The NetLetter
For Air Canada Retirees
(Part of the ACFamily Network)
November 11, 2013 - Issue 1280
|
|
| |
|
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
|
 |
|
|
| |
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
|
| Upcoming events - Compiled by Terry Baker |
From the UK Pionairs monthly newsletter:
- 17th November, Kempton Park Race course - Heathrow Airport Enthusiasts' Fair.
- 29th November (Friday), ACRA visit to Bath Christmas. Tickets from Nickie Collings, 0208750 8403.
- 1st December (Sunday), UK Pionairs Xmas Lunch at Burnham Beeches hotel.
- 6th December, ACRA Dinner Dance at the Marriott Hotel.
- 19th December, ACRA visit to the Pantomime at the Beck theatre - "Cinderella"
Contact Stuart Hyde, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Jack Morath, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.
|
| Star Alliance News |
 US Airways' transition to " oneworld" from the Star Alliance is set to happen quickly after the carrier's merger with American Airline is approved. Aegean and Egyptair sign codeshare agreement. This agreement comes in the light of EGYPTAIR's strategy to expand its network worldwide and to enhance its presence in Greece. The agreement began on October 27, 2013. |
| Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker |
|
 Reader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below have been submitted to us by our faithful readers.
|
 John Rodger sends us this information and photo received this photo from the Manager of I/F. It's a lapel pin. He asked me what it might be for. I don't know. Looks like a light bulb. I thought it might be for an idea that somebody put in.
He received it from a family of a deceased retiree. (Does anyone know what this pin was for, and who has one? - eds) |
 Norman Hogwood thought you may be interested in this pic.
Auckland is the only airport outside Dubai that has 3 x A380's on the ground at one time!!
The three A380 operations into AKL commenced in early October. The first was from SYD about three years ago followed by one from MEL some 18 months later. The last was from BNE and all are just extension sectors from Dubai although I think one of them operates via SIN each way.
Imagine the job Air NZ has with competition like that across the Tasman. But despite that, they have the biggest chunk of the traffic with quantity of crossings being no match although now that EK and QF share the same bed they will be even harder pressed. |
|
|
| |
| 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.
|
|
Historical events -
1978- Spring - Norcanair linked to the ReserVec system.
Brian Dunn
sent us this information - Below we have a great photo looking down at the magnificently restored L-1049G Super Constellation now back in full Trans-Canada Air Lines colours.
This is the aircraft that sat in front of the Constellation hotel on Dixon Road for a few years, and was then moved up to a spot on Derry Road by the Skyport area. It was taken apart and bought by the Museum of Flight in Seattle and after being restored and painted was trucked out in pieces from Rome, NY to Seattle for display alongside other famous aircraft such as the first Boeing 747, a BA Concorde, and an old "Air Force One" Boeing 707. Enjoy!
|
As a forerunner to the current Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA), Toronto formed a Trans-Canada Air Lines Recreation Association (TCARA) during October 1943 making it the second such Chapter of the organization, the first being Winnipeg.
The initial meeting took place at the Mount Royal Hotel and the executive committee duly elected was Dave Tennant (President) George Dyce (Secretary), Paul Carrier (Treasurer) and Noel Humphrys (Vice President). Don MacCoubrey organized the first ten pin bowling event for a nineteen team league. Art Diamond got involved with the baseball league and Gerry Gary (social chairman) arranged for a celebration to mark the inauguration of the Association.
(I imagine that the "M' in the banner may have stood for "Malton" can anyone confirm - Alan)
|
|
Issue dated - May 1978
Some items gleaned from the "Horizon" magazines.
|
 Roundup for Western Arrow
A party of 27, including members of the Saskatoon Board of Trade, company officials and Norcanair personnel, participated in a roundup visiting five Saskatchewan cities in a one-day 1,000 mile blitz. The unique promotion was designed to acquaint the province's off-line communities with the introduction of Air Canada's Western Arrow service between Saskatoon, Glasgow and London, effective June 19, 1978.
The whirlwind tour saw the group in Meadow Lake for breakfast, North Battleford for coffee, Swift Current for lunch, Yorkton for afternoon coffee and Prince Albert for a reception and dinner. At each STOP the delegation met with members of the respective Chambers of Commerce, local mayors, civic officials and media representatives. Accompanying the delegation on a Norcanair charter during the blitz were flight attendants, from the left, Kathy McAvoy of Norcanair and Robyn Johnston and Janice Jennings, wearing their new uniforms.
|
 The view of the High Sierra Mountains, Lake Tahoe and the Nevada desert was astounding from an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level. The fact that this vista is not from the cockpit or cabin of an airliner but from the top of the "Sky Chair" ski lift at Heavenly Valley ski area in California make it even more astonishing.
This was the scene at Lake Tahoe, California as witnessed by 11 company employees who participated in an Airline Ski Week organized by the North American Airline Ski Federation.
Approximately 800 interliners took part in the 'week' but our gang held its own by beating teams from 20 other airlines to bring home the first place trophy in the Tequila Sunrise dual challenge. Turning in outstanding individual performances were Luc Scheldeman in the "B" class races and Eric Wight in the"A" class events. Luc garnered a first place finish in the slalom and a third in the giant slalom, while Eric managed two fourth place finishes against some very tough "A" class competition. This Airline Week was the last of four organized each year by the N.A.A.S.F.
The company team is shown, standing from the left: Jim Stacheki, Montreal; Larry Zeagman, Toronto; Luc Scheldeman, Montreal; Eric Wight, Vancouver; John Gauthier, Montreal and Rick Gordon, Montreal. Second row from the left are: Gord Stokes, Toronto; Jill MacFarlane, Toronto; Sally Hill, Halifax and Myra Knight, Toronto; and in the front, Sheila Snow, Vancouver.
|
| Alan's Space - by Alan Rust |
In the past year we've published a few articles regarding the Bomber Command. I think it's only fitting, this being Remembrance Day to recognize and thank Fraser Muir who is a subscriber and contributor to the NetLetter, (as well as the Pionairs Past President) for offering some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
Fraser Muir, who turns 88 next year on June 27, 2014 traveled to  Holland on May 3, 2012 to take in the celebrations for the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Holland. He went on to tour battlefields in Belgium, returning to Canada May 16. He is a Second World War veteran who fought with 50 Squadron, Five Group, Royal Air Force Bomber Command as a mid upper gunner in a Lancaster Bomber, completing 35 operations over enemy territory. Fraser is a retired marketing executive, having worked for Air Canada for 30 years.
Click on photo below for an interview with Fraser (audio)
 Stephen Fry narrates Who Betrayed The Bomber Boys?, honouring the memory of the brave men who gave their lives during the bombing of Germany in WWII
Over 55,000 RAF Bomber Command men were lost and thousands more wounded or taken prisoner during World War II. But after the battles were over they were quickly shunned by their own political leaders who realized that history might judge the bombing of Germany harshly.
Despite being vital to the disruption of Hitler's forces during the war, even PM Winston Churchill, a great enthusiast for the bombings, distanced himself from the campaign. Who Betrayed The Bomber Boys? and Stephen Fry reveal how the men were betrayed by their country and tells the true story of their achievements.
The fight to have the Bomber Command aircrews honoured in the way they deserve is a cause close to many people's hearts. The late Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees campaigned for many years to have a memorial erected in honour of these brave men.
Ahead of the building of The Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, Gibb starts off a four part documentary telling why he feels it is such an important memorial.
Please click on each image below to watch the complete documentary.
 |
| 'Who Betrayed the Bomber Boys?' (part 1 of 4) |
 |
| 'Who Betrayed the Bomber Boys?' (part 2 of 4) |
 |
| 'Who Betrayed the Bomber Boys?' (part 3 of 4) |
 |
| 'Who Betrayed the Bomber Boys?' (Part 4 of 4) |
|
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. Dan A. Colussy named President and CEO of CP Air, October 26th 1982, effective November 15th 1982.
1957 - September - Santiago was added to the Latin American service. |
|
Issue dated - October 1982
Items from the "CPAir NEWS" magazine -
|
CP Air's In-house Laundry and Dry Cleaning Shop was located on a mezzanine level of the Vancouver Ops Centre hangar and handled about 200,000 pounds of laundry every month. Twelve employees handled the chores which also included carpet cleaning and mending. Included on the latter category were uniform alterations for employees, be they extra tall, extra small or extra heavy. The shop also did contract work for Qantas, United, British and Frontier. Cabin supplies made up the bulk of this work and turnaround time ranged from 24 hours to same-day service.
 Here we have Doris Paul, Hildegard Porsche, Daisy Wong and May Check at the massive ironer. |
This is Ursula Belcher and Jack Connelly, supervisor at the dry cleaning machine.
|
Operating the recently acquired $26,000 washer from the left Tom Miwa and Carl Collins. |
Smocks on this production line are fed through the Colmac steam tunnel shown behind Gertie Thoma. |
Connie Yu, laundry worker, with a fresh set of blankets for the "Empress of Canada" aircraft in the background.
|
| 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.
|
Laszlo Bastyovanszky sends this resonse -
Further to the cartoon from the "CPAir News" magazine issued July 1982, published in The NetLetter #1278, this item might interest you...
Take a look at what looks to be the next drone system. WATCH FULL SCREEN
Really interesting what Boeing Engineers have done at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson.
The QF-16
(Check out the cartoon in Smilie from Roy Mendes as well - eds)
Norman Hogwood sends this memory after reading NetLetter nr 1278 -
Thanks for the Seafire re-build story. Very interesting. One small item took me back to my childhood when the guy spoke of seeing the sky thick with 300 or 400 aircraft The kid next door and I used to try to count them but some were less than friendly having been made by Messrs Heinkel or Junkers.
It was better later when they were Forts, Super Forts, Marauders, or Liberators, escorted by Mustangs and Thunderbolts. There was a USAAF base close to us at Kingsnorth near Ashford, Kent and it was a great pace to visit on a bike ride.
Concluding the story of "The encounter over the Hudson" by Jim Griffith, started in NetLetter nr 1278
A smiling man in a neatly tailored suit who was all business rushed us into a small windowless hangar office and offered us coffee. The captain and I thought it would be half an hour and we'd be on our way. Unfortunately, as we now heard from Mr. Suit in his polite but menacing voice that we wouldn't be able to leave until every single one of the 454 bars of gold were safely inside the vault of the Federal Reserve Bank.
Knowing that the vault closed at 4 o'clock sharp, no exceptions, we figured at worst we'd be away by 4:15 meaning at most a two hour wait. We weren't exactly being held in custody in that airless little office, but when we started to head out the door to have a look around the airport, Mr. Suit told us to sit tight and there was no mistaking what the bulge on the chest of the well-tailored suit was. So we waited and sweated in the summer heat.
By six o'clock Mr. Suit's smile faded as he came into the office to say that only 453 bars of gold, of the 454 had arrived at the bank and we'd have to stay until it was found. He added that the Wells Fargo cow hands had been relieved of their coveted Colt 45's and put in special cells at the bank and their vans were being virtually taken apart piece by piece. Stealing a glance over his shoulder through the open door, I noticed that young men in black overalls were swarming over our Flying Merchant like roaches on decaying meat. We took comfort in knowing we weren't the only suspects.
By seven O'clock, sandwiches were brought in and by eight o'clock it was starting to get dark when finally the phone rang. Mr. Suit answered it, listened for a few seconds, smiled and said we were off the hook. They'd found the missing Velveeta in the spare tire wheel well of one of the trucks... hmm I wondered. It sounded suspicious to me.
We'd been on duty for over 15 hours, but the Department of Transport duty time limitations and the collective agreement be damned, we were heading home come hell or high water right now!
Jim Griffith
|
Odds and Ends.
|
|
 Sometimes we receive articles and information that just doesn't fit in our other areas. This is where it goes!
|
|
Referring to Roberts mention of the B-17 "Sentimental Journey" in NetLetter nr 1270 has prompted Roger Slauenwhite to send us this memory -
The B-17 was in Hamilton, Ontario at the Canadian Warplane Heritage. I was fortunate to take a flight in this bomber. A really nice experience. Briefing by the Load Master took almost half an hour before flight. I must have signed six waiver forms. Some readers may be interested in the stats of this old war horse.
- 4 Wright Cyclone engines, 1200 HP on take-off.
- Cruising speed 160 mph, tops at 302 mph.
- Ceiling 36,400 ft. Range 3750 miles.
- Fuel 2780 gallons.
- Fuel burn 200 gallons per hour.
- Oil 37 gallons per engine.
- Crew of 10 (although we had 11 on board).
- Bomb load 8,000 lbs - (we had 6 on board but no fuses).
A great ride from the mid-gunners position.
Ferrovial sells Heathrow stake to UK pension fund for £392 million.
Heathrow's Spanish owner Ferrovial is reducing its stake in the airport group which owns Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, but remains the group's main investor.
|
Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
|
|
 After reading the list of memories of eating in the UK during the 50's in NetLetter nr 1278, Dave Townson adds: Not only did we not put elbows on the table, but we also used to eat without our hats on!
Regards, Dave Townson.
Peter and Gwen Baldry, Pionairs in the UK, send us this trip report:
Golden Wedding Celebration
Gwen and I decided to celebrate our Golden Wedding by going on a week's cruise for which we had no experience at all, other than seeing large cruise ships whilst on our many visits to Victoria BC - the sheer size of these ships put us off,  but we were pointed in the direction of Viking River Cruises who have been doing a lot of UK TV sponsorship recently.
We opted for their Romantic Danube Cruise as befitting the occasion - their cruise ships have a maximum of 190 passengers and 46 crew. It was not a cheap cruise, but after all these years, I have been a great believer in the motto "you get what you pay for". The ship was full with about half from Canada and the USA and the balance from the UK and Australia. Viking do indeed push the boat out, no pun intended.
We flew out on the Saturday of our Anniversary from Bristol Airport via Amsterdam to Budapest (I noted that all 4 KLM flights departed early!) where we were met by Viking Representatives and transferred to our new home, a Stateroom with a balcony which was very well appointed - to greet us was a bottle of champagne and box of chocolates from two dear Canadian friends.
Meal service was based on free seating which made for making lots of new friends. The dress code was very informal but smart/casual seemed to be everyone's code. The food on the Viking Idun was beyond our expectations and wine was included with all meals and champagne for breakfast too and the waiters did not stint - in fact you had to say "no" if you wished no more!
Our first port of call was Vienna where we arrived on the Monday morning for a walking tour of the city. We opted for an extra event of a Strauss and Mozart Concert which was excellent. We sailed through the night and never felt a roll or the sound of the engines as we went through several locks - apparently! We stopped for a visit to Melke Abbey which is in Austria before setting sail for Passau where we arrived at breakfast time on the Wednesday.
We went on the walking tour of the beautiful and historic town of Passau. We set sail in the afternoon for Regensburg, in Germany and arrived there at breakfast time on Thursday - another photographic town with loads of history, quaint buildings and narrow alleyways.
That evening was the Captain's farewell dinner - a 6 course meal - it was held that evening as the following evening we were going to go through 16 locks to climb over the natural divide to join up with the Rhine beyond Nuremburg our final destination on the Friday, something the Captain was needed for! Thus one can travel by river and canal from Holland through Germany and 8 other countries before arriving at the Black Sea - something we did not know. We spent the Friday in Nuremburg and again took many photos of the architecture, a lot of which has been skillfully restored after the WW2 bombing raids - we elected not to go on the tour of the courtrooms of the famous Nuremburg trials and archives of the Nazi HQ. Early Saturday morning saw us returning to Blighty from Munich via Amsterdam to Bristol with lots of pleasant memories and a diet to tackle the increase in weight!
Entertainment in the evening was not as grand as the large cruise ships but it more than met our expectations with local performers joining for the evening's music and dance. There were also some day-time talks if you had decided not to go ashore and these were very interesting.
Viking's attention to detail, on-time performance, friendliness, and cuisine was exemplary and Gwen and I plan to return to their world in a couple of years time and perhaps to China or the Irrawaddy of the former Burma. The photo of Gwen and Peter was taken at Regenburg, in Germany (on the river Danube) outside a German brewery where samples were available!!
(We are not sure if they managed to ride the bikes after the samples! - eds).
|
| 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.
|
|
|
Roy Mendes sends us this message -
Relating to the cartoon on Issue 1278 re automatic cockpit, here is an cartoon from early 1990s re the introduction of fly by wire aircraft. The A340 cockpit crew represents the perfect crew for an Airbus aircraft. "The pilot is in the there to feed the dog and the dog is there to bite the pilot if he touches anything"
Travel Tips for seniors 2013-2014 sent to us anonymously:
- I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone else.
- I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
- I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my children, friends, family and work.
- I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.
- I have also been in Doubt. Can't decide whether I should pay another visit.
- If you go to visit in Flexible be careful, it's a bit of a balancing act, because you have to stand firm.
- Sometimes I'm in Capable, and the older I get the more often I go there.
- One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!
- I may have been in Continent, but I don't quite remember what country I was in, but I do remember it was quite warm and damp there at times.
- Don't consider putting in Oculation as a possible destination. Maybe you don't see the point, but they really stick it to you there.
- And NEVER, NEVER put in Escapeable on your list - Mind you, it is a relatively cheap destination... all you need to buy is a one-way ticket and stay as long as they want.
Please feel free to add your travel tips and pass along.
P.S... Contributor cannot be identified because he/she is in Excusable
|
|
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.
|
|
| |
|
