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Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter Since 1995

Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

Since 1995



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T H E                    _| TCA |_
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N E T L E T T E R   >  CANADA   <
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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)


Number 483 May 16th, 2000,  We first Published in October 1995



Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson   -      Co-pilot  - Terry Baker


email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. We welcome -
Vianne Grossman . My late husband, Jack,  was an Air Canada employee and I am
a Pionair member. My e-mail address:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
My name is Norman Dawkin a retired employee of Canadian Airlines.
I completed 32 years of service prior to my retirement and the
position I held at retirement  was Manager Emergency Planning
based in Calgary at the System Operations Centre.
Currently I am employed with Emirate Airlines based in
Dubai, UAE and hold the position of Emergency Planning Manager.
e-mail    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elaine Grant,  email is <mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.<mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.ca
Elaine started with AC in Jan 1961 at Reservations Halifax, and retired
from Halifax Airport in May of 1997.
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and you locate Charles Bonnyman lives in North York ON.
Was mechanic with Bld.  Maint. Canadian
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is the email for Peter Weist of Canadian, living in Delta BC


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. Need to know.
Flight information -
When contacting the employee call centre for flight information, guidelines have been
established to limit call  length time, thereby providing improved customer service
levels to employees, their family members and travel partners.
Any flight information request is subject to the following:
- flight(s) within one (1) month of departure only
- maximum eight (8) flights per call
- total available seats only - breakdown by cabin will not be offered or provided
- contingent list position will not be offered or provided
- boarding status (confirmation of travel) will not be offered or provided.
--NOTE--
Request for flight information and registration/changes for outbound partner
travel will only be accepted from the employee.
Request for information and changes for inbound  travel will be accepted from
the employee or partner


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. Like to know.
May 11, 2000, Number 29


Milan & Rome / Paris - Route Switch Off


Air Canada (AC) is cancelling the wet lease arrangement with Canadian
Airlines (CP) to operate to Milan and Rome for the Summer 2000
schedule. Earlier this year, they announced route switches with CP
that would have seen AC operate to Milan and Rome while CP flew some
of AC's flights to Paris.


AC/CP route swaps are found elsewhere in the new integrated schedule.
However, bilateral agreements between Canada, France and Italy
required the use of CP call signs and flight numbers on flights
operated by AC to Milan and Rome, as well as the use of AC call signs
and flight numbers on CP to Paris. However following discussions with
the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA), the flights to Rome and
Milan will be moved back to Canadian, and Air Canada will take the
flight to Paris.


The decision was made in light of ACPA's position that wet lease
payments were required on the route-swap, which would effectively
double pilot costs, and prevent the arrangement from being financially
viable.


Addressing overbooking concerns:


We've all seen several media reports over the past few days concerning
overbooking problems reported by the media, on behalf of the public.
While we are trying to explain the realities of the situation to the
press, the facts we offer have not always been reported. Here's the
some of the more important information we have been giving to
reporters, which may or may not have appeared in the stories you've
seen:


On any given flight, on any given day, airlines are able to
historically track the number of "no-shows" for a flight, thereby
allowing carriers to sell seats that may have otherwise been left
empty. No-show factors can vary from as much as 5-20% on a select
route. While airlines operate as close to the line as possible, it is
rare for an airline or airport to have more than a handful of denied
boardings on a daily basis.


Unfortunately, the integration of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines has
made previous tracking unreliable, and on occasion at airports across
the system, traditional no-show factors have simply not materialized.


In addition, a number of information technology problems associated
with the integration, have resulted in instances where one system has
continued to sell seats on a flight that was already full. The
majority of exceptional denied boarding circumstances of the past week
have been a direct result of glitches experienced within these
information technology systems. We continue to monitor this closely,
but have hopefully eliminated the IT problems that have been the root
cause of many of these problems.


·Despite perceptions to the contrary, Air Canada's rate of passengers
who have been involuntarily denied boarding year-to-date as of March
2000, is essentially unchanged from 1999.



·When compared to the top 10 US carriers, Air Canada's rate of
passengers denied boarding is less than half that of the US airlines.
These are expressed in terms of "denied boardings" per 10,000
passengers. In 1999, Air Canada's rate was 8.9/10,000 passengers
compared to the US average of 20.5/10,000 passengers.



·Of over 4.1 million passengers who flew on Air Canada for the first
quarter in 2000, 4,628 were denied boarding. While this is a
relatively small number of passengers given the overall volume of
passengers travelling, it can still be improved. We continue to work
on decreasing the number of passengers inconvenienced.



·We are in the process of reviewing our overbooking standards on
routes where there have been increased numbers of denied boardings
over the past month, outside of the current IT problems. We will be
adjusting our reservation systems accordingly to accommodate these
changed circumstances and new booking patterns.
Employee Communications YULNNAC


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. From your co-pilot.
One of the criteria used by airlines to gauge success is the all important load factor,
this is the number of seats filled out of the number available.
Seems like American Airlines have finally solved this problem. Their average load factor
is in the region of 70%. By removing seats, ostensibly to give more leg room, their
load factor zooms right up to the 85% mark or so. All this without giving better
service, more food, more free drinks  etc - and it puts them at the top of the heap as far
as load factors go, making them appear as a very successful airline - now that's food for
thought!
Naturally, if our airline did that there would be no room for us cons would there?


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. Found on the internet.
Eleven European airlines have agreed to create a Web travel portal.
Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia,
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and the following Star Alliance members -
British Midland, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines System.
Each will hold an equity stake in the venture proportional to its market share. The
project, which entails an investment of more than us$50 million should be running this
year. They expect to select a technology partner soon. The still unnamed service will
offer on-line booking and links to other airline booking services.


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. Where are they now?
For the DC8 affectionados -
CF- TJH fin # 808 had the following career -
Delivered to TCA on Jan 12th 1961 as a -43. Sold to Douglas Aircraft Corp and
registered as N10DC on the 1st May 1977. Converted to -54 and reregistered
N4561B in June 1978. Leased to Zantop International on Dec 15th 1978.
Then a succession of leases to United Air Leasing Sept 1986, Con Av Corp
Apr 15/87. On to Connie Kalatta Services as N803CK Nov 1987Mar 1/91 she
went to  American International Airways. Sold to Air Zaire in  Apr 1992
registered as 9Q-CLV. Impounded at Ostend, Belgium and  withdrawn from
service Oct 6th 1992. Leased to Transair Cargo Zaire in 1993. Sold to
Lignes Aeriennes Congalaises and scrapped at GOMA.


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. Remember when?
May 10th 1941  - Toronto - New York service inaugurated.
May 1st 1942   -  Moncton-Sydney-Gander-St. John's NF service inaugurated.
May 1st 1948   - Toronto-Bermuda service inaugurated.
- Canadair North Star service introduced fleetwide.
May 1st 1952   - Tourist class introduced on Atlantic Service.
May 15th 1958 -  Services to Zurich and Montreal-Paris non-stop introduced.
May 28th 1958 - Vancouver-Winnipeg-Gander-London, England service.
May 1st 1959  -  Vienna service introduced. (cancelled Mar 22nd 1977).
May 3rd 1964  -  Olympic DC8 charter return non-stop Montreal-Tokyo
established a record for that flight.
May 16th 1964 - Ottawa-Winnipeg direct service introduced.
May 23rd 1966 - First non-stop Calgary-London, England.
May 26th 1966 - First non-stop Edmonton-London,England.


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. Alan MacLeod sarts us off with the first report of the season -
Subject: Lockheed CF-TCC "Tango Charlie Charlie" UPDATE
We flew TCC from Winnipeg to Montreal on the 27th and 28th of April.
The aircraft is in pristine condition, as usual, after winter storage in
Winnipeg. This didn't happen accidentally. It happened because Winnipeg
maintenance staff volunteered extra work time  to ensure its
airworthiness.
Capt. Patry, Capt. Norberg and myself did our recurrent training on the
aircraft in St. Andrews over a two day period. Capt. Patry and I then
ferried the aircraft to Dorval via Thunder Bay (over night), Sault St.
Marie, Muskoka, where we picked up Capt.Ted Dodds.  Then  on to Toronto
Island and  Dorval. Capt. Dodds did his recurrent training enroute to Dorval, and also  in Kingston.
The same grooming crew that volunteered their time to wash, clean and polish the aircraft
last year, did it again over a four day period in Dorval.  They (the grooming crew) will be
treated to a local flight for a  breakfast in the Laurentians later this summer.
You see, this crew works midnight shifts and volunteer to stay after their shift to work on
TCC. They do this for four days running. When TCC is back in Dorval, we plan to take
them for their breakfast flight--like last year.
Capt. Harvey Reid and I flew the aircraft to Downsview, on the 5th of May, so it could be
present at the Toronto Aviation Trade show. It was a GREAT success there with over
500 people visiting it over the 3 day period. DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT staff in attendance
there, have booked the aircraft to capacity for June.
On May the 10th  TCC was at the departure  ramp  along with 195 children for their flight
to Disneyworld on an A340 aircraft. It was a spectacular departure show with fire trucks,
helicopters, police cars etc.
The aircraft is now in Toronto and will remain there until it goes to Muskoka on May the
26th. It is planned to fly there for DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT and participate in the
Muskoka Air Fest weekend on the 27th and 28th.  from there it come  back to Montreal
for the  first weekend in June.
See the summer's schedule at:    www.acfamily.net/tcc.
Al. MacLeod.   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. Terry's travel tips.
Paris Break-A-Way Vacation from us$399 pp dbl
Departures Any Day Thru Oct 31, 2000
PARIS BREAK-A-WAY VACATION INCLUDES:
Round-trip space available interline air transportation, 6 days/4 nights hotel
accommodations with private bath, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes
and service charges.
Paris Optional Package $89 pp
Half-day city sightseeing tour featuring Place Vendome, Opera Square,
Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, Eiffel Tower,
Bastille, Notre Dame and much more. Tour to the Palace of Versailles
where you will experience this magnificent showcase of royal power.


London/Paris Break-A-Way Vacation  from us$539 pp dbl
Departures Any Day Thru Oct 31, 2000
LONDON/PARIS BREAK-A-WAY INCLUDES: Round-trip space available
interline air transportation, 6 days/4 nights hotel accommodations
(2 in London, 2 in Paris) with private bath, continental breakfast daily,
hotel taxes and service charges.
France Fly/Drive Vacation from us$539 pp dbl
Departures Any Day Thru Oct 31, 2000
FRANCE FLY/DRIVE VACATION INCLUDES: Round-trip interline air
transportation, 5 nights hotel accommodations with private bath and rental
car with unlimited mileage (Category A). Upgrades available.
*NOTE: Prices quoted are per person, double occupancy and based on using
the least expensive air transportation. Persons traveling single require a
single supplement. Extra night rates available. Season supplements may
apply. Prices do NOT include  departure taxes. Parents of airline employees
may be subject to supplements.
For More Information About These
Call 1-800-935-9444. Fax 314-968-9568.


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. Funnies.
Here's  more from  GORDON DALZIEL:
CLEARED   FOR  TAKEOFF
Tower: "Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on 124.7."
Eastern 702: "Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure...by the way,
as we lifted off,  we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end
of the runway."
Tower: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on 124.7...did you
copy the report from Eastern?"
Continental 635:  "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff...and yes, we copied Eastern
and we've already notified our caterers."
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A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying and about
flying when he's with a woman.
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PIPER  MALIBU
It was a really nice day, right about dusk, and a Piper Malibu was being vectored into
a long line of airliners in order to land at Kansas City.
KC Approach: "Malibu three-two-Charlie, you're following a 727, one o'clock  and
three miles.'
Three-two-Charlie: "We've got him. We'll follow him."
KC Approach: "Delta 105, your traffic to follow is a Malibu, eleven o'clock and three
miles.  Do you have that traffic?"
Delta 105: ( long pause and then in a thick southern drawl ):
"Well ... I've got something down there.  Can't quite tell if it's a Malibu or a
Chevelle, though."


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Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments
for the "The Netletter" please send to:
Our joint e-mail address is:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
please add to your Address Books.
This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us (exclusively)
will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of
news for the NetLetter.


Why not check out the Air Canada Retired Employees Web Site
http://www.acfamily.net/acrew/
Independently operated by webmaster Tom Grant.


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