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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 503 July 17th, 2000, We first Published in October 1995
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
email address is
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. We welcome -
Carolyn St. Pierre, I am a retired AC employee since 1998. email <mailto:
Bruce Hembroff lives in Concord, CA, USA.
Bruce joined TCA in YWG in June 1946. After passenger agent training was
sent to NY LGA and spent entire career in USA. Ended up as Passenger Sales
Manager SFO. Retired in 1984. Bruce can be reached via his son Doug at
email email:
Friends and co-workers can send an email to
and communicate with Alex Page living in Bend, OR, USA.
Retired Air Canada Customer service agent LAX
(also worked in YVR cargo & YWG)
Rick & Bev (Teague) Schofield retired to Scott's Bay, Nova Scotia
Rick was Manager, Pooling & Allotment and Bev Purchasing Assist.
Try emailing
Kenneth Starnes I worked in warranty administration the last 10 years of my career.
Previously it was in Aircraft Maintenance as the Office Supervisor, Aircraft and
Unit Maintenance. In all I worked 33 years.
My e-mail address is as above <mailto:
Gurney and Nancy Trites of Pointe du Chene N.B..Having retired from Load Control nine
years ago in YUL we moved to the Maritimes which we enjoy.
Email us at
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. Might like to know!
AIRLINE TALKS BREAK DOWN
If you're planning to fly with Air Canada anytime soon you may want to make alternate arrangements. Talks have broken off between the airline and its 22-hundred pilots. It has been business as usual so far at the Air Canada check-in counters at Vancouver International Airport, but a strike could come as early as next week. Air Canada has offered a 14.5 percent wage increase over five years, but the pilots want some wage parity with their US counterparts. An Air Canada pilot, with 12 years or more seniority, who flies one of the airline's three Boeing 747's has a top salary scale of about 240-thousand dollars. That's well below the 324-thousand dollars paid to a pilot with the same amount of experience who flies a Boeing 747 owned by United Airlines. The pilots' union will meet behind closed doors this weekend to discuss their next move. Air Canada says they have a contingency plan in place but refuse to give any details until a strike is imminent. Government strategists are already working to avoid a breakdown of the country's transportation system, should a strike happen. Those plans include using foreign airlines, the domestic charter carriers, Via Rail, and the bus lines to help move stranded people. When making your reservation you can check which airline is operating your flight in order to know where to check in. In particular, please note: Air Canada tickets with flight numbers AC3000-AC3999 or AC8300-AC8699 are flights operated by Canadian Airlines. Please check in at Canadian Airlines. Canadian Airlines tickets with flight numbers CP2700-CP4499, CP5100-CP5299 or CP7500-CP7999 are flights operated by Air Canada. Please check in at Air Canada.
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. News from the districts.
From the London, England monthly Pionair newsletter -
Upcoming events -
July 15th - ACRA Visit to Alton Towers. GBP25.00 per person.
July 19th - Evening tour of London with a Dickens theme.
Aug 14th - ACRA Riverboat shuffle from Kew Bridge.
GBP12.00 members, GBP15.00 non members incl. buffet.
Sep 5th - ACRA Theatre trip 'Notre Dame de Paris'
Nov 27th - U.K.Pionairs annual visit. Niagara 2000, 2 day event.
Dec 4th - ACRA Christmas dinner.
Dec 10th - U.K.Pionairs Christmas lunch at Heathrow Part Hotel.
Contact Jack Morath 01276-500918 for details.
The recent tour of France, Belguim and Holland took place on May 22/23rd,
this is an edited version of the report given by Alen and Sue Wood -
The coach left LHR at 07:00 for the 35 minute trip to board the tunnel train.
First stop on the Continent was Bruges for lunch and a visit to the various
bakers shops to sample the pastries and cakes, then onto Antwerp which was
a beautiful place with wonderful architecture and a nice film museum. A meal for two
plus a couple of beers set us back GBP40. Antwerp is where the best chocolatiers
are; Alen said it was a good job they were shut. Unfortunately, I found the Neuhaus
shop where I selected 30 chocolates at a cost of GBP8.00 (not good for my figure).
Alen and I worked out the tram system: you can either embark in the street or
underground at a station as long as you remember to take a card of your hotel and
address. It costs 40 francs each, payable to the driver.
The second day was most enjoyable. The walk around Gouda was pleasant. Prices
for food, drink and Belguim chocolates were very reasonable. The visit to the clog
makers was wonderful, the smell of wood more delicious than that of the chocolate
shops.
The best value for money I found was the French tunnel shop, where you can use
francs or sterling or credit card. Wine ranging from GBP1.00 to GBP 4.00 per bottle
- a third of our value.
Other district events -
Calgary
Oct 30th - Halloween buffet C$11.00 per person.
Dec 5th - Christmas dinner C$25.00 per person.
Vancouver.
Aug 10th - BBQ - C$10.00 per person.
Oct 25th - Fall luncheon.
Dec 7th - Christmas luncheon.
From the Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands newsletter summer edition -
Wednesday August 9th is the annual up-island luncheon at the Four Points
Sheraton in Nanaimo. Cost ca$17.50 pp. Cheques by August 1st please.
Reception at 11:30 and lunch 12:30 in the Crystal Room.
Tuesday August 15th will be the date for the annual picnic at Mt. Douglas Park,
This is a fun-filled afternoon, which starts at 11:00. Bring your own lunch and
something to drink. Cost is ca$2.00 pp. There are many games and prizes too!
Tuesday October 3rd, the Fall luncheon will be McMorran's Beach House.
starts at 11:30 with lunch at 12:30. Price ca$17.00 pp. Cheques by Sept 28th.
December 5th will conclude the social activities for the year with the Christmas
luncheon at the Dunsmiur Lodge. Meet at 11:30 with lunch at 12:30. There is
a seating capacity of 64 at this popular event, and you are encouraged to
reserve early, if you don't, then you may miss out by just turning up unannounced.
Cheques by December 1st please. Cost is ca$20.00 pp.
To assist in crowd control, please make your reservations EARLY for any of the
above events to John Jeffries, #1 - 10471 Resthaven Dr, Sidney, BC V8L 3H6
phone 250-656-9799 email
Visiting pionairs are more than welcome to join.
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. Found on the internet.
Dutch airline Transavia are leasing a B757-200 from Royal Airlines of Montreal.
Air Canada may create a charter division utilizing the airlines B767-200's. Other
avenues being explored by the company include creating a low-fare carrier at
Hamilton probably using the Canadi>n B737-200, and possibly restoring the
Air Canada Cargo division using the stored B747-200.
Virgin Express Ireland celebrated the launch of its new low-cost service to Gatwick
and Stanstead from Shannon on 4th May, by holding a special promotion for the
first 10 days. Anyone with the surname 'Ryan' flew free on these routes.
(Virgin Express Ireland is in direct competition with Ryanair another established
low-cost airline - eds)
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. From the YYZNEWS issued by Brian Dunn -i
I had the fortune to fly home from Montreal to Toronto on July 5th on the first revenue
flight of Air Canada's newest A330-343 C-GFUR/FIN934. We arrived as flight AC419
about 1720hrs on runway 06R. The aircraft was slated to go to London-LHR that night
as AC848. It had flown from Toulouse to Montreal on the night of June 30th on delivery.
The next four A330 deliveries are planned as follows; FIN935 msn400 May/2001,
FIN936 msn 408 June/2001, FIN937 msn412 Jun/2001, FIN938 msn419 July/2001.
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. From the eMailNews issued for RAPCAN by Duane Frerichs -
July 7, 2000 - Argentina Says 1947 British Air Crash Mystery Solved
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - A 53-year-old mystery of why a British World War II
Lancaster bomber converted to civilian use slammed into the Andes mountains has
been solved -- the plane crashed due to pilot error, the Argentine Air Force.
The ``Star Dust,'' a British South American Airways plane adapted from a Lancaster
bomber, went down on Aug. 2, 1947 in a glacier on the Tupungato volcano, one of the
highest peaks in the Americas. The plane's resting place remained unknown until found
last January by mountaineers.
The Argentine Army recovered mummified body parts of some of six passengers and five
crew who died. Wreckage hauled from the accident site over 16,000 feet (5,000 meters)
high was scrutinized for six months by the air force to unravel the cause of the crash.
``While descending through clouds the plane hit the mountain because the crew
miscalculated flight speed due to ignorance at the time about the jet stream's intensity,"
Maj. Luis Ricardo Estrella, head of the air force probe, told reporters.
``The pilot estimated he was in one location when in reality he was in another,'' he
continued.
Flying into the teeth of a blizzard, Capt. Reginald Cook and his crew estimated average
wind speed of 45 knots (83 kph) and were oblivious to the fact that a potent jet stream
had dropped their plane's speed below 100 knots (185 kph).
``They were hampered by winds averaging almost 100 knots, causing a navigational error
that induced them to inadvertently descend over the mountains,'' said Estrella.
SUDDEN IMPACT
Flying blind in thick cloud, the ``Star Dust'' could not see the 21,760 feet (6,800 metre)
Tupungato looming ahead. The plane hit the volcano's northeast flank and disintegrated.
``It was instantaneous. All died without realizing it -- without suffering, without anything,''
said Estrella, displaying a crumpled piece of wing.
Capt. Cook, 29, was a decorated veteran of Royal Air Force bombing raids who crossed
the Andes eight times as a co-pilot. The ill-fated ``Star Dust'' flight was his first in command.
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. Another update on CF-TCC -
From Captain Thususka ( Retired ) in PEI...
TCC relocated on Sunday 10 th July to YYG for 25 th anniversary celebration of service to PEI. Captain C. H. S. ( Charlie ) Simpson ( Retired VP Flight OPs YULHQ ), another PEI native along with Captain Macleod were to both be on hand for the flight celebrations. Unfortunately Captain Simpson could not make it due to CASB commitments.
Captain Macleod and Captain Harvey Ried ( spelt OK I hope) were the 2 pilots that conducted the flights with travel agent trip winners for the 3 around the island flights.
Tuesday will be Employee trip day and all available staff at Charlottetown will get a ride.
Moncton follows for Saturday Dream flights returning to Charlottetown for Sunday Dream flights that I'm told are already filled up....A real success story for PEI
New Pictures are or will be available on TCC web site from the Sunday \ Monday Activities.
Regards Tom
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. Chris Doutre sends this over -
I thought you'd like to know that the US DOT has published its "Airline
Consumers Report" for May.
http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/0007ATCR.pdf
Fascinating stuff if you are traveling. As I read this information I was
struck at just how poor the on-time performance of the majors is. And,
at certain airports, it would be a miracle if your flight left on time.
Best regards
Chris Doutre, Scottsdale, Arizona, Home Base of America West Airlines
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. Terry's travel tips.
Visiting London, England?
The Heathrow Shuttle by Airbus connects Heathrow to and from Central London.
You can catch the Airbus route A2 every day at each of the four Heathrow terminals.
Pickup and drop off points between Central London and Heathrow are at
Kensington Hilton, Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, Queensway, Lancaster Gate,
Albion Street, Marble Arch, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, Euston Station,
Russell Square, Judd Street and Kings Cross Station.
No booking needed, tickets from the driver.
Cost GBP7.00 adult single, GBP12.00 adult return.
The Scottish Highlights - land tour.
August 14-18th includes 4 nights in 3 star property, daily breakfast, 3 dinners,
entrances, transport & guide throughout. From C$869 pp dbl.
Contact 1-800-665-3100 for more details of this and other land only tours.
The Best of Europe - land only -
Touring 15 days from C$2089 pp dbl itinerary includes Frankfurt, Baden-Baden,
Lucerne, Engleberg, Geneva, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Vienna, Salzburg,
Munich back to Frankfurt. Cost includes breakfast and dinners, all hotel service
charges, baggage handling, fees and local taxes.
The Best of France - land only -
Touring 13 days from C$1899 pp dbl. visiting Paris, Lyon, Avignon, Nice, Nimes,
Lourdes, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Perigueux, Limoges, Mont St. Michel, Bayeux then
return to Paris. Includes breakfasts and dinners, hotel service charge and tips,
baggage handling fees and local taxes.
Call Dargal for these and other land only deals in Europe - 1-800-690-3223.
The world's tallest hotel is the Burj al-Arab in Dubai - it towers over 1,000 feet.
Higher than the Eiffel Tower and shapes like a sail. The hotel is the latest jewel
in the crown of Dubai's burgeoning tourist industry. The hotel stands on a man made
island connected by a causeway 924 foot long. It boasts the world tallest atrium.
Guaranteeing exclusivity, non-guests are charged us$55.00 simply to cross the
private bridge, while a stay at one of the hotel's 202 luxury suites costs from around
us$1,000 to us$18,000 a night. There is plenty to catch the eye from fire-spouting
volcanoes to an undersea restaurant complete with shark-infested aquarium that can
only be reached by a 3 minute submarine ride. The interior employs more than
9,000 square feet of gold leaf, marble, granite and crystal.
We will be sure to pass on any interline or airline specials to you!!!!
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. Smilie.
WATCH THOSE WABBITS:
We don't advocate cruelty to animals, but read of the unfortunate demise of one
"Fluffy the Rabbit" on a runway at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Seems the
hapless hare was mowed down on the centerline of 17-C by an unidentified jet, and the
runway was closed for several minutes while the critter-cleanup crew did its job.
"Now rabbit-crossing signs will have to be installed, [and] all airport rabbits will have to
wear strobe lights and activate them before crossing active runways," it was speculated.
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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:
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
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Independently operated by webmaster Tom Grant.
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