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_| 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
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Your crew is: Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
number 253 date Mar 25th 1998
Published since October 1995.
Please E-mail all correspondence to both of us, as Vesta lives in
Victoria BC, and Terry lives in Ladysmith, BC.
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. We welcome Mary Mosienko, living in Dorval Que, email:
Fraser & Rosemary O'Shaughnessey, National Pionair 2nd V.P.,
living in Oakville, Ont. Email:
Don Bridges in Edmonton Alb, email:
John & Delores Gallagher who spent a total of 41 years with
TCA/AC, lives in Inglewood, Ont.
email:
Patrica Mills with an email of:
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. Here is another "flash from the past" from George Brien -
GOING REMOTE
The recent incident in Fredericton (YFC) and other small airports
brought back some memories of the original "flight service specialists"
with TCA.
A picture on page 1 in David Collins book "Wings across time", the
story of Air Canada, shows a photo of Wilf Sheffield, TCA Radio
Operator "on remote" at Oliver BC circa 1939. A check of the latest
Atlas and Aeronautical chart shows no reference to "Oliver ".
Perhaps someone out there remembers if this was an alternative airport
at one time.
About 16 years later, in 1955, I was transferred to YFC as an Operations
Agent with one year's service behind me. The duties consisted of doing
"everything" Radio/Load Agent/Ticket Agent etc.
At that time, as is happening again, these low traffic airports were
uncontrolled with no tower operator. When we were assigned to the radio
position, we would monitor the TCA frequency, receiving and forwarding
position reports (px's) to ATC, passing along ATC clearances etc. When
the inbound aircraft (DC3) was about 20-25miles out, the procedure was to
advise the Capt. that you were "going remote"
Remote at YFC meant that you went to the second story, out on the
walkway, plugged in your remote handset, looked in the general direction
of the inbound aircraft in an effort to spot it.
By this time, ATC clearance to decend and proceed with an uncontrolled
approach would have been passed on, along with the ceiling, wind
direction, speed, condition of the field, altimeter setting, and most
important, a look to see if any other aircraft were in the vicinity.
With this info. the Capt would make his decision what runway to land on
and would be advised to "land at his own discretion" The operator would
remain at the remote position until the aircraft had landed and arrived at
the gate. Winter operations was complicated with the additional job of
tracking snow removal crews and obtaining braking action reports from
the MOT.
Most of the time it was a pretty routine experience but I do remember
one spring day when the "Spruce Budworm" fleet of sprayplanes happened
to approach YFC at the same time as an inbound DC3 from YUL.. I reported
light aircraft traffic in the N /S/W/E quadrent when I realized we were
surrounded by about 40 of them, all VFR and heading for various runways.
"land at your own decretion" had a nice ring to it so I left it up to
the Capt.
A transfer in 1957 took me to another small airport in YQI, where again
"going remote" was part of the routine. The only difference here, there
was no second story to climb, but we did have to go to the corner of the
hanger with the best view of the runways and go thru the same routine.
Unfortunately, in Yarmouth (YQI), the aircraft was usually heard before
it was seen, because the persistance fog (surrounded on 3 sides by the
Ocean). Approaches were made using the old Radio Range system and many
times you would have to take a snack with you as two or three approaches
were attempted and 45 minutes would pass.
The sound of power being cut usually indicated a successful landing,
which was confirmed as a plane appeared on the ramp, thru the fog.
Yarmouth, as one of the smallest stations, was probably the last to use
the "remote" system, and around the late 60's, it became a part of history.
p.s.
one well known Capt. always swore that he used an audio approach on
runway 15 at YQI., He insisted that when the dog at the sawmill ran out
and barked, he knew he was at the inner marker..
George Brien
Vesta checked the Canadian Encyclopedia Plus and sends this -
Oliver, BC, Village, pop 3743 (1991c), 3298 (1986cA), inc 1945,
is located in the OKANAGAN VALLEY, 27 km S of Penticton. It was named after
Prem John OLIVER, whose Liberal government (1918-27) sponsored the Southern
Okanagan Lands Project, irrigating land to be settled by soldiers returning
from WWI. Some mining, cattle ranching and fruit growing had existed
previously in the area. Agriculture is the most important activity today,
followed by logging, tourism, specialized horticultural crops and mining,
with some manufacturing and grape growing.
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. Terry's Travel Tips.
An update to the price grids for Family Affaire program listed in Horizons
Dec 1997 -
Effective Mar 28/98 Cincinatti is excluded from the Family Affaire.
******** 1998 TRANS-BORDER (excluding Florida) ******
-----------------------------------------------------------
ZONE NW SW N MID S MID NE SE
-----------------------------------------------------------
1-BC/AB 139 * 199 * 309 * 289 * 299 * 319
2-SK/MB 199 * 269 * 229 * 289 * 219 * 239
3-ON 289 * 319 * 149 * 169 * 139 * 159
4-QC 299 * 329 * 159 * 179 * 149 * 169
5-MARIT 369 * 349 * 199 * 199 * 199 * 199
EXCEPTIONS
BC/AB TO SW EXCLUDING LAS/PHX/DEN
SK/MB TO SW EXCLUDING LAS/PHX/DEN
FOR THE ABOVE EXCEPTIONS, PLS USE SUM OF SECTORS (END ON END
COMBINATION) TO CONSTRUCT FARE.
******* 1998 SUN DESTINATIONS FARE GRID ******
-----------------------------------------------------------
ZONE 1-BC/AB 2-SK/MB 3-ON 4-QC 5 -MARIT
-----------------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA 369 * 369 * 229 * 229 * 319 *
BAHAMAS 379 * 379 * 239 * 239 * 329 *
BERMUDA 379 * 379 * 239 * 239 * 329 *
YHZ-BDA DIRECT - - - - 219
CARIBBEAN 569 * 569 * 349 * 349 * 449 *
HAWAII 359 * 359 * 489 * 489 * 589 *
-----------------------------------------------------------
ZONE NW SW N MID S MID NE SE
-----------------------------------------------------------
FLORIDA 369 * 369 * 369 * 369 * 319 * 319
BAHAMAS 379 * 379 * 379 * 379 * 329 * 329
BERMUDA 379 * 379 * 379 * 379 * 329 * 329
CARIBBEAN 569 * 569 * 569 * 569 * 449 * 449
HAWAII 359 * 359 * 489 * 489 * 589 * 589
-----------------------------------------------------------
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Call 1-800-690-3223 for details and mention Pionairs.
Visiting Edmonton? Shirley Jay contacted the Nisku Inn, who advise their
rate for a room (single or double) is $79.00. If anyone planning to
join the Edmonton Pionairs at their spring lunch and want to reserve a room,
just let me know. Shirley Jay <
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. 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.
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