-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|\^/|
_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_ N E T L E T T E R
> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
|
Your crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
number 233 date Feb 4th 1998
Published since October 1995.
=============================================================
. Jiri Koristka who we welcomed in NetLetter Nr 229, sends
us this bio -
Something about me: I joined TCA in November 14th 1955 as a
draughtsman in Engineering Dept. at the "old" Dorval Mtce. Base. I
did little bit of flight engineering on "Supper Connies" (used to
fly Spitfiers with the Czechoslovak Airforce and in 1991 I was
honored & named A/F Colonel ret.), back to Engineering Planning &
eventually retired from Air Canada on January 1st, 1985 as
Engineering Instruction Manuals Editor..
Jiri Koristka email:
--=o0o=--
. Jimmy Millar has the following comments -
In the NetLetter #231 Don Demeza had an excellent summary on the
Family Affair Program. Here is additional info re the Employee Call
Center 800 phone number. It is only good in Canada and the
Continental USA and Hawaii. It is not available in Europe or
anywhere else in the world. In these locations you just use our
regular reservations phone numbers. Keep up the good work on the
NetLetter, Jimmy Millar email
--=o0o=--
. Here is the rest of the story started in NetLetter nr 228,
about the North Star aircraft, as related by Bill Norberg -
It was a great thrill for me to be on board and experience these
automatic approaches, many down to 25 feet altitude at Dorval
airport.
Merlin powerplants on the North Star were noted for having a
surging problem at times. On occasions during our approaches the
interactions between a surging Merlin and the autopilot's attempt to
keep the aircraft on the beam were quite dramatic. Ron Baker would
allow this oscillation process to continue as long as possible so we
could establish optimum settings under these conditions It was quite
a sight to see Ron calmly sitting there while the elevator column
was hunting along with surging throttle settings. We eventually
certified the fleet, made the necessary modifications and the FPC
system went operational. Not all the flight crews were as keen about
the system as Ron. Needless to say system use during approach was at
the discretion of the Captain. Naturally we wanted as much use as
possible so as to learn as much as possible about the important
issue of auto approach systems. Bear in mind this work was being
done in the early 50's...years before such systems were being
accepted by the industry. It was the way to go as history has
proven. The foresight of our technical branches has always been one
of our airline's strong suits.
Bill Norberg email:
(Thank you Bill for taking time to relate your experiences - eds)
--=o0o=--
. Chris Doutre sends us this information -
BOEING launched a new regional jetliner -- the 717 -- to carry 80-
120 passengers, based on an earlier McDonnell Douglas product. But
its bestseller, the 737, had more safety checks imposed on it by the
Federal Aviation Administration after a crashed aircraft was found
to have a defective tailplane. Boeing has already had to modify the
horizontal tailfin on new versions of the aeroplane.
Chris Doutre
--=o0o=--
. Ron Munson, from LHR, sends us this information -
Work has started on a new £28 million purpose built hotel at LHR
to be used by B.A. crew and ground staff. The 300-bed hotel is
expected to be open in June 1999 and will be for the exclusive use
of B.A. staff.
Heathrow and Gatwick airports set new records in 1997 according to
figures published recently. At LHR, a new weekly record of 8,815
flights was set in June whilst at LGW more than 800 aircraft were
handled in a day, for the first time, on 10th August.
Continental starts its new codeshare agreement with Virgin on 2nd
February. They will offer its chauffeur drive service to anywhere
within a 50 mile radius of Gatwick to business passengers.
Paddington station will house 27 airline check-in desks as part of
the £440 million Heathrow Express link. When the 15 minute Heathrow
to London service starts in June nine of these desks will be
operational. The trains will accommodate 440 people and the seats
are configured on the lines of an airline business-class cabin.
A first class cabin will offer passengers more luxurious seats and
complimentary newspapers. Fares have not yet been finalized but
figures of between UKP10-UKP12 are being quoted - significantly
cheaper than an average taxi fare.
"We will be using B.A. seats in the balloon because we cannot
afford to get too comfortable, or fall asleep" said Virgin boss
Richard Branson as he prepares for another round-the world attempt.
Lufthansa was voted as having the best business web site in the
large corporates category in the Financial Times competition. More
than 80 worldwide companies submitted entries. The airline's U.K.
site is on http://www.lufthansa.co.uk and has shown a marked
increase in visits after a total revamp last July and a highly
successful Internet tickets auction in August. The last figures
given indicate that the main web site, Lufthansa InfoFlyaway on
http://www.lufthansa.com is receiving 10 million hits per month with
visits rising at a rate of nearly 40% a month.
Ron Munson email:
--=o0o=--
. INTERLINE STUFF.
Cost of bus from Heathrow LHR to Gatwick LGW is UKP15.00
Industry Assigned Tax Codes encountered with ticketing in Canada -
"CA" - Canada Air Transport Tax
"XG" - Canada Goods and Service Tax
"XQ" - Quebec Sales Tax
"XF" - U.S. Passenger Facilities Tax
"US" - U.S. Transportation Tax
"XY" - U.S. Immigration Tax
"XA" - U.S. Animal Plant Health Inspection Tax
"YC" - U.S. Customs Fee
"XT" - Combined Taxes
Note: Taxes do NOT include Local Airport Improvement Fees
--=o0o=--
. Smilie.
Mike Leduc sends us this for us -
The Top 17 Signs Your Airline Attendant is About Ready to Retire:
17. Always grumbling about how things were much simpler when Orville
and Wilbur ran the business.
16. For your meal, asks,
"Ya want the white crap or the yellow crap?"
15. When pointing to the emergency exits, uses nothin' but her
middle finger.
14. Occasionally tries to prop-start a 747.
13. Insists on showing you pictures of her prom date with Bob Dole.
12. Loudly refers to pilot and co-pilot as "Opie" and "The Beav."
11. At the security checkpoint, her hip sets off the metal detector.
10. Replaces in-flight movie with racy story about how he and
Amelia Earhart founded the Mile High Club.
9. As passengers deplane, forgets to say "bye" and just stands
there saying "buh... buh... buh... buh... buh... buh..."
8. No matter what you order, she serves up a nice warm glass of
Bosco.
7. After demonstrating the oxygen mask, needs to keep it on.
6. Matches entire business class shot for shot.
5. Uses false teeth to prevent the food cart from rolling down the
aisle.
4. Breaks wind so forcefully that the oxygen masks drop.
3. Requests that passengers refrain from using electronic devices
such as Wurlitzers, Victrolas, and telegraphs.
2. Excitedly announces that the in-flight movie will be a
"talkie."
and the Number 1 Sign Your Airline Attendant is About
Ready to Retire...
1. Keeps getting lost on the way to the cockpit.
Michael Leduc email:
--=o0o=--
. That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.
/------------------------\ |~~\_____/~~\__ |
| Between Yourselves |______________ \______====== )-+
| NetLetter | ~~~|/~~ |
\------------------------/ ()
~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:
mailto:
...................................................
. GREETINGS FROM .
. Vancouver Island .
. BEAUTIFUL B.C. CANADA .
...................................................