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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.

For our new readers

We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2700 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 in similar to the following image. (The image below doesn't work but your links at the bottom will).

Thank you

Alan Rust - ACFamily Administrator

Winter flights from Toronto to P.E.I. discontinued. Numerous media outlets have been reporting that Air Canada will be discontinuing winter service between Charlottetown and Toronto, a route we have been serving year-round for 31 years. This is a business decision. We use profits from the summer operation on this route to make up for the marginal performance of services during the leaner months and the rest of the year. However, this summer, we are expecting reduced profitability due to distortions in the marketplace following the Government of Prince Edward Island’s decision to subsidize summer-only, daily, non-stop WestJet flights and to subsidize a U.S. carrier on another route. This government’s intervention led us to cancel our plans to increase summer service and also forced us to reconsider our winter operation. Despite numerous discussions and meetings with P.E.I. officials, including the Premier, over the past few months, we were unable to come to an agreement on how to re-establish a level playing field for Air Canada and therefore we made a business decision to terminate winter service between Charlottetown and Toronto. This decision does not affect our year- round non-stop daily service from Charlottetown to Montreal and Halifax and summer seasonal service between Charlottetown and Toronto will be reinstated in the spring of 2006.

Air Canada announced winter schedule changes, including new routes and flights on the company's transborder network between the U.S. and Canada. The additional capacity comes as Air Canada and its regional affiliate Air Canada Jazz receive new Bombardier and Embraer regional jets. Details of the new routes are:

- Abbotsford/Toronto: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada will introduce daily nonstop flights using 93-seat Embraer 190 aircraft. Air Canada will offer the only daily nonstop service between these two cities.

- Abbotsford/Calgary: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada Jazz will introduce three-times daily nonstop flights using 75-seat Bombardier Jet CRJ-705 aircraft in a two-class layout.

- Air Canada also is increasing service on other routes domestically, including:
- Vancouver/Toronto: Up to 15 daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight.
- Vancouver/Calgary: Up to 17 daily nonstop flights with the introduction of three additional flights.
- Calgary/Toronto: Up to 10 daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight.
- Edmonton/Toronto: Up to seven daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight.
- Winnipeg/Toronto: Up to nine daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight.
- Toronto/Montreal: Up to 52 daily flights with the introduction of two additional flights.
- Fort McMurray (Alberta)/Calgary: Up to two daily nonstop flights with the introduction of jet service effective Oct. 30.
- Moncton (New Brunswick)/Montreal: Effective immediately, Air Canada Jazz will increase service to four daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight, using 50-seat CRJ aircraft.
Deer Lake (Newfoundland)/Montreal: Effective Oct. 30, Air Canada will extend summer flights to year- round service offering the only daily nonstop flights, using 50-seat Regional Jet CRJ-200 aircraft operated by Air Canada Jazz.
- St. John's (Newfoundland)/Montreal: Effective Oct. 30, Air Canada will extend summer flights to year- round service offering the only daily nonstop flights, using 75-seat CRJ-705 aircraft operated by Air Canada Jazz.

Included in the schedule will be daily nonstop flights on the following routes:
- Vancouver/San Diego, Calgary/Newark and Calgary/Orlando as follows:
- Vancouver/San Diego: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada Jazz will introduce daily nonstop flights using 75-seat Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-705 aircraft.
- Calgary/Newark: Effective Dec. 1, Air Canada will introduce daily nonstop flights using 93-seat Embraer 190 aircraft. Air Canada will offer the only year-round daily nonstop service between these two cities (Continental operates seasonal service).
- Calgary/Orlando: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada will introduce twice-weekly nonstop flights on Saturday and Sunday during the winter season using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
Air Canada also is adding flights on the following routes: - Vancouver/San Francisco: Up to three daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight effective Dec. 17. - Kelowna (British Columbia)/Toronto: Effective Feb. 4, 2006, Air Canada will increase service to offer daily nonstop flights using 93-seat Embraer 190 aircraft.
- Calgary/Houston: Up to three daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight effective immediately.
- Calgary/Los Angeles: Up to three daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight effective Dec. 17
-Toronto/Denver: Up to three daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight effective Oct. 30
- Toronto/Las Vegas: Up to three daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional daily flight effective Oct. 1
- Toronto/Los Angeles: Up to five daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight effective immediately.
- Toronto/Pittsburgh: Up to three daily nonstop flights with the introduction of one additional flight effective Oct. 30
- Ottawa/Orlando: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada will increase service to daily flights on this seasonal route, the only nonstop service.
- Ottawa/Fort Lauderdale: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada will increase service to daily flights on this seasonal route, the only nonstop service, operating a mix of Airbus and Embraer aircraft.
- Montreal/Las Vegas: Effective Oct. 30, Air Canada will increase service to offer daily flights, the only nonstop service, operating a mix of Airbus and Embraer aircraft. - Montreal/San Francisco: Effective Dec. 17, Air Canada will introduce year-round service offering the only daily nonstop flights, using 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Rule that kept pax in seats 30 minutes from DCA has been rescinded.

From the Pionairs email newsletter issued by Gord Daziel -

Air Canada Cargo Discounts

Because of interest expressed by our Pionair Members information has been obtained with respect to Air Canada Discount available to our Members and all Retirees.

All Discounts apply to shipments made ONLY on Air Canada services.

Discounts apply to the Basic Rate and do NOT include Terminal, Customs, Delivery, Insurance, Etc charges. Contact Number: 1 - 800 - 361 - 2159 ( select option 2 ).

General Air Freight - A Discount of 80 per cent applies to the first 100 Kgs, on all Domestic and Transborder Shipments. A Discount of 50 per cent applies to Worldwide shipments.

Express Shipments - A Discount of 50 per cent applies to Express Shipments. Some size restrictions may apply, but generally less than 32 Kgs per shipment applies. Discounts are available by presenting the shipment and Air Canada Identification, when attending the Cargo Terminal

Federal Express Discounts

FedEx is there to help with your shipments. Planning to ship gifts to family and friends and you need to get them there on time? Good news, FedEx, Air Canada's preferred courier provider, offers all active and retired Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Vacations and Destina employees with a minimum of six months service, a discount on all shipments.

To take advantage of this service, you or your spouse must present a valid Air Canada picture ID or a photocopy, at any of the MAIN FedEx shipment locations. Plan to avoid the crunch times of the day - drop your shipments off between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information on FedEx services, visit their website at www.fedex.ca (for Canada) and www.fedex.com (for the U.S.), or call them at (800)- GO- FEDEX.

Concerns with Users: - It has been reported in the past, that some Active and Retirees may have abused this Discount offer, including the Fed Ex Agents. We as Pionairs are very troubled by hearing of these incidents. These will lead to a Discontinuation of this Discount Service, if it prevails.

We are recommending, as with many Discounts offered to Retirees, Care and Respect must be taken when within the Fed Ex offices. Many other Customers are Paying Full Fare and should be respected.

All efforts should be made to assist the Fed Ex Agents when processing your shipmen, " THANKS " goes along way sometimes.

The Boeing Company has officially launched the 737-900ER (Extended Range) following the completion of a sales agreement for up to 60 of the airplanes from Lion Air.

WestJet announced it has sold its Boeing 737-200 fleet to Miami-based Apollo Aviation Group. WestJet currently has 10 737-200 aircraft remaining in its fleet, all of which will be replaced by Next- Generation 737 aircraft by March 2006. Apollo has also purchased WestJet's inventory of spare parts and engines, as well as the company's 737-200 flight simulator.

Beginning in March 2006, WestJet will operate a fleet comprised exclusively of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. The airline currently operates 44 Next-Generation aircraft in its fleet of 54 aircraft

.

(From Herb Noble)

I'll bet you just hate it when you publish some tidbit of history and somebody wants to correct you. But I am a North Star junkie, and could I offer you some information about the names that were given to the first four North Stars?

These aircraft were the first four aircraft built by Canadair as pressurized aircraft and were constructed for TCA, up until that time we were operating North Stars that belonged to the RCAF and were on loan, these were unpressurized models know as DC-4M1, To us and C54-GM to us in the airforce, there were 6 of them and they were all returned to RCAF by 16 March 1948, the fin numbers were 84 through 89, and these numbers were changed to 184 through 189 when TCA decided to identify fleet type by fin numbers.

So the first four DC-4M2 aircraft delivered to TCA had names and also were fin numbered starting with 201

Fin Number 201 was Cartier, registration was CF-TFA

202 was Cornwallis, registration was CF-TFB

203 was Champlain, registration was CF-TFC

204 was Selkirk, registration was CF-TFD

The naming of aircraft ceased at that point, well almost, TCA operated 23 North Stars, four of them were converted to Freighters in house by the company, these four aircraft were named Flying Merchants, the name was painted on each aircraft and was as a result of a company wide contest to name the aircraft.

The freighters were unique as well, 202 became a freighter after a landing incident, the aircraft was ferried to Montreal and during the repair was converted to a freighter, The other three freighters were the three North Starts that TCA purchased for Canadian Pacific Airlines, they had four North Stars, they were known as C-4-1 and had fin numbers 401 through 404, Fin number 402 was destroyed in a landing accident in Tokyo, the remaining three became 221, 222 and 223 and were to become three freighters, before all three could be converted, 223 was lost on a mid air collision over Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.

North Star 210 was then converted to a freighter in it's place.

The C-4-1 North Stars bought from CPA were interesting in the fact that the pedestal in the cockpit was completely different from the TCA aircraft, the reason being that the CPA aircraft had reversing propellers, TCA locked out the reversing Props, but chose not to modify the pedestals.

Cheer's
Herb Noble

(ed’s note: Terry and I love this style of feedback, it indicates someone out there is reading us and that’s the purpose of the NetLetter, to get more informed.)

United announced it will offer three additional weekly flights between its airport hub at Los Angeles International Airport and Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport in Australia, between Dec. 15, 2005, and April 27, 2006.

United, which already operates daily on this route will operate an evening departure from Los Angeles on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and an early afternoon departure from Sydney on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Both flights arrive in the morning. The flights will be operated with a Boeing 747-400 in a three-class layout.

For our UK readers

The Apprentice Legend Cruise
8 Night Caribbean
26 Sep 2005
Carnival Legend, Carnival Cruise Lines
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFFER
Balcony Cabin from GBP435
Ports of call: New York, San Juan, Charlotte Amalie, Tortola, New York

Cruise
7 Night Hawaii
07, 14, 21 Aug 2005
Pride of Aloha, Norwegian Cruise Line
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFFER
Departs from/Arrives into: Honolulu
from GBP289
Book online with no credit card fees

7 Night Scandinavia & Russia
28 Aug 2005
Marco Polo, Orient Lines
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFFER
Departs from: Warnemunde (Germany)/Arrives into: Stockholm
From GBP299


10 Night Mediterranean
07 Oct 2005
Silver Cloud, Silversea
Six Star Service¦All Inclusive Value
Departs from: Civitavecchia(Rome)
From GBP1400 Ocean-View


6 Night Trans-Atlantic
08 Oct 2005
Queen Mary 2, Cunard
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFFER
Departs from: New York/Arrives into: Southampton from GBP544

5 Night Caribbean
Oct 31, Nov 5, 14, 19, 28, Dec 3, 12 2005
Zenith, Celebrity Cruises
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFFER
Departs from/Arrives into: Miami
from GBP233
Book online with no credit card fees


7 Night Caribbean
05, 12, 19 26 Nov 2005
Caribbean Princess, Princess Cruises
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFFER
Departs from/Arrives into: Fort Lauderdale
from GBP345

Nassau Palm Resort, Bahamas
from GBP27pppn Room Only


Le Grand Courlan Resort & Spa, Tobago
from GBP48pppn All Inclusive


The Indian Ocean
Le Coco Beach, Mauritius
from GBP36pppn Half Board


Paradis Hotel & Golf Club, Mauritius
from GBP83pppn Half Board


One&Only Le Touessrok & Le Saint Geran, Mauritius from GBP117pppn Half Board

Flights We DO NOT charge flight only supplements!
School Holidays in the Caribbean
Barbados, Port Of Spain, Tobago
BWIA
from GBP114

Bangkok
Etihad Airways
Prebook conditions apply
from GBP228

Mumbai
Jet Airways
Economy Class from GBP189

Seychelles
Air Seychelles
from GBP169
Prebook conditions apply

Shannon, Cork
British Airways Club Europe
Depart from Manchester
from GBP108 plus tax

Rome
British Airways Club Europe
Depart from Birmingham, Edinburgh & Manchester
from GBP189 plus tax

Alicante, Valencia, Palma, Menorca
GB Airways
from GBP49

Travel Industry Services (UK)
Cruises: 0870 041 1600
Flights: 0870 041 1100
Hotels: 0870 041 9106

The mailing and formating of the NetLetter for HTML format is provided by 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!

Retirees Welcome!

Agenda Thursday, October 20, 2005
Welcome evening. Register and meet the other players

Friday, October 21, 2005 Play all day at the San Gabriel Valley Badminton Hall.

Friday Evening
Fun evening! (optional)

Saturday, October 22, 2005
Play all day

Saturday Evening
Presentation Dinner/Dance

For complete info and signup, please follow the link below.

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!)