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NetLetter Archives

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.

Welcome to the 959th 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 2744 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 it is published courtesy of the ACFamily Network at www.acfamily.net

Proposed strike action by British Airways' cabin crew British Airways (BA) members of the Transport and General Workers Union's have announced their intention to strike on 30 and 31 January; 5, 6 and 7 February; and 12, 13 and 14 February. The airline is currently assessing the impact this will have on its operations. Passengers with flights booked with BA on the strike days should call 0800 727 800 (freephone), or visit www.ba.com for guidance on their options. Other airlines are not effected.

The Transport & General Workers Union agreed to cancel the first 24 hr. of next week's three-day British Airways cabin crew strike "as a goodwill gesture to allow more time for further negotiations" and "after the personal intervention" of BA CEO Willie Walsh.

Austrian Airlines Group CCO Josef Burger this week announced in Iraq that the carrier has secured traffic rights to all airports in the country, meaning cities like Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and others can be served with daily frequencies.

When Terminal 5 opens in 2008, Heathrow's terminal system will undergo major changes in order to simplify and streamline the transfer process for passengers. Air Canada presently uses Terminal 3.

* Terminal 1 - Star Alliance (Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, bmi, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines,, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines)

LHR - Heathrow started life in the 1930s as the Great Western Aerodrome. Privately owned by Fairey Aviation, it was used primarily for aircraft assembly and testing. The land was originally acquired from the vicar of Harmondsworth. The airport was named after the hamlet Heath Row which was demolished to make way for the airport and was located approximately where Terminal 3 now stands. At first, it had no commercial traffic and Croydon Airport was the main airport for London.

In 1944 Heathrow came under the control of the Ministry of Air. Harold Balfour (later Lord Balfour), then Under-Secretary of State for Air (1938-1944), wrote in his 1973 autobiography Wings over Westminster, that he deliberately deceived the government committee that a requisition was necessary in order that Heathrow could be used as a base for long-range transport aircraft in support of the war with Japan. In fact, Balfour wrote that he always intended the site to be used for civil aviation and used a wartime emergency requisition order to avoid a lengthy and costly public inquiry. The Royal Air Force never made use of the airport and control was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 1 January 1946 - the first civil flight that day being to Buenos Aires, via Lisbon for refuelling..

The airport opened fully for civilian use on 31 May 1946 and by 1947 Heathrow had three runways, with three more under construction. These older runways, built for piston-engined planes, were short and criss- crossed to allow for all wind conditions. The first concrete slab of the first modern runway was ceremonially placed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. She also opened the first permanent terminal building, the Europa Building (now known as Terminal 2), in 1955. Shortly afterwards the Oceanic Terminal (now known as Terminal 3) became operational. At this time the airport had a direct helicopter service from central London and gardens on the roof of the terminal building.. Terminal 1 was opened in 1968, completing the cluster of buildings at the centre of the airport site. The location of the original terminals in the centre of the site has since become a constraint to expansion. The decision to locate them here reflected an early assumption that airline passengers would not ! require extensive car parking, as air travel was then only affordable to the wealthy - who would, of course be chauffeur-driven.

Sent to us by George&Noreen Brien
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Muskoka
This was another unique service. Seasonal summer only. I believe it was operating as early as 1952 and likely ended with the summer season of 1962. The DC3’s would have been gone by next summer. It would be interesting to know the rational for his “cottage country’ route.

Trois Rivieres
Home of then Transport Minister Leon Balcor (PC) 1960-63 Airport opened in 1963 with one round trip flight daily YUL/YRQ/YQB As it was so close to YUL and YQB, the route was a money loser and dropped After a few years.

(Does anyone have any memories or stories they would like to pass along? - eds)

Bangkok Airport's Departure Tax - the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) is paid at counters and automatic vending machines. All passengers - International and Domestic have to pay. The Passenger Service Charge is 500 baht for International passengers, 50 baht for Domestic departures. The PSC can also be paid in US dollars cash (USD$11) at the PSC counter.

Passenger staring at their seat mates flaming laptop "I'd put that out for you, except they took my water bottle away at security".

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.

The hosting and mailing of the NetLetter as well as the conversion to HTML format is provided compliments of the ACFamily Network and Nerds On Site. Content is researched and submitted by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker. Thank you for letting us into your homes!

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.

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!)