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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995


The NetLetter #886
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The NetLetter
Since Oct/95 - "Over 2,234 AC retirees served" June 6, 2005

 

Number 886

About us!

Must know...

Nice to Know...

Air Canada News

Reader Feedback

Remember when...

Found on the Internet

Star Alliance News

Other News!

Terry's Travel Tips

Sponsors

Create your own website!

Adobe PDF Files

NetLetter Archives



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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Dear NetLetter,

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


  • Must know...
  • Vesta

    Recently, it has come to our attention that the Air Canada Employee Travel Web Site made a minor change to its address. The new Address is : http://travel.aircanada.com The ca was changed to com. Please make the change in your Favourites Files.

    Note: the .ca still works, it just redirects to .com now.

    Aeroplan® partner Starwood Hotels & Resorts offers exclusive discounts worldwide With over 750 hotels and resorts in over 80 countries around the globe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts invites active and retired ACE Aviation Holdings Inc employees to take advantage of special rates at participating Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, Luxury Collection or W Hotels before May 1, 2006. To benefit from this offer-50 % or better off standard rates-you must book on-line at www.starwood.com/AeroplanAL You'll be asked to present your ID/travel card at time of check-in. Bon voyage!

  • Nice to Know...
  • Katherine O'Neill sends us this message - Clarification about Air Canada's New Portal

    On June 6, employees and retirees in North America will have access to the Corporate Phonebook, Employee Travel and the Employee Services Self- Service application when they go online to visit http://acaeronet.aircanada.ca . Access to these components will be available up until early July after which time access to additional applications on the new Portal will be available. .

    In early July, Air Canada will launch the new Portal (ACaeronet) which will contain all the news and personal information relevant to each individual.

    Timeline:
    Mid May: Letter containing your User ID and a unique password to allow you access to ACaeronet. (Please keep this letter in a secure place) End of May: Second letter with Employee Services Contact Centre password.
    June 6: Employee Service Contact Centre and online Self-Service application opens for business. Employees and retirees may access their personal information with a phone call or online at http://acaeronet.aircanada.ca.
    Early July: Launch of Air Canada's new communication and information portal: ACaeronet

    Letter with access information for ACaereonet Once you receive the letter containing your personal password and User ID, you will have access to the Aeronet menu page. From here, retirees will be able to access the employee Phonebook and (on June 6) the Employee Services Contact Centre (My HR). Once ACaeronet is launched in July, employees and retirees will find all their personal information and company news online.

    Please note: Do not call the IBM Help Desk for technical assistance before June 6. If you choose to visit the site you may, but all that will be available at that time for retirees is the Phonebook and Employee Travel.

    Increase to Air France ZED fares. If your upcoming travel plans include using an Interline discount ZED fare on Air France, be aware that effective June 1 there will be a price increase. However, this increase will not be reflected on the Employee Travel Site until the end of May. To help reduce any potential inconvenience of tickets needing to be re-issued by our colleagues at the airport or by Air France agents, please delay booking your ticket until June 1. This way, you will know what the true cost is, and avoid service delays at the airport. This price change includes all ACE employees, retirees and their spouses and dependant children.

    Temporary change to online booking procedure for ACV. Over the next few months, while Air Canada Vacations (ACV) changes its reservation system, the process to book your travel plans will be different. Instead of using the Employee Travel Site (ETS), employees and retirees who wish to book their winter vacation in advance (flight departures on or after Nov. 1) will need to do so by contacting Staff Travel via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Currently, two destinations - Barbados and Puerto Plata - are available for this type of advance booking. More destinations will be included in early July and we will keep you informed as they become available. Once the transfer is completed, we will return to booking through ETS. Please note; if you plan to travel before Oct. 31, you may still book your vacation on ETS.

    Canadian Aviation Historical Society Vancouver Island Chapter.
    The Chapter executive have decided to cancel all business meetings until September 14, 2005.
    Wednesday, September 14, will be the next business meeting with a couple of interesting people prepared to speak about their flying adventures.
    One more lunch at Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe will be held this spring. Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 11:30 hours, for anyone wanting to get together to share good food and great stories. Call Stoney Jackson 250- 478-7567 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve a chair.
    All the best wishes for a happy and enjoyable summer, we hope to see you about the museum and other great places soon.
    Sincere regards,

    Jacqueline Frampton
    Treasure / Membership
    VI Chapter CAHS
    250-544-2183

  • Air Canada News
  • Air Canada inaugurates new cargo service to Shanghai. On May 15th., saw the launch of our new all-cargo service to Shanghai from Toronto's Pearson International Airport we became the only carrier to offer direct freighter service from Canada to China. These all-cargo flights will operate three times weekly using an MD-11 aircraft with a total cargo capacity of 84 tonnes

    On May 27th., Air Canada Jazz and Bombardier Regional Aircraft employees gathered at a special ceremony at Bombardier's facility in Dorval to celebrate the delivery of Bombardier's first CRJ-705 to the Jazz fleet.Air Canada inaugurates new cargo service to Shanghai. On May 15th., saw the launch of our new all-cargo service to Shanghai from Toronto's Pearson International Airport we became the only carrier to offer direct freighter service from Canada to China. These all-cargo flights will operate three times weekly using an MD-11 aircraft with a total cargo capacity of 84 tonnes

  • Reader Feedback
  • Followup
    Ernst & Young Inc., the court appointed Monitor during the restructuring of Air Canada under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, has completed its Thirty-Second Report. It is available at www.aircanada.com

    Miscellaneous/accolades
    First of all, congratulations on your continued preparation of the Net Letter. It is always interesting. We just recently took a trip to your part of the world and visited Victoria and Butchart gardens, (like everyone does) and then we went to Kamloops. It was very pleasant to run across a B & B at Ashcroft (10 KM from Cache Creek and only 95 KM from Kamloops) that has a beautiful setting and is a 100 year old restored house. It is the Desert Gem, and Dolly Lowe is the wonderful hostess. The address is 511 Brink Street Box 505, Ashcroft, B.C, V0K 1A0 Phone 250-453-9011. We found that it was just a great place in the Thompson River Valley and the rates are quite reasonable at 45.00 single and 65.00 double. Maybe some of our summer travellers might like to know about our experience.
    Best regards, and we hope that you and Terry keep up the good work!
    Len Gauthier ex Dist. Mgr.- Rouyn-Noranda YUY This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • Remember when...
  • April 1st 1955 - The first turbine powered scheduled flight in north America when Capt's Walter Kent and Dave Tribe operated a Trans-Canada Air Lines Vickers Viscount from Montreal to Winnipeg.

  • Found on the Internet
  • Get Used To Biometric Tests, US Says International travelers should get used to having their fingerprints taken or their irises scanned because traditional airport security tests are outdated and open to abuse, a US official said. Found on the internet.

    BIPLANE IN BID TO RECREATE HISTORIC TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT Two adventurers have left Toronto in a replica of a Vickers Vimy biplane, on their way to Newfoundland for an attempt later this month at re-enacting the first transatlantic flight.

    The Vickers Vimy replica that flew 15,000 miles from England to Australia in 1994, then 9,000 miles from London to Capetown in 1999, is ready for adventure No. 3 -- retracing the first nonstop Atlantic crossing, made by the British team of John Alcock and Arthur Brown, flying a Vimy, in June 1919. The open-cockpit biplane, with two engines and a 70-foot wingspan, left California on Thursday, en route to St John's, Newfoundland. The Vimy will stop in Oshkosh, Toronto and Ottawa, and launch from St. John's sometime in mid-June. At the controls this time is ubiquitous aeronautical adventurer Steve Fossett, along with co-pilot Mark Rebholz, a veteran Vimy pilot and 747 captain. They will navigate using only a sextant and compass, the same instruments that Alcock and Brown relied on.

  • Star Alliance News
  • US Airways and America West, which are in merger negotiations, are trying to raise up to US$400 million in funding and secure a loan from Airbus in exchange for ordering new planes.

    The Star Alliance member carriers serving Mexico City - Air Canada, Lufthansa, United, US Airways and VARIG - now offer customers one joint ticket office at Mexico City's International Airport.

    The European Commission is seeking comments from potential opponents or supporters of Lufthansa's takeover of Swiss International Air Lines.

  • Other News!
  • CANADA, U.S. AT ODDS AGAIN
    Canada and the U.S. are at odds again, this time over a proposal that would require all foreign carriers flying over the U.S. to check passenger names against the American government's watch lists ­ a move that's part of the country's anti-terrorist strategy. The trouble is a good number of Canadian domestic flights do fly over the U.S. in order to save both time and fuel.
    Canadian Transport Minister Jean Lapierre said yesterday that he will fight the proposal and is already lobbying to protect the privacy of Canadians.

    Interesting item to know:<br> From 'daily' and reprinted here for retirees without computers.
    Boeing 777 to stop in Montreal on maiden voyage. One of the new Boeing wide-body aircraft scheduled to join the Air Canada fleet over the next few years, the 777-200LR Wordliner, will touch down in Montreal on its maiden voyage from Seattle on June 8. The aircraft will spend two days at the Montreal base and will be displayed to employees and retirees on June 9 before resuming its trip to the Paris Air Show. Don't miss this chance to check out the longest range airplane in the world! Event details and schedule will be communicated to you shortly. While Montreal employees get to be the lucky ones this time, there will be other opportunities later in other cities to see more new additions to our fleet.

    MUSEUM TO BRING BACK CANADA'S 'AIR FORCE ONE'
    A museum in Ontario is hoping to raise enough money to bring home the aircraft once known as Canada's "Air Force One," which is now rotting away at the end of a runway in Latin America.
    FULL STORY:

    Full Story on Canada's AirForce One here!
  • Terry's Travel Tips
  • Need to know
    Rehash of information previously received from Industry Travel - Subject: Re: C1/J10 Passes The C1/J10 priority has two boarding sequences, first it is the C1 which will be boarded ahead of C2 and J10 is for the upgrade at the time of departure when all revenue passengers and confirmed employees have obtained their seat in Executive. If there is no J class seat, then the C1/J10 passholder will ride in in the back (still ahead of all C2). '---o-o-0-o-o---'

    African Forest Tours & Safaris presents World Airline All Inclusive
    Kenyan Safari Package
    Anytime from September 15 to December 15 2005.
    12 day all inclusive Kenya Safari.Transportation in a safari-designed vehicle Overnight Train to Mombasa 3 nights hotel with full board in Mombassa Mombasa city tour Accommodation and full board while on safari All park entrance fees Driver guide Transfers - airport - railway and hotel Panafric hotel Nairobi complete with full board Nairobi city tour Lunch or dinner at the Carnivore restaurant.
    Price: $1,150.00 USD pp.

    RumRabbit.com and Fraserway RV are offering Interliners the following great special:
    4 (four) Days use of any available motor homes.
    Dates: Anytime between June 1 and August 31.
    Routing: YVR - YYC.
    Cost: $99.00 CAD (for the entire 4 days!..per motor home).
    Units come fully equipped... basically just pack your toothbrush.
    Additional Days available.

    Full details of both these packages are available on RumRabbit.com So hop to it!

    RumRabbit.com
  • Sponsors
  • 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!

    Please support the ACFamily Network
  • Create your own website!
  • (From the ACFamily Network)

    We have found a place where you can create your own web site for reunions, weddings, etc. Please take a look if you're interested.

    Event  Website

    More info
  • Adobe PDF Files
  • Most Internet users are familiar with Adobe Acrobat Reader. When web sites (and email lists) wish to share files with their readers it is not practical to have them download files that they are not able to open or which could be infected by viruses.

    To solve this problem, Adobe Software provides a "Free" reader to allow anyone that downloads their viewer to read these files.

    Click on the "Adobe Reader 7.0" image to download your free copy of Adobe Reader. Instructions for installing it are found using the link below. (The NetLetter does not provide support for installing the reader, but Nerds On Site do.) See the links to them on the left panel.

    How to download Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • 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
    email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     



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