, from left, Shirley Maehrholz, Frankfurt; Andrea Schaefer-Mousa, Frankfurt; Ingrid Van Vaek, Brussels; and Bernd Bagerhorn and Ellen Knutson, both of Frankfurt.
Retirees, Pionairs hold the first joint luncheon.
Well over 1,000 retiree and spouses, members of both the Pionair and the PWA Retiree Association from around the world gathered in Vancouver for the first annual joint luncheon on May 16th, 1988.
|
| 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.
|
|
Bill Norberg has responded with this information regarding the photo in NetLetter nr 1231 -
The photo of the former AIR CANADA sign on the end of the Line Maintenance hangar at Dorval was so sad. I remember so well how proud we all were when that sign was erected after the Base was built in 1960. The original wording is now reduced to "NADA"... how prophetic! The grim summary of the current state of the former technical facilities of Air Canada by Frank Pedder was absolutely sickening and should be of great concern to us all.
Air Canada has been given International recognition over the years for its Technical Excellence and has been a major contributor to the industry in the areas of improved maintenance procedures and safety. I was fortunate to join Trans-Canada Air Lines in 1940 when it was a fledgling airline. The maintenance facilities at that time were not large but they were of the highest quality. The best tools and equipment were available to its employees who had great pride of workmanship. I saw the airline grow from the 40's through to the 80's and at no point was quality ever compromised. We had pride in our technical abilities and our facilities. I remember so well when we moved into the new Base at Dorval in the spring of 1960. For the first time we had a facility that encompassed all facets of the technical operations of the airline. It was a well designed facility and permitted us to do all our maintenance work in house as well as to do work for other airlines.
Then Air Canada Enterprises came into being presumably to make Air Canada more efficient and profitable. Gradually the resources of the original airline were sold off to other parties who had different objectives than the airline. The maintenance facilities across the system were sold off to a third party who were to provide maintenance services to the airline.
Next thing we know they have gone into bankruptcy overnight leaving Air Canada high and dry to find maintenance services wherever they could. The facilities and organization that were the pride of the airline were gone forever. This must be a great concern for the management of Air Canada... if not, then it certainly should be. There is an expression I have used for years..."As goes the technical side of the airline...so goes the airline".
John W. Norberg
|
Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
|
|
Some of the numerous deals with Interline Vacations.
Amazon Voyage
10 Day Lima to Lima from $2925
Depart: Mar 8, 29, & Apr 5, 26, 2013
Galapagos Islands
10 Day Guayaquil to Guayaquil from $3825*
Depart: Dec 21, 2012 Jan 25 & Feb 8, 2013
Royal Caribbean International
Allure of the Seas
7-night Caribbean - Fort Lauderdale round-trip
- Jan 20, In/Out/Bal/Dlx $699/1099/849/1549
- Feb 17, In/Out/Bal/Dlx $699/769/849/2349
[Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, At Sea, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, At Sea, At Sea, Fort Lauderdale]
or 7-night Caribbean - Fort Lauderdale round-trip
- Jan 13, In/Out/Bal/Dlx $649/719/799/1499
- Jan 27, In/Out/Bal/Dlx $649/899/799/1999
- Feb 24, In/Out/Bal/Dlx $649/999/799/2249
[Fort Lauderdale, At Sea, Labadee, Falmouth, At Sea, Cozumel, At Sea, Fort Lauderdale]
FOR MORE TRAVEL BARGAINS, CALL US! In U.S.A. or CANADA 800-200-7170 (toll free) or +1 512-691-4501 or visit on-line at www.PERX.com
 Here is a standby no no, from "Horizons" magazine issued January 1976. -
The caption is "Come on Joe. I happen to know First Class is open."
|
| 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.
|
|
|
 This cartoon by Don Rice of CP YVR Cargo found in the "Canadi>n Flyer" issued June 1997.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
| |
|
