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Submitted by Ed Copeman, retired Air Canada captain - While reading the latest issue of "The Netletter" and seeing the letters BOAC, a story came to mind. I spent quite a few years flying from Dorval, became a second-officer instructor during that time, and that is where (and when) I was told this story. It was a 'dark and stormy' day at CYUL, and a BOAC B-707 was doing a non-precision flight to runway 24R. Through a 'hole' they spied the runway, and stuffed it down to that runway, flared for landing 'chopping' the power and touching down hard only to discover that the runway was nowhere near as long as the approach-chart mentioned! Full reverse, maximum brakes and the B-707 came to a halt near the western end of R/W 24 at Cartierville; not at Dorval which is several miles further west! BOAC flew in a new crew of supervisory pilots to ferry that B-707 to Dorval, and since then... BOAC came to mean Been Over At Cartierville, tho' not any BOAC pilots ever repeated that! Yours truly, Ed Copeman |
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Editor's Note from Terry Baker: Hello Ed, Thank you for taking the time to send us this item which we will pass along to our readers. BOAC could always be Better On Air Canada. There is also an instance when an Air France aircraft landed at Cartierville in error. |
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Viewing the article on the Viscount in NetLetter #1508 prompted Louise Ingram to send this comment - Thank you for the article on the Viscount. It brought up so many fond memories for me. I started my career with Air Canada as a stewardess in March 1966 and was based in YWG. My favourite aircraft to work on was the Viscount. I’ve visited the Winnipeg museum and the museum in Sidney, B.C. which both have a Viscount. Love it! Louise Ingram |
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Neil Burton has sent us an excerpt from the Kamloops Sentinel issued June 28, 1950. One of the most recent businesses to take up its headquarters in Kamloops in 1950 is Central British Columbia Airlines, with its base at Fulton Field Airport, Kamloops, B. C. The work of Central B.C. Airways constitutes the constant vigil against forest fires, servicing of mining properties in Central and Northern B.C. and taking charter flights to any point in Canada. The company operates 11 modern type aircraft, from bases at Kamloops, Penticton, Prince George, Fort St. James, Burns Lake and Nelson. It also owns and operates Kamloops Air Services, providing charter service, to lakes and resorts of the Kamloops fishing, hunting and ranching district. Under the direction of F. Russell Baker, hero of many a mercy flight in the central and northern interior, the newly acquired Kamloops business will undoubtedly expand with the progress of the Central and northern interior. Pilot Baker is one of the few persons not of American citizenship ever to receive the United States Air Medal, presented to him by President Harry S. Truman for dramatic rescue of crews of three American bombers forced down in the north country during the war. This ambitious company at present operates 3 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers, 2 Junkers freighters, 1 Fairchild 71C, 2 Republic RC-3 Seabee amphibians and 2 Cessna T50's. In personnel, experience and equipment, the company is ready at all times to handle freight or passenger service anywhere in the country. Source: Kamloops Sentinel issued June 28, 1950 via Neil Burton. |
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Editors' Note: Between 1949 and 1952, Central British Columbia Airlines acquired seven other smaller flying services. With each acquisition, the company expanded its base of operations, providing the much needed manpower and equipment necessary to maintain a rapidly expanding air service. These companies included Associated Air Taxi, Kamloops Air Service, Skeena Air Transport, Whitehorse Flying Services and Port Alberni Airways. In 1953, the company adopted the name Pacific Western Airlines. Acquired Queen Charlotte Airlines and Associated Airways in 1955. Acquired BC Airlines in 1970 and merged with Transair in 1979. Source: airlinehistory.co.uk/airline/central-british-columbia-airlines/ |
