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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995



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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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Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/

Co-pilot     - Terry Baker         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between

number 307   date Sept 5th, 1998  1st Published in October 1995

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. WHAT'S ON AND WHERE IS IT?
(Compiled by Vesta you Chief Pilot -
Monday  September 7, 1998
SBAC Intl Air Show '98 at Farnborough,UK
Tuesday  September 8, 1998
*NEW* - Toronto
Terminal Two Coffee Klatch for Pearson Airport Sales Retirees at 1100hr
at Golden Griddle Airway Centre 5559 Airport Rd, everyone welcome,
see NetLetter Nr 294.....for more details
MONTREAL Weekly Bowling  League at Valois Arena 62
Donegani Pte Claire    Mary Timmons 514 626-3263.
SBAC Intl Air Show '98 at  Farnborough, UK
Wednesday  September 9, 1998
**NEW**  St Catherines
Pionairs/and other Retirees @10am Sweets & Crepes Cafe on Ontario St
at Lakeport.  A small  group of retirees meet up to solve some of the
world's problems. ALL retirees Welcome.
contact  Colin Bailey 935-3970
Alexandria     Air Canada Retirees Lunch Group monthly,
for info Clive 613-525-4819 or Cam 224-6469
SBAC Intl Air Show '98 at  Farnborough, UK
Thursday  September 10, 1998
1998 Halifax System Soccer Tournament will take place on the Halifax
Commons see NetLetter nr  286  for details
SBAC Intl Air Show '98 at Farnborough, UK

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. Don't forget to look in at the Pionairs web site
http://www.acra.ca/pionairs
This site is designed and editted by Tom Grant, formerly Air Canada,
Judith Grant, Pionair, and with input from
Alan Rust, Air Canada Tech. Ops. YVR and your
BETWEEN YOURSELVES NetLetter team.

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. Where are they now?
Bob Robbins sends us thie appeal -
Could I have your help for another Pionair who is trying to
restore contact with two former working associates/friends.
Leo Flood, now of Vernon BC, retired from Edmonton, and before that
posting, worked in Montreal Airport jobs from back in the late '40's.
He recently had major surgery, so is rather restricted.  He'd
like to be able to contact Ken Burns who worked at Montreal Airport
in the '60's.  Also Doug McMahon, who worked in Goose Bay, and
Montreal Airport.  Leo's telephone is 250 542 3416 - or I'd be glad
to pass on leads to him.  Thanks in anticipation!
Bob Robbins  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. James Riddoch sends us his bio -
I now reside in Nepean, ON. I left Air Canada in Dec 90 as Director,
Interior Systems Engineering after an interesting and fruitful career in
Maintenance and Engineering. I was Senior Director of Maintenance at
Bradley Air Services/First Air in Ottawa from Dec 90 till Jan 94.
Then I was recruited by the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council
as Accreditation Manager & Registrar (actually it was a whole lot of other
duties as well but they don't tell you that  when you start).  I just
retired from that position in July but I am still working as a consultant
for the Council ( they don't easily let you go). If any of the old
maintenance gang are interested in what the Council is all about they can
find out more from the website www.camc.ca. We should have done all this
training 30 years ago but I believe Canada is now leading the world in this
type of technical training ( the U.S. love us and are willing to accept our
standards !).
It is very interesting to hear from the AC retirees and how they are
doing, many in totally unrelated functions to their career with AC.
Good for them!
Thanks and keep the news flowing.
Jim Riddoch  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.  Reading the story from Jack Cooke in NetLetter nr  304, has prompted Doug
Davidson to send us this -
Hi folks:
There's nothing new under the aviation sun.  Re the item in the Toronto
Star about stopping the movie to let the passengers see Greenland.
I did that myself when I was In-Charge of an L-1011 back in 1985.
On one trip the Captain was waxing lyrical about the scene below us, how
that little white speck was an iceberg actually a quarter mile long etc
etc.  A middle-aged English passenger commented to me that the Captain was
a very knowledgeable fellow.  I hadn't the heart to tell him that the
Captain had National Geographic spread out across his knees.
It happened during the Flight Attendants' strike - one of the highlights
of my Air Canada career.  Great fun and source of a million stories.
Best regards.   Doug Davidson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

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. Tom Martin sends this comment -
Bill Norberg's comments in NL301 about the DC9 vs the BAC111 reminded me
that the late Tom Truscott and I were attending an inter airline meeting in
Long Beach shortly after AC had opted to buy the DC9 and at the windup the
airlines were beng hosted by the Douglas VP of Product Support, Hal Bayer.
As the evening progressed, Hal was called away and when he returned his
usual   calm demeanor changed dramatically and he started to berate the reps
from       American Airlines.  Tom and I took Bayer aside and found he had
been told
that AA had just announced the purchase of the BAC111.
This was a severe blow to Douglas to have one of the big guys buy a
foreign     airplane.  I don't recall if  they had operating problems or not.
Some years later when AC was negotiating with Douglas over the possible
buy    of the DC10 and after a tough day of give and take, some wag suggested to
Bayer that I reminded him of the mean looking Norman Rockwell character
with    the pitchfork.  At the windup before the AC team went up to Burbank the
Douglas people were saying how much they hoped we'd buy their airplane.
Bayer   stood up and said they had something for me and it turned out to be
a good
sized copy of American Gothic which they sent up to YUL on a DC9 delivery
flight.  It hung in my office until I retired and now resides in our
storeroom where my wife says it belongs - out of sight.
(Many of our readers from YUL will remember that picture in Tom's office!)
Tom Martin   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Ken Day sends us a story -

My six year old granddaughter recently brought to my attention a very large
insect that bore a striking resemblance to a cockroach- in Whistler of all
places!! -  a close visual examination prompted recall of the following:
a short story that could be entitled -"Not putting your best foot forward."
Flight Attendant Crew lay-over hotels together with other factors were
subject to approval by in-flight servicemanagement, together with CALFAA
(union) representation. In the latter capacity I accompanied Frank
St. Hilaire in an on-site inspection of the then newly built Blue Waters
Hotel in Barbados.
The hotel manager was very accommodating as we toured the facilities and
clearly was anxious to obtain the airline business.  As we were terminating
the visit, slowly walking down the stairs from the second floor, Frank and
the manager were engaged in conversation concerning a potential contract.
A movement on the stairs, a dark brown leggy insect caught my attention. It
also did not escape the eye of the manager. It did go unnoticed by Frank.
Now picture this-With furtive glances at the floor, all the while
continuing his conversation with Frank, the manager attempted to step on
the cockroach. Glance at floor, back to eye contact with Frank- cockroach
moves- foot misses. There were several failed attempts! and clearly it was
not a case of his best foot forward. The cockroach lived to move another
day.
In the buggy vein some may know of those occasions where on clearing Canada
Customs on return from warmer climes and your suitcase is opened for
inspection on the counter and out hops!! Moral:  Don't leave your suitcase
open in those climes or anywhere else for that matter.
Ken Day  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our Chief Pilot gets around too! as evidenced by the followup -

Thanks for the humourous story, it brought a memory of my staying at the
very same hotel, probably around that very same time.  BTW I didn't see
any uninvited visitors while I was there but did see one big one in
Montego Bay and when I called to have it killed they laughed and said 'no
no missy those are good bugs' and they captured it to live another day.
Maybe that was the intent of the hotel manager.<G>  I met him of course
and enjoyed my stay at the Blue Waters.
Vesta Stevenson   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. News from the Districts.
From the London England Pionairs Monthly Newsletter -
The company has announced that the Flight Despatch Office at Heathrow
will close this December 1998. Control of flights in the present area
of responsibility - mid-Atlantic eastward across Europe, Middle East
and Asia as far as Singapore - will gradually be taken over by the Toronto
office. Some staff will transfer to Toronto, while others will be offered
positions at Heathrow.
In 1943, Trans-Canada Air Lines launched the Canadian Government
Trans-Atlantic Air Service (CGTAS) from Montreal to Prestwick, using
modified Avro Lancaster aircraft. In 1946 the service was extended to
Heathrow. Canadian flight despatchers were sent to Prestwick and opened the
first Flight Despatch office outside Canada. Shannon service started in
1947 and some despatchers were sent there for a short period of time before
opaning an office at Heathrow in 1948. This office was located in one of
the prefacbricated buildings on the north side of the airport close to
where the main entrance to the airport is now located. In 1960 this office
was relocated to the Queens Building until 1992 when it moved to its
present location in Terminal 3.
In the 1950's there were Flight Despatch offices in Moncton, Halifax,
Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Over the years they were
gradually consolidated  into a single office in Toronto. A multi-million
dollar upgrade of equipment in the Toronto office means they can now
despatch and monitor flights anywhere in the world and this will allow for
the closure of the London office and all Air Canada flights will be
despatched by the centralised office in Toronto.

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. Help wanted!
Lily Carre asks the following question -
Can anyone advise whether Don Murray in Halifax has an e-mail address.
I could not find it on the internet - maybe I just didn't know how to go
about it!  As you know the Air Canada pilots are on strike at the moment
and we have already registered for the System Golf Tournament in Winnipeg.
Just wondering if I could get a hold of Don Murray to request what to do.
"Lily Carre" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

and from Don Hancock -
Jean and Don Hancock are booked on the P & O Rpyal Princess departing
Fort Lauderdale Nov 4th South America Cruise and would like to know
if any other Air Canada employee/retirees are also on board.
Also would appreciate hearing from anyone who could recommend a hotel
with a good airline rate for an overnight stop in FLL.
REGARDS DON HANCOCK EMAIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Terry's travel tips.
From the London England Pionairs monthly Newsletter -
Driving or delivering cars to destinations in the USA -
When in Canada, check the Yellow pages under the heading "Drive-Away', and
you will see a list of companies which do just that.
One in Toronto is Toronto Drive-Away service (514) 225-7754. They hire
drivers to take cars to many destinations in the US and Western Canada.
This company advised that if you drive a car during the end of October
through to December to Florida, Arizona or California, the fuel is free;
there is also a $150.00 bonus to help with the return air fare. Drivers
must be over 22 years of age. Another contact in Toronto is (416)226-4616.
(We would be interested if anyone has done, or will be doing, this - eds)

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. Smilies.
Pat Fitzgerald sends us some signs which can be seen around the world -
In a Czechoslovakin tourist agency:
Take one of our horse-driven city tours - we guarantee no miscarriages.
Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?
In a Swiss mountain inn:
Special today -- no ice cream.
In a Bangkok temple:
It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed
as a man.
In a Tokyo bar:
Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts.
In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.
On the door of a Moscow hotel room:
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
In a Budapest zoo:
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food,
give it to the guard on duty.

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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.


/------------------------\               |--\_____/--\__  |
|  Between Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
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~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
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mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Copyright 1998 by Vesta Stevenson & Terry Baker.




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