|
This issue's 'Smileys' cartoon (left) reminds me of the time I was seconded to a small airline in the Caribbean in the early 1970's. Their reservations were handled the same way as depicted in the cartoon - before being online. Naturally, when an agent selected a card from the appropriate slot for completion and, by the time it came to replace the completed card, the turntable had been moved by another agent, and the card invariably went into the incorrect slot. |
|
When I worked for KLM in the late '40's in London, the reservations had a huge wooden structure with pigeon holes representing flights and filled with cards equal to the aircraft's seats. The structure was situated between two rows of agents who could turn around and select the card from the appropriate slot and return it after completion. At day's end, the passenger lists for each of the following day’s flights were sent to LHR by telex, and the empty slots were reassigned and filled with more cards. |
|
In 2002, Ed Hill sent us this memory regarding the North Star aircraft which we first published in NetLetter #666 - It is great to read all about this marvellous airplane from my fellow employees and all of the memories that go along with it, however, let me share with you folks something that maybe 5 or 6 people are aware of. When I was working as a 16 year old in Airways Engineering, my desk was just a few feet away from the office of one of the most loveable persons I have had the privilege of knowing. That person is no other than Captain Ron Baker who was TCA's engineering test pilot. Every time Captain Baker went on a test flight he always took me with him. Now this is what most people don't realize; TCA was probably the first airline in North America to be testing automatic throttle combined with auto instrument landing system. On this particular flight the weather was no better than a 100 foot ceiling and he demonstrated how this system would work to everyone’s advantage. So the bottom line I'm trying to make is that the old North Star was involved in a lot more than just making fond memories for some people. Best regards, Ed Hill, retired. |
