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Vesta's Corner
 You may have heard about the Air Tran Boeing 737 that was forced to return to Philadelphia recently after a bird strike. Bird strikes arerelatively common so not too much notice was paid, even though the first officer suffered some cuts to his face from broken glass. However, it's amazing how much damage a 10-lb. bird can do to a 100,000-lb. airlines as these photos from a reader show.  Despite the damage, the landing was uneventful and most of the 143 passengers were probably unaware of the extent of the damage.This weeks postcard - 29/05/2000  Dear Vesta,We have the chance of seeing in the evening, this great lady, on the hour and for 10 minutes only, dressed up with her diamonds, glittering in the dark. It's magic. We see her from our window practically full size. A real show to last all through 2000. Thanks for your dedicated work Jean and Geraldine LePottier. Note: for our new readers, I have been collecting postcards from our travelling NetLetter "family" for many years. If you are away and have a minute, I'd be delighted to get one from you as well. You can obtain my address by sending an email to |
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Dreams Take Flight
Dreams Take Flight - Montreal Chapter - It's that time of the year again where we start preparing for the November 7th, 2007 Dreams Take Flight festivities.
Last year was such a success in large part due to the wonderful and dedicated volunteers who helped see the kids off in the morning, and welcome them back in the evening. Once again we would like to request volunteers for the hangar that could be available for:
info and availability. - Name - Contact information (phone numbers cell/work/home and email address) - Let me know whether you volunteered last year and what you did - The hours you are available (morning, evening or both) Thank you very much. Diane Beauregard-Dryburgh PLEASE JOIN US AND SIGN UP WITH DIANE DRYBURGH FOR THE YUL BEGINNING AND END OF THE GREAT FLIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN RSVP ? ASAP TO EMAIL ADDRESS OF |
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Air Canada and Star Alliance News
Star Alliance News Three strikes and Q400s are out at SAS |
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Air Canada - our 70 years
 1970
  Pictured - TCA Timetable #16 issued November 1st., 1942 |
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Readers Feedback
Laurie MacLean (We have added Laurie to our readership, so that he can have his own copy - eds) Further to the article in NetLetter nr 988 -  Restoration of former TCA/Air Canada Viscount CF-THG at VictoriaInternational Airport, Saville Hambleton sends us this picture of the (nearly) finished result. Why not drop by the BC Aviation Museum and view this machine in its former glory. Continuing, from NetLetter nr 994, of the story of the B747 by Bill Norberg The 747 hangar being built at Dorval had two bays, each of which could handle a 747. The only problem was the contractor was still working to complete the hangars in time for our first 747 arrival in February. One bay was more advanced than the other and it could be used on a temporary basis, but such use would delay the contractor and increase his costs. We would have to pay a fee to offset these additional costs to use the bay. Air France were quite prepared to accept this expense so they could get an estimate from the Boeing Company about the cost and out of service time involved to repair the damage. The aircraft was placed in the hangar for this work to get underway. There were further problems. Both the two inboard engines had suffered foreign material ingestion during the incident and had to be replaced. No spare engines were available locally and Air France obtained two engines from the Airline Spare Parts Pool in New York. They were shipped from New York on special Air-ride trailers to avoid any in transit damage due to rough roads. Unfortunately a low bridge along the route resulted in one of the engines being damaged. A third spare then had to be located. After the damage assessment was completed we removed the aircraft from the hangar and built a temporary enclosure around the nose area so the repairs could be carried out. The repairs were successfully completed and Air France was most pleased. A short time afterwards my secretary said there was a large box for me from Air France. When we opened it there were 12 bottles of the finest Champagne, each with a tag on it bearing the names of the people who had worked so hard to get the aircraft out of the snow. I thought that was a classy thing for them to do. I might add we were well paid for all the work that was done. The introduction of 747's to the Air Canada fleet was a very significant event from many viewpoints. The public was fascinated by this new giant and we saw a wonderful public relations opportunity to let them see it up close. The employees at Dorval that had been involved in the 747 preparedness and introductory program developed a public display which would be open to both airline employees, their families and the general public on March 20th and 21st 1971. The new 747 hangar was used as the location and a display of the many facets of its operation was presented including a walk through of the cabin of the 747. We placed a Viscount aircraft under the tail of the 747 to give a feeling for the relative sizes of the aircraft. It was well received by all who saw it and during the two days we had around 67,000 people visit the base to see our new 747. It was a huge success. The Dorval employees who had made this public viewing and introduction program such a success-deserved recognition. I arranged along with Guy Chiasson to thank them by personally inviting them to attend a wine and cheese party at the Dorval Terminal followed by a flight in the 747. They would be the first people to fly in our new 747 . It was a great success and I still have my boarding pass for that flight. It has several hundred signatures on it from many of the people on that flight. There were over 350 on board as I remember it. The arrival of our first 747 was a very important and exciting event for the company. We in Maintenance had worked very hard for a long time to be ready to accept this fine new aircraft. We wanted everything to go well as many eyes would be on our performance. A lot of people were no doubt, somewhat nervous about this process. I was no exception and I did everything I could think of to ensure all would go well. The construction work on the 747 hangar went on right up to the day of delivery, with little time available to handle any last minute problems. Workmen had been all over the structure as the last bits were put in place. There was a catwalk at the ceiling level of the hangar bays and I was concerned that some worker's tools or construction debris might have been left up there , which could possibly fall damaging this wonderful new and very expensive aircraft. I ordered a last minute inspection by the Facilities section to ensure there would be no such surprises. The new 747 was moved in to the new hangar and the feared event happened! One of the workmen had apparently gone up on the catwalk to watch this new aircraft as it was moved into place. Before we knew it, a hard hat fell down 115 feet, hitting the Satcom antenna on the fuselage of our new 747. We never did find out who owned the hat. The antenna had to be replaced. (To be concluded in NetLetter 996 to come - eds) From: "Patricia Henderson" < |
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TCA/AC Events & People Gallery
From "Between Ourselves" October 1944 edition - donated by David Fairweather - YVR From Edmonton - pictured - three passenger agents off duty - Marg Chalmers, Bev MacKeller, Bel Brokovski Northern flight crew - Capt George Proctor, First Officer - Colin Campbell Three maintenance staff - Archie McIntyre, Jack O'Neil, Red Stone(I never saw mtc staff looking this clean, at least not for long - Alan)  Harry Scofield - Supervisor of Western Control with Capt. Larry Brewin.Where are they now. A340-500 C-GKOM fin #952 c/n 464 is with TAM reregistered PT-MSL A340-500 C-GKOL fin #951 c/n 445 is with TAM reregistered PT-MSK |
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Canadi>n/CPAir/PWA, etc. Events & People
In NetLetter nr 993 we published an appeal from Anna Baker regarding Patrick Dennison Roy and Ron Peel responded - I was Chief Navigator of TCA when your dad joined our Company in, I believe, 1945. He was an excellent navigator and a fine man. My wife Margaret and I shared many pleasant social occasions with Pat and his charming young wife Jackie both in the lovely Laurentians (St. Adele or St. Agathe?) home and at ours in St. Laurent. Pat assisted me from time to time in the navigation training of TCA pilots and navigators on Atlantic routes. When the chief pilot of CPA, North Sawle (SP?) asked for help in setting up their Pacific routes I prepared the navigation courses required for such flights and selected Pat as the man to present them to CPA's flight crews. Pat did that job so well that CPA offered him the job of Chief Navigator (Replacing Fred Wicker, a South African). I admit to trying to talk Pat out of leaving TCA but he was keen and enthusiastic and wanted to try out some of his own ideas on how to best navigate oceans. We parted and remained good friends and business contacts until that terrible Comet tragedy in which Pat, Charlie Pentland, and I believe North Sawle, all perished during take-off during extremely high Karachi temperatures. I know Marg and I sent our condolences to Jackie but have long since lost contact with that bright, cheerful lady - a former nurse if my old brain remembers correctly. I knew of their children, including you, but have no recollections of them. Sorry about that! Ron Peel  Pictured is a D.H.Comet. From the "Contact" Year in focus 1989 loaned by Bill Wood -  Gordon Hambly - Base Engineer Buenos Aires. Al Chee - Mtce Supvr - Honolulu. Aaron Chan & C.W.Cheung - mechanics Hong Kong. Tony Springate - Foreman, Tim McSharry, Mechanic & Dave Gillespie, Engineer at London(Gatwick) UK. |
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Terry's Travel Tips
find better bargains. For information and reservations, please call INTERLINE WORLD VACATIONS AT 1-866-279-8480 toll free or (604) 279-8482 or email us at BA admits baggage charges 'too high'. British Airways is backing down on controversial charges for second bags and extra bag weight introduced in February, reducing the cost of taking an extra bag on board on long-haul flights from GBP120 to GBP75, and relaxing weight allowances. BA brought in the charges for second bags to streamline its booking process and speed up check-in. However, BA this week admitted that the amounts were 'too high'. A spokeswoman said second bag fees will come down for travel after Nov 6. Long-haul extra bags will go from GBP120 to GBP75, short-haul from GBP60 to GBP30, and UK domestic from GBP30 to GBP20. A380 BEDS FOR SLEEPING, SAYS AIRLINE Considering the areas of aircraft that have served the carnal desires of their occupants, it would seem likely that the private suite with double bed that Singapore Airlines has installed on its A380 would be creating a little turbulence of its own on every flight. But if the airline has anything to do with it (and good luck with this) the first-class section will not become headquarters of the Mile High Club. Shirlee Schacter advises that she has a clean, modern 2 bedroom, 2bath, fully furnished (all you need is your toothbrush!) mobile home for rent at a reasonable rate for the Winter 2007-2008. It is located in Largo, FL (Clearwater/St.Petersburg area) - in a community with 2 pools, a hot tub, tennis courts, a 9-hole golf course and many other amenities. To learn more contact Shirlee at When visiting Zurich, consider purchasing a ZurichCARD for chf17.00 which allows you into museums, on to rail, bus, cable car and boats. Free transfer from the airport Boat trip on the lake and much more. Obtainablke at the train station at the airport, tourist office at the railway station. - Just a thought. Have you noticed that, during the safety announcement on the Air Canada aircraft prior to take off, includes the information that heavy items should be stowed under the seat ahead of you, and lighter articles in the overhead bins - all this while the rest of the attendants watch some passengers struggle with a carry-on case which appears to be larger than the luggage you have checked and which seems to weigh a ton or more? With the price of scrap metal these days, perhaps those frames at check-in which is purported to be the maximum size for carry-on luggage should be just that - scrapped. |
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Smiley
 An Aussie grazier flew his antique Auster aircraft to Mascot Airport, Sydney, to enact some business at the offices of business acquaintances. Not being familiar with controlled airspace procedures, although making it safely to the airport, he required and requested guidance to the GA parking area. Much later, after the completion of his business and returning to the airport, he eventually taxied out to the major runway 16, again guided by ATC to take his place in the queue for take-off clearance. When finally cleared to line up and subsequently cleared for take-off, his instructions were to call "123 airborne" (the departure frequency). Applying maximum power and concentrating on keeping his aircraft on the centerline on the roll, the tail rose, and soon after the aircraft became airborne, whereupon the pilot pressed his transmit button and called ... "1-2-3 airborne"! |