Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

A310's leased to Aussies.

PWA Corporation concluded an agreement covering the lease of A310-300 aircraft to Compass Airlines of Brisbane, Australia.

The aircraft left the fleet on June 18, 1991. Subject to confirmation expected later this month, a second A310 will be leased to Compass effective November 1991.

(Editor's note from Ken  Pickford: The lease of the second A310 never happened as Compass Airlines went bankrupt and was grounded by the Australian government in December 1991 when the first leased A310 was returned to Canadian Airlines. It's one of the 5 ex-Wardair/Canadian A310's that went to the Canadian Armed Forces in 1992/93 and remain in service.)

Canadian continued to market the remaining six A310 aircraft being operated in Canada.

PWA Corporation completed the following aircraft deliveries:

• May 28, one DC-10-30 to Potomac Capital Corporation.
• June 10, a DC-10-30 to Potomac Capital.
• May 31, International Lease Finance Corporation took delivery of a B747-400 it had acquired the rights to from Canadian Airlines last December 1990.

These deliveries were included in the fleet plan announced in late 1990. Cash proceeds from deliveries total $120 million.

During 1991, Canadian accepted delivery of one B747-400, two B767-300ER's, and five A320's bringing the total aircraft fleet to 85 aircraft with an average fleet age of nine years, one of the youngest in North America.

Prime Minister's North Pacific charter.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's visit to Hong Kong and Japan on a chartered Canadian Airlines B-767 began with a historic achievement for this company. The flight was under the command of Captains Mac Jones and Terry Lambourne with first officer Don Garke.

It was the world's first commercial B767 non-stop flight across the North Pacific. The 6,592 statute mile Vancouver-Hong Kong trip on May 21, 1991 took 13 hours.

The 11-day trip was scheduled to fly Ottawa-Vancouver-Hong Kong-Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo-Ottawa, carrying 50 passengers, including the Prime Minister and his wife Mila, his staff and media.

In recognition of exceptional operational and In-flight service, the Prime Minister extended to all the Canadian personnel accompanying the flight to attend the Official reception and opening of Place Canada Embassy in Tokyo.

Attending were business and government leaders of Japan and Canada, including Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Takamado, Prime Minister Kaifu of Japan and his wife and the Prime Minister and Mrs. Mulroney.

Also attending were our flight crew: 

Standing from the left: George Stonier, Doris Loo, Tony Wade-Cooper, Jo-Ann Chanin and William Lee.

Seated from left: Pat Clever, Magdl Erian, and Marie Larus.

Brandon Airport.

As aircraft fin #755 (Pacific Western's newest B-737 delivered only a few days earlier) touched down in Brandon on June 1, 1981, it marked the start of a new jet age for this community.

Many who had never been on board an aircraft, let alone a jet, were visibly impressed by the $15 million machine. Representatives from Airport Services, ln-Flight, Catering, Sales and Marketing were on hand throughout the day to answer the barrage of questions from an inquisitive public.

A special thanks to all those employees who contributed to the success of this day. It was estimated that 8 to 10 thousand people participated in the Brandon Air Service Day.