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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995

From the "Parts & Pieces" magazine issue dated December 1988.

tmb parts pieces emblem

How it all began - 

 

Back in 1982 and 1983, a few people felt that the people working 6/3 shift were missing a lot of the company/work information that was available to other employees. It took some convincing that a newsletter might be one way of keeping everyone informed and more aware of Stores and its operation. The convincing worked and three YUL Stock keepers (Tony Virgona, Tarmo Saloranta and Bob Monks) had a discussion on the advantages of a newsletter dedicated to Stores Personnel. 

They agreed among themselves that the idea was workable and tried it out on the boss. The idea was well received and permission was given "to try it out". It took almost two years and various people to cut through the odd piece of red tape, until finally everything was "go" and the first newsletter was produced. Many of the people were wary and opposed to what was perceived to be a "management mouthpiece". The Editors had hoped to have something good going and had to battle to prove exactly what our banner said:

"A NEWSLETTER FOR STORES PEOPLE -- BY STORES PEOPLE".

tmb parts pieces editorial boardFrom a humble two-page beginning, with no pictures and without a name, it has evolved into a semi-professional publication without losing its original intent to provide everyone with a means of communication. Here is the first editorial board. From the left: Alec Dimitraki, Tony Virgona, Julian Ireland, Ted White, Bob Monks and Tarmo Saloranta.


From the issue dated January/February 1989,

tmb new guys yul 1989Here are a group of new hires –
From the left: Dwayne Dodds, Miguel Roman, Eric Rousseau, Stephen Wells, Francois Murphy, Rod Day, Rick Alexandrowich and Dave Bolton.


Romancing a code by Tony Virgona

Last October 1st, 1988, US Air got its new airline designator code.

From "AL" it switched to "US". Simple enough you say, but in effect it took the Washington based carrier 18 months of hassling, lobbying and uncountable miles of travel to get its new code. The designator code is assigned by IATA and is a strong symbol of the host airline. It appears on the Official Airlines Guide (OAG), on airline tickets and on computer screens, timetables and brochures. US Air was coded prior to October 1988 as "AL" from its old name Allegheny Airlines and it wanted desperately to get the code "US" which belonged to the U.S. Air Force's Military Airlift Command.

After much negotiation and lobbying with the government they were given the green light, but on condition they wrangled code "MC" for Military Airlift Command. Yes, you've guessed it. Code "MC" was already in use. It belonged to a minor airline, called Transtar, formerly Muse Air.

US Air's roving negotiating team contacted Transtar Airlines and were able to get it to give up their "MC" code, but once again, on condition that the US Air team got Transtar the "TS" code. One quick look at the OAG showed that code "TS" belonged to an outfit in Western Africa called Transport Aerien du Benin, aka T.A.B., a one-aircraft outfit. US Air's negotiating mission by now nicknamed "Romancing the Code" was quickly on its way to Africa.

Before serious bargaining even got underway T.A.B. folded and the code "TS" was free. Armed with code "TS" the -"Romancers of the Code" rushed to Transtar only to find this airline in its final hour and before long "MC" also became available. The U.S. Air Force happily received the code "MC" for its military airlift command and "US" joined the flying community officially as US Air.

Tony Virgona


From the “Horizons” magazine issue dated December 1981.

tmb dublin service pinsAlan Sullivan, the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland assisted Felix Cronin, Manager Ireland in presenting 10 year service pins to Mary O'Connor, Passenger Agent and Breeda O'Byrne, Secretary.

In this photo from the left: Alan Sullivan, Mary O'Connor, Breeda O'Byrne and Felix Cronin.


Found in the "New Horizons" magazine issued October 30, 2004. (Used with permission)

tmb last b747 flightOctober 31, 2004 marked the end of an era at Air Canada – the last flight of the B747-400. The last of the all-passenger 747s were retired earlier. The remaining three of the distinctively-shaped airplanes flew as a “combi” for passengers and cargo.

One was parked in the Arizona desert at the end of October, the other two flew their last flights from Frankfurt to Montreal and Toronto Oct. 30 and 31 respectively. The Montreal flight continued on to Toronto as a Rapidair flight.

Those last two aircraft, FIN's 341 (C-GAGL) and 343 (C-GAGN), will be ferried to Tel Aviv in November where they will be modified for their new owners Air China. They will be turned into all-cargo planes – the seats will be removed, the stairs moved closer to the flight deck and the floors reinforced. The last revenue flight of the B747-400 was AC 873 between Frankfurt and Toronto on October 31.

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