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About us!
Since October 1995, Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker have been issuing an email newsletter for those ex Air Canada types who have provided us with their email addresses. The Newsletter was created by Vesta, who gave the name 'NetLetter' and added 'Between Ourselves' - a TCA periodical with which you are probably familiar with from the 50's and 60's. It was then changed to "Between Yourselves" to avoid confusion when "Horizons" resurrected the name. Then finally simplified to just "The NetLetter".
We believe that our NetLetter, which originates from Vancouver Island, was the FIRST to use this medium to disperse information for retirees of Air Canada.
The NetLetter contains airline related information such as anecdotes or stories supplied by some of the recipients, Internet tips, travel news, cheap... excuse me, "inexpensive" accommodations, tours, interline travel, and, in some small way, we help keep our Air Canada family together and in touch.
Our 'NetLetter' is NOT sponsored by any Pionair group, nor are we seeking any financial support, only the Internet email addresses of those who would like to receive our 'NetLetter'. Please forward this to other retirees who can then subscribe right from the forwarded link at the bottom of this email.
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ACFamily Network
Air Canada Heritage Poster
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Dear NetLetter,
Welcome to the 963rd issue of "NetLetter". The NetLetter is the longest running newsletter (since 1995) that is dedicated to Air Canada retirees.
We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2747 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter and give them out to their friends. The "NetLetter" is written by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker from Vancouver Island (see sidebar) and also with articles and comments from "you" our readers. Formatting of text, photos, etc. for this HTML version is done by Webmaster Alan Rust and is published courtesy of the ACFamily Network at www.acfamily.net
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Need to know...
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New Taxes Changes Effective Immediately.
New Additional Taxes for International Departures from Barbados charged per passenger, replacing the previously airport collected Airport Departure fees. Barbados Passenger Service Charge is BBD 55.00 and Barbados Security Fee is BBD 5.00.
The UK has increased (doubled) the British Air Passenger Duty - Effective immediately, eligible Air Canada pass travelers with a departure out of the UK will be charged the new British Air Passenger Duty of GBP 40.00 per passenger (ca$90.00). Effective immediately, eligible Air Canada profile holders purchasing ZED tickets for travel on other airlines with departures in the UK will be charged the British Air Passenger Duty according to the itinerary purchased as the tax amount varies depending on long-haul and short-haul routings. |
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Boeing 707-138B N791SA "Empress of Sydney" (formerly VH-EBC) at Vancouver after being extricated from the building with which it collided on 7 February 1968. A photo was uploaded to the website on 7 February 2007, the 39th anniversary of the accident. Photographer: Tom Grant
Photographer Tom Grant describes the accident:
"This CPA 707 wet leased from Standard Airways made a statement upon landing one dark, foggy morning at Vancouver on 7 February 1968. This could have been a disaster. This aircraft came down on runway 08 (eastbound), swerved off to the south toward the terminal, cut across the ramp taking out the corner of the Aero Club building and two small aircraft with its starboard wing. One of these aircraft ended up in one of the starboard engines removing it from the wing. The B707 then cut across the terminal ramp in front of a fully fueled Air Canada DC-8 and a DC- 9 and came to a stop in the CAE building. A couple of the engines were still roaring. The terminal was evacuated. Personnel rushed to the aircraft to get the passengers and crew off. One person died on board (a Flight Attendant), and one DOT employee died in the building. You can see that the flight crew survived because the nose wheel collapsed and the roof of the building cut further back on the fuselage. I'll not forget having my morning coffee with colleagues in the terminal restaurant and hearing a roar and lights swish by the large windows. The Gods smiled on us that day, for a slight deviation, left or right, of the B707's path would have hit the main terminal or fueled aircraft."
Graham Collins describes the collateral damage to other aircraft:
"One of the two aircraft destroyed by the starboard wing of the 707 was a Beechcraft owned by my dad and a group of his friends. Their Beechcraft had just been ferried back after being refurbished in the US by Flightcraft in Portland, Oregon. Due to a late day arrival, the Bonanza had to stay overnight on the ramp while waiting for customs clearance before being released back to the owners. The next morning the leased Canadian Pacific 707 lost control and veered off the runway with the starboard wing passing right over XDC. As my dad and his friends said afterwards if only the engine wasn't hanging right below that section of the wing, it might have turned out quite differently. After the outboard starboard engine of the 707 passed through the Beechcraft's cockpit, it struck a Cessna 185 that was on amphibious floats. Due to it's greater height the 185 was completely demolished but the damage to the Bonanza was still sufficient to cause XDC to be written off by the insurance company."
Tom Grant is the Webmaster for the Pionairs website. |
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Air Navigation as practiced by TCA and Air Canada
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In NetLetter nr 953 issued in December, Ron Peel offered his book "Air Navigation as practiced by TCA and Air Canada".
Ron sends his latest offer - More recently RAPCAN included my offer to mail CDs of the entire book to any of its e-mail news readers at a cost of $10 including postage.
I have had a good response from the RAPCAN members who are on-line and get its newsletter - and a fair amount of praise from those who have already received the CD.
"Air Navigation as Practiced by TCA and Air Canada" is a CD of an authoritative, up-to-date and slightly technical account of the equipment, methods and procedures used by pilots and navigators to guide Company aircraft safely and efficiently to their destinations ever since the Company's inception. Anyone interested should contact me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (604) 535-7141. |
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The Quarter Century in Aviation Club
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The Quarter Century in Aviation Club
This Club was formed in 1952 by Bill Windrum, a pilot who flew for Canadian Airways out of Thunder Bay, Prince Albert and Edmonton. While a member of management at Canadian Pacific Airlines in Vancouver, Bill wanted to find a venue where people from all areas of Aviation could meet as friends to share their experiences without interference from the constraints of competition that were common in this fledgling industry.
The Club Archives do not reveal how the founding members settled on 'A Quarter Century in Aviation' as the threshold for membership. Considering that the Wright Brothers had made their first successful flight only forty-nine years earlier, individuals with twenty-five years in the industry in 1952 would have formed a very exclusive group. The inaugural dinner meeting was held at the Alcazar Hotel in Vancouver with twenty two charter members in attendance Dinner was $3.00, the drinks were three for a dollar and Annual dues were set at $5.00.
The present day Club's meetings still provide members with the opportunity to share a social time with fellow aviation enthusiasts and to listen to guest speakers. The meetings are held on the third Tuesday of October, November, January, February, March, and April at the Austria Vancouver Club, 5851 Westminster Highway located in Richmond. A very good buffet is served and, although it is not at the 1952 prices, it is still very affordable.
There are over one hundred fifty registered members. These members make up a complete cross section of the industry. Anyone who has been associated with aviation for a minimum of twenty-five years, in any form, is welcome to join this unique Club.
If you are interested or need any further information, please contact the undersigned. An application form will be mailed to you; fill it out, sign it, enclose a cheque for $15.00 (annual dues) and you will be a member in good standing.
Hope to see you soon.
David Redmile
Membership Director
604 271 0714
Disclaimer: the Quarter Century of Aviation Club is not directly associated in any way with the Mile High Club but some members admit to belonging to both associations. |
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For more info visit their website |
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Reader comments
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TCA and forgotten airports in NetLetter nr 959
David Wall sends in his memories - Like Fergus Kyle (see NetLetter 961) I too have memories of the infamous stop at Trois-Rivières. If I remember correctly it was only scheduled on the westbound in the morning and the eastbound in the evening for obvious reasons (M.P. commuting YRQ-YOW). Often it was omitted due to lack of interest. The airport was uncontrolled with a cloud-breaking beacon approach. There was a very tall TV tower close to the field and the beacon was only about a half-mile from the runway end so the limits were high and in weather, circling approaches were the norm. I remember one night we did a single instrument approach followed by numerous circling procedures before we finally got one to work just right that permitted a safe landing. I cannot recall how many we did but I know we tried at least one of each of the officially approved circling procedures. That tower was always lurking there to keep you alert, the runway was poorly maintained in winter, and I don't think I ever landed there without asking the inevitable question ... WHY?
David Wall <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
(Does anyone know who was the Member of Parliament that got such special treatment, at the taxpayers expense and benefit? - eds) |
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Terry's Travel Tips
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Visiting YYJ for the Pionairs A.G.M. but missed the accommodation deal at the Empress? - Try Pauls Motor Inn & Restaurant ca$59.00
1900 Douglas St, Victoria 1-866-333-7285
www.paulsmotorinn.com
Ever wonder what is on your hotel magnetic key card? (IDENTITY THEFT!) Answer:
a. Customer's name
b. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!
When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.
Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee re-issues the card to the next hotel guest. Be aware.
For more information see: www.consumeraffairs.com/ news04/2006/10/travel_hotel_keys.html
For our UK readers -
Flying Silver Class is like nothing on Earth. Or in the sky.
Departures until 30 Mar 07 departing from Luton
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Low fare, exclusively business class, long haul airline. 30 mins check-in
Flat beds
Choose your own seat
BUSINESS CLASS!
£469
Worldwide Flights from:
Palma, Ibiza, Tenerife ~ GB Airways £69
Boston - British Airways £123
Los Angeles ~ British Airways £199
Antigua, St Lucia, Havana, Barbados ~ Virgin Atlantic
Take up to 3 companions with you at the same fare! £199
Johannesburg ~ Qatar Airways £224
Male ~ Qatar Airways £224
Mauritius ~ Virgin Atlantic New service departs from 29 Oct 2007 £280
Travel Industry Services
Cruises: 0870 041 1600
Flights: 0870 041 1100
Hotels: 0870 041 9106
Clients Services/ Administration: 0208 607 3868
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 6 pm GMT
Saturday: 9:30am - 1:30pm GMT
Open 24 hours a day @
www.traveltis.co.uk |
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AC Heritage Poster
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Enjoy this visual display of Air Canada’s historic fleet from its beginning in 1937 to the present including aircraft from:
- Trans-Canada Air Lines
- Canadian Airlines
- Pacific Western
- Eastern Provincial
- Nordair
- Transair
- Wardair
This 68 x 96 cm (27 x 38 inch) poster is printed in full colour on high quality paper and depicts over 300 aircraft and liveries flown by Air Canada throughout its history.
The cost of the poster is $24.99 plus tax and shipping where applicable. This is a great gift for Christmas, reunions, retirements and birthday gifts, etc.
A donation is made to Dreams Take Flight for each poster that is sold. Any other profits support the operation of the ACFamily Network which brings you this newsletter.
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More info here |
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Submissions
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Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments for the "The Netletter" please send to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Please add to your Address Books).
This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us Terry & Vesta (exclusively) will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of news for the NetLetter.
To make changes to your e-mail address or to unsubscribe, please see the links at the bottom of the page for "Update Profile/Email address" and SafeUnsubscribe. This is now automated so that you can remove yourself from the list or change your email address (or name) without our assistance. We will still do this manually if you have any difficulties.
Many of our members are having difficulty finding these links. You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page, the link is similar to the following image. (The image below doesn't work but your links at the bottom will).
Vesta, Terry and Alan thank you for your co- operation.
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NetLetter Archives
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The archives of the NetLetter are kept on the ACFamily Network Forums area. They are in plain text format so you can print them from there if desired. If you are not a member of the ACFamily Network yet, we encourage you to join us there. Non members can Register here. (It's Free!)
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NetLetter Archives Link |
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