|
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.
|
Sponsors
ACFamily Services
Donations
Air Canada Heritage Poster
|
|
Dear NetLetter,
Correction - I erroneously left out "Island" in the last NetLetter when I published the information regarding the Vancouver Island Spring Luncheon. I'm sorry if it caused any confusion. It's repeated below with a map added as a bonus. (One word can make a big difference)!
We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2717 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter and give them out to their friends.
To get in touch with either the Editor/Pilot or Co- Pilot our email address is still This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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).
Thank you
Alan Rust - ACFamily Administrator
|
|
|
|
|
Need to know...
|
|
 Personal Travel in Premium Economy Class - Some international routes operated by Boeing B767 aircraft now offer Air Canada Premium Economy Class, a new international, premium economy service in place of business class.
For flights offering Air Canada Premium Economy Class, any confirmed space employee travel programs allowing booking/upgrading in business class will correctly be booked in the appropriate class. The onboard service will be Air Canada Premium Economy class.
For flights offering Air Canada Premium Economy Class, any space available employee travel programs allowing for registration in business class (such as C1/J10) will appear to be registered in J (business) class instead of Premium Economy Class. It is important to understand that although the flight registration will show up as "J" inventory, the onboard service for these flights will be Premium Economy Class. We suggest that employees check Policies to see the list of probable flights and routes where Premium Economy Class is offered. Onboard service will be in Air Canada Premium Economy class.
There will be no refunds or adjustments to allotments if employees were accommodated in Air Canada Premium Economy Class.
For a list of product characteristics and routes offering Air Canada Premium Economy Class, please refer to the News section of News and Policies on http://travel.aircanada.ca.
|
|
|
|
|
Vancouver Island Spring Luncheon Reminder
|
|
The Vancouver Island District Spring Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 in the Gun Room at the Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt. Take Head Road off of Esquimalt Road to the Barracks. We hope to have someone directing you to the parking. Social Hour from 11:30 to 12:30 followed by a wonderful Roast Beef and Baked Salmon Buffet prepared by oldstream Caterers. Our Guest Speaker will be John Hopkins, National President of the Air Canada Pionairs. Door prizes and 50/50 Draw. Cost per person including Tax and Gratuity is $20.00
Send cheque payable to AIR CANADA PIONAIRS to
Marjorie Thorpe, 1769 Astra Rd., Comox, B. C., V9M 4B6, NO LATER THAN MAY 8, 2006
Note: Click on Map image for larger map.
======================================== HURRAY!!!!
Renovations at the Breakwater Cafe in Sidney have been completed and we will resume our Koffee Klatch on Wednesday, May 10 at 9:30 AM and then every second Wednesday of the month.
Breakwater Cafe is located at 9815 Seaforth which runs of Beacon down by the wharf.
Hope you'll all come out for some informative and social discussion.
Sincerely,
Bob Walker
|
|
|
|
|
Air Canada News
|
|
Last Air Canada CRJ flights operated April 30. April 30th marked the last day the Canadair Regional Jet operated in the Air Canada fleet. All of Air Canada's CRJs are transferring to Air Canada Jazz. The CRJ first joined Air Canada in the Fall of 1994, and with the signing of the Open Skies Agreement in 1995, this aircraft quickly became the backbone of the airline's expansion into the United States. Nicknamed 'hub-buster', the CRJ played a key role in opening many underserved or unserved city-pairs between Canada and the United States.
Look what C1's and upgraded cons can look forward to!!! - Executive First onboard service changes May 1st Customers travelling in Executive First between Canada and Europe or Delhi, India will notice a few changes to the services offered onboard. The most noticeable change will be the re- introduction of the meal tray, which will replace the current trolley presentation service for table settings, appetizers, and cheese. The snacks offered during the first bar service will change from a ramekin of warm nuts to individual miniature olive jars and packaged almond snacks. We will continue to offer a light meal prior to landing. On flights from Canada to Europe, a continental breakfast featuring fresh fruit, warm breakfast pastries, yogurt and cereal will be served along with beverages. On flights from Europe to Canada, the 'lite bites' service will feature fresh salad with balsamic vinaigrette, a choice of hot savouries and sauces accompanied by a full selection of beverages.
Customers will have a choice of three meal options: a four course meal consisting of a choice of appetizer, choice of three main courses, cheese plate, and choice of two desserts. Two alternative meal options are available for customers who want more time to sleep or work during the flight. The Gourmet Express meal features a cold plate; main course, cheese plate, and dessert. The other light meal option features a choice of appetizer, cheese plate, and dessert. We will implement these changes on our other international flights starting with Tel Aviv on June 1, followed by South America and the South Pacific on July 1, and then Asia and Japan on August 1.
|
|
|
|
|
Where are they now?
|
|
B737 C-FCPK c/n 23176 delivered CPAIR Apr 1986 sold to GPA Dec 1986 who leased it to VASP registered PP-WTB, then to Morris Air as EI-CHD presently flying with Southwest Airlies as N698SW
|
|
|
|
|
Reader FeedBack
|
|
From: "Bill Cameron" This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: Aviation History
Greetings..!
Some time ago I had asked if anyone out there in cyberspace had any information about, or had worked on or with, two Beechcraft S-18D aircraft bought in 1938 by Prairie Airways of Moose Jaw, SK. Both aircraft remained in service with CPAL after 1942, and were sold to TACA in British Honduras (now Belize) in 1944. Amazingly, both have survived and are in museums in Arizona and Tennessee. These two aircraft were contemporary with the Lockheed 10A operations across Canada of Trans-Canada Air Lines in 1938-1942, and have some considerable historic significance in Canadian Aviation.
I did make contact with many people whose careers touched on those two aircraft, and many of those folks were in their mid-eighties and ninties, and were a 'gold-mine' of information -pilots, air engineers, and others.
The research article that I produced is published in the Canadian Aviation Historical Society Journal Vol.44 No.1 - Spring 2006, with photos of the two aircraft and personalities such as Grant McConachie, Dick Ryan, Ted West, Ted Fowler - all of CPAL in 1943.
I have just heard about an incident - probably the winter of 1942/43 - in which several USAAC B-26 Marauder aircraft force-landed (or crashed) in the vicinity of Watson Lake. The area apparently became known to pilots and other personnel of CPAL as "Million Dollar Valley". It seems that some CPAL aircraft may have visited the site in that winter, and I would be interested to know if anyone out there still remembers details of the incident.
Would it be possible to ask that question on the NetLetter?
Sincerely,
Bill Cameron
Okotoks, AB
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
|
|
|
|
|
Terrys Travel Tips
|
|
Aeroplan® partner Hilton Hotels offers exclusive discounts in the Caribbean
Wouldn't some time in the sun be lovely? With hotels and resorts worldwide, Hilton Hotels invites active and retired ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. employees to take advantage of special rates at their properties in the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Tobago and Trinidad. To benefit from this offer, you must book on-line at www.hiltoncaribbean.com/travelindustry.shtm and insert AL as the promotion code. Alternately, you may dial 1.877.GO.HILTON (toll-free from Canada and the US) and mention promotion code AL at time of reservation. You'll be asked to present your ID/travel card at time of check-in. Bon voyage!
|
|
|
|
|
Smilies
|
|
Frank Pedder found this one -
For those that don't know, "The Sled" is the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane from the 1960's and still the fastest airplane.
In his book, "Sled Driver", SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my back- seater) and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace.
Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope.
I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its ground speed."90 knots" Center replied. Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same. "120 knots," Center answered. We weren't the only ones proud of our ground speed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, "Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests ground speed readout." There was a slight pause, then the response, "525 knots on the ground, Dusty." Another silent pause.
As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my back-seater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison. "Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?" There was a longer than normal pause....
"Aspen, I show 1,742 knots" (That's about 2004.658 mph for those who don't know)
No further inquiries were heard on that frequency.
When Hillary Clinton visited Iraq last month the Army Blackhawk helicopter used to transport the Senator was given the call sign "broomstick one". And they say the Army has no sense of humor!
|
|
|
|
|
AC Heritage Poster
|
|
Enjoy this visual display of Air Canada’s historic fleet from its beginning in 1937 to the present including aircraft from:
- Trans-Canada Airlines
- Canadian Airlines
- Pacific Western
- Eastern Provincial
- Nordair
- Transair
and 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 reunions, retirements and birthday gifts, etc.
A donation is made to Dreams Take Flight for each poster that is sold.
|
|
More info here |
|
|
Submissions
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
NetLetter Archives
|
|
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!)
|
|
NetLetter Archives Link |
|
|
