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_| TCA |_ B E T W E E N Y O U R S E L V E S
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> CANADA <
>_./|\._< for Air Canada retirees
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Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
http://www.acra.ca/between
number 309 date Sept 13th, 1998 1st Published in October 1995
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. Welecome to Bert and Connie Young living in Comox, BC.
email:
Mrs Vern Matheuszil is fed up with waiting for her husband
to pass the NetLetter to her that she has her own
email:
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. Where are they now?
Fred Coyle has changed his ISP, try
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.WHAT'S ON AND WHERE IT'S ON -
SOME EVENTS MAY BE CANCELLED DUE PILOT'S STRIKE.
BUT SOME MAY NOT BE CANCELLED DUE LOCAL ATTENDANCE RATE.
We may not have been advised one way or another. eds.
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. There's no stopping Bill Norberg -
Subject: The Viscount and its famous or infamous structure.
The Viscount was a significant part of my work life and while I had a real
love for it I was never blind to its problems and limitations.
As I have indicated before, the decision by TCA to select the Viscount for
fleet growth and replacement in the early 50's was a bold one. The aircraft
was untried in airline service and was using turbine power. The decision
did give TCA the reputation as the first North American carrier to use
turbine powered aircraft in airline operations. Capitol Airlines of
Washington DC were the second carrier to select the Viscount. Capitol
Airlines was later taken over by United Airlines making UAL and TCA the
main users of the Viscount. This was rather interesting as UAL was the
airline that assisted TCA when it started in 1937.
The Viscount was a hit with the passengers as they experienced its quiet
cabin environment after their travel experiences with the North Stars and
their Merlin melodies. The Rolls Royce Dart powerplant made its commercial
debut on the Viscount and after a rocky start developed into one of the
most reliable powerplants in the industry. From an initial TBO of 600 hours
it was gradually developed in TCA /ACservice to 9000 hours TBO with a half
life check at 4500 hours. It was a power plant you could depend on.
The structural problems of the Viscount were quite another matter however.
After five years of operation a major TCA engineering report was issued
itemizing the many structural deficiencies that had developed during those
five years. I won't attempt to itemize them here but they affected most
areas of the aircraft from landing gear to wings. There were two areas of
structural problems that caused the greatest amount of work:-
1.Wing lower spar caps (booms).
2.Fuselage skin corrosion problems.
The design philosophy of the Viscount wing structure was a monospar
concept. This meant the structural integrity of the wing was dependent on
the fail safe life of the single wing spar. Most manufacturers use a multi
spar concept which provides a fail safe design.
Needless to say this feature was vital to the safety and airworthiness of
the aircraft. It was reasonable to expect this design would last for the
full life of the aircraft without any problems.
This main wing spar was an item built up of an upper and lower spar cap
(boom) bolted together by a spar web. During the operation of any aircraft
its structure is exposed to what is referred to as a "Ground-air-ground"
cycle of "GAG".As the aircraft becomes airborne the wing structure flexes
upwards as the various loads distribute themselves. This places the upper
wing spar cap(boom) in what is called a compression mode while the lower
spar cap(boom) is placed in a tension mode. This "GAG" cycle repeats itself
every flight and naturally becomes a source of metal fatigue for aircraft
structural components.
As the lower spar cap is exposed to these repetitive tension modes, any
small defects in the material can become what is referred to as a stress
riser and become the focus of a metal fatigue crack. It is not difficult to
imagine what serious results could occur if this was to happen to one of
these lower wing spar caps.The manufacturer recognized this and limits were
placed on the number of "GAG" cycles these lower wing spar caps could be
exposed to without risk of failure. The solution to the problem was to
replace these spar caps with new ones before reaching these maximum limits.
Replacement of lower spar caps required virtual disassembly of the wing to
extract the old cap and replace it. It was a labour intensive task
requiring about 30 days out of service. To make matters worse the first 12
Viscounts had much lower life limits on the spar caps which required as
many as three replacements during the life of the aircraft. This lower spar
cap replacement program continued as long as we operated the aircraft and
was a major source of higher maintenance costs.
Replacement of the lower wing spar caps in the Viscount could be compared
to removing the backbone from a fish,replacing the backbone and then
putting the fish back together again in a condition fit for whatever fish
do. It was a complex task and the Winnipeg Maintenance staff headed by Sam
Purves and Bill Bagley did a marvellous job to carry out these replacements
and still keep the fleet operating.
Next story will comment on the Viscount fuselage skin problems.
"Bill Norberg" <
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. Ron Munson from the UK sends us some news -
Drunk and disruptive passengers on BA flights will be given soccer-style
yellow cards, warning them to stop their rowdy behaviour or risk facing
arrest on arrival. The final warnings will be issued out by the cabin crew
and who will also warn passengers who drink too much or ignore no-smoking
signs, that they will be liable for costs if their behaviour forces the
captain to divert the flight to the nearest airport.
The trial was launched on 1st Sept. in a bid to combat the number of
air rage incidents which have risen by 400% in the last three years.
American is seeking rights to launch a Chicago - Moscow service from 1st
June next year. No US airline operates the 3,214 mile route at present
though Aeroflot has three flights a week between the two cities. AA wants
to offer daily flights using 204-seat B767-300ER jets. (Maybe the ongoing
failure of the Russian economy may cause some rethinking I feel).
The UK's biggest travel companies have denied reports that they will turn
away passengers on 31st December 1999 and 1st Jan. 2000 to avoid year 2000
dangers, but have not ruled out the move in the future.
Reports in the press claimed that the big three- Thompson, First Choice and
Airtours - had decided not to allow travel. Such a decision would have
cost the three firms millions of pounds in income, and would have been the
most drastic measure taken by a section of UK industry to avoid year 2000
problems.
The companies admitted they were approaching the potential problem together
and the Industry body ABTA said the decision to travel would be up to
individual firms.
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. Betty-Lou Lynn sends this re 'snowbirds' -
Hello! Not only are we considering becoming snowbirds (Don took an early
retirement package several years ago, and we have a condo at Siesta Key,
Florida) for several months a year - assuming that the dollar doesn't go
to 43c! - also I'm doing a doctorate at the University of Toronto on the
snowbird lifestyle!
I'm in the process of interviewing couples who have already made this
decision and who go south every winter. If there are interested Air Canada
snowbird couples within commuting distance of Toronto, I would like to
talk to you about your decision and experience. Also, if you are anywhere in
Canada and are interested, I have a questionnaire (which has been approved by
the U of T) which I can send to you.
Thank you in advance for your interest! You can email me
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. News from the Districts.
Don Hancock of Vancouver Pionairs sends this update -
The Vancouver Dreams take Flight is scheduled to operate October 20/98
departure 0700am.
The Vancouver District Pionair Executive.
Director Don Hancock
Ass't Director Glen Steeves
Treasurer Joan Milton
Liaison for National Annual General Meeting YVR April 25/26/27 - 1999
Marv Lohnes
Past Directors John and Terri FitzGibbon.
The next gathering of the YVR Pionairs is the fall luncheon on Sep
13/98 at the Richmond Inn commencing with a happy hour at 1130am
followed by the luncheon meeting. Special speaker will be Pat
Crowther DSM Holland America Line Westours
Inc. National Pionair President Olie Moore and wife Mary,
(Secretary), will also address the meeting with a message from the
National Executive.
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. Terry's travel tips.
Super Deals on Celebrity Cruises & Royal Caribbean !
INTERLINE CRUISE SPECIALS
Sail on the Rhapsody of the Seas to Hawaii for 11 nights
10/7 - $999.00pp Inside Cabin Outside - $1299.00pp
9/26 - $1049.00pp Inside Cabin Outside - $1189.00pp
These rates include port charges!!!!!!!
Legend of the Seas to Hawaii on 9/30 - 10 Nights
Rates starting at $1299.00pp Including port charges
Galaxy - Pacific Coastal - 9/25 - Rates starting at $599.00pp
Galaxy - Southern Caribbean - Several dates in Oct., Nov., & Dec.
Rates starting at $599.00pp Including port charges
Mercury - Western Caribbean - Several dates in Oct., Nov., & Dec.
Rates starting at $599.00pp Including port charges
Majesty of the Seas - Western Caribbean - 11/29, 12/6, 12/13
Rates starting at $599.00pp Including port charges
Monarch of the Seas - Southern Caribbean - 11/29, 12/6, 12/13
Rates starting at $549.00pp Including port charges
Song of America (New York to San Juan) - 10/25
Rates starting at $599.00pp Including port charges
These rates will go quickly so please call one of our agents at
1-800-345-7576 as soon as possible before it is GONE!
Interline rates apply only to airline employees, spouse of employee, parent
of employee, and those retired airline employees.
Ed Spaiches sends this information -
Re your tip in Netletter 307 on the topic of "driving cars to USA
destinations and getting $150 to help pay return airfare".
You may not be aware but the use of airline passes for such a purpose is
against Air Canada's rules for such use of passes which are not to be used
for business or profit. The penalty for such misuse of passes, I believe, is
the loss of the pass privilege and anyone losing their privilege will blame
you. "Edward Spaiches" <
And Ken Day has this comment -
Just a note of caution regarding ferrying cars. A few years ago, there was
a major "TO DO" concerning employees delivering/returning cars for rental
agencies/car dealers. The rub was the use of free and reduced
transportation going to pick-up or returning home, a benefit accrued and
often there was a monetary gain.
I don't know all the detail or the outcome but I think one event was the
major movement of vehicles - a veritable shuttle service
Quebec/Ontario/Florida. I recall talk of disciplinary action/suspension of
travel privileges to those involved.
I hasten to add together with a warm hello again to Ross that his trip in
1964 would not qualify him as a small business entrepreneur.
Ken Day Auldis Day <
(We were not advocating the use of passes to 'make money' but as a viable
alternative to getting continually bumped. eds)
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. Smilie.
Gordon Dalziel sends us this one -
Flying High
A farmer and his wife went to the fair. The farmer was fascinated by the
airplanes and asked a pilot how much a ride would cost. "$10 for 3
minutes," replied the pilot. "That's too much," said the farmer. The pilot
thought for a second and then said, "I'll make you a deal. If you and your
wife ride for 3 minutes without uttering a sound, the ride will be free.
But if you make a sound, you'll have to pay $10."
The farmer and his wife agreed and went for up for an extremely wild ride,
Immelman's, wing-overs, loops, hammer head stalls, rudder-triplets, the
works. After they landed, the pilot said to the farmer, "I want to
congratulate you for not making a sound. You are a brave man."
"Maybe so," said the farmer, "But I gotta tell ya, I almost screamed
when my wife fell out."
And from Jacques Gaucher
This passenger goes to the airport counter and says :" I'd like to go to
New York".
"By Buffalo?", says the counter agent.
"Well", says the customer, "it'll be the first time for me but, what the
heck, if the saddle is comfortable, why not?"
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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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Copyright 1998 by Vesta Stevenson & Terry Baker.