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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 540 Dec 6th, 2000, We first Published in October 1995
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
To get in touch with either editor/pilot our email address is
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. Need to know.
From the London, England monthly newsletter -
Travel refunds -
"To comply with ATT requirements, Air Canada must collect the tax from all
employees and retirees on standby travel with a trip pass or reduced rate
ticket when:
a) Travel originates in Canada to a US destination, or
b) Travel originates in Canada, Europe or Asia to an international
destination via a US connection point ie YYZ/HOU connecting to MEX.
Currently these taxes, which are applicable to each ticket issued, as us$12.20
for both departure and arrival making a total of us$24.40.(approx ca$36.00)
Those travelling to the USA can now claim a refund of the Air Transportation Tax
(ATT) provided travel commenced on or after September 1st 1999, and regardless
of connection time.
Submit your letter requesting "Refund of US Transportation Tax" along with -
Employee ID, name and address
Photocopy of all tickets
All boarding passes
photocopy of pay/pension stub period for original deduction.
Send to Refund Services, Air Canada, PO Box 6475, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3V2
Allow 4-6 weeks to process.
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. Bob Eaton sends us his bio -
I started at Air Canada in the Engine Shop in 1954 until 1970 when I joined
CPAir in Vancouver and worked in the Engine Shop and Ramp in Vancouver,
Toronto and ended in Ottawa in 1990 where I was an Air Engineer II until my
retirement in May, 1970. My wife, Margaret, who also worked at Air Canada
from 1956 - 1970, & myself currently reside in Carrying Place, Ontario (just
west of Belleville) and spend the winters in Bradenton/Sarasota.
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. Tom Martin sends us this musing -
A lament for the "good old days",
As I recall, a couple of years ago you published a note from Walter Chopp who
felt the employee travel system was becoming so involved he'd likely not travel.
Well, I tend to agree with Walter, particularly after receiving all the recent and ongoing
bumph -
self ticketing (fill in your own pass);
voice recognition (unless you have a cold);
PIN number (to add to the already dozens we have to have);
buddy passes (if you have any left if they try to plus);
family affairs (hey - I'm married);
etc.
Where are you Jim Daley when it was all so simple.
You got some blank passes, filled them in, phoned res., stood by,
used a stop-over if you were diverted, and no payroll deduction for the trip.
Ah for those good old days. Tom Martin email <mailto:
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. Bedroom in the sky for BA B777 crews -
An upstairs 'bedroom' with eight single beds is to be installed in each of the
16 British Airways Boeing B777's to enable cabin crews to rest during flights
which can last more than 15 hours.
Work has already commenced on the first of the GBP800,000 conversions,
and is being performed at the Cardiff UK Maintenance base and involves the
removal of "fly by wire" systems etc. The new comfortable 'bedrooms' are
near door three in the centre of the aircraft, and will be reached through a
newly designed entrance enclosure. Presently, resting crews use designated
seats, which will be freed up for revenue passengers which will more than pay
for the modifications.
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. Our Chief pilot - Vesta, found this interesting -
Subject: A Nightly Note from Peter Mansbridge November 29, 2000
When I walked into the hotel room in Texas in late September, the first
thing that struck me was how he had aged. But then again, he was
probably thinking the same thing about me. At least his hair was just
grey, not gone!
I'd first met Marc Garneau in 1984. A dashing young Canadian
naval officer who was about to become the first Canadian to fly in
space. It was a different era, when astronauts still carried with them
the magic of "The Right Stuff". Garneau didn't just look the part, he
WAS the part and Canadians embraced his success with affection and even
with a bit of something else we don't do too often --hero worship.
In the 16 years since, Garneau has flown in space again, he's left
the navy and become a full time employee of the Canadian Space Agency.
And he's never shied away from talking about the importance and the
marvels of space travel.
Well, when he climbs aboard the shuttle again for his third
flight into space ...his most important one and quite possibly his last
one before wrapping up his active space career.
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. Star Alliance news sent by David Morath -
United Airlines is to launch the longest non-stop passenger service in the
world from April 1st 2001. The daily service from New York JFK to Hong Kong
has a planned flying time of 15 hours and 40 minutes.
Revolutionary software, StarNet has been introduced, linking computer systems
of all 15 members. StarNet will allow member airlines to share a range of
information and thereby serve passengers more effectively. The prime contractor
for StarNet is Lufthansa systems, while Eland Technologies of Dublin is
developing the software.
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. Found on the internet.
Citizens of the United Kingdom are dodging giant frozen masses of effluent --
waste from high-altitude airliner lavatories -- that are hurtling at them from the
sky at the unsavory rate of about three per month. The problem has been active --
and actively observed -- for a number of years now, with 1997 setting the record
of 37 giant disgusting ice bombs
This year, the count is up to 36 and threatens to set a new mark for 2000.
Concerned residents and local authorities are calling for stricter safety standards.
Budget Airfares Blossom in Europe
Just about the only thing that's cheap in London nowadays is flying out.
But no-frills jetsetting may not take off as easily in mainland Europe even
when budget carriers set up base there. Helped by geography and high British
prices, airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Go are cashing in
by shuttling travelers from Britain and Ireland to the continent
for as little as 25 pounds ($35.48) return.
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. From the RAPCAN eMailNews issued by Duane Frerichs -
From:
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 23:55:51 -0500
Subject: Dash8 400 Training - by Peter Rebeck
I am in China for a short term. I certainly appreciate getting your news.
I am on a training assignment in China, training pilots to fly the Dash8 400.
It is certainly a challenge to accomplish the task. The interpreter is a
necessary part of the crew to assist in conveying information. I have one
Captain who understands and speaks a bit of English and we can operate for the
most part on our own. X'ian, home of the Terra Cotta warriors, is a very foggy,
smoggy area with consistent low visibility. IFR skills therefore are a must and
despite the amount of flight time the crews have, it is still a slow process in
the training. They have internal routes not shown on the Jeppessen charts and
therefore not in the FMS database, which leads to entry errors. Our support crew
are keeping the aircraft going with minimal spares and equipment, which is
another challenge here. Thankfully our accommodation is good with western food.
We were in Yinchuan doing basic training where accommodation was great but food
was very local (not in Jepp). Sending greetings to you to continue enjoying our
nice standard of living found at home.
Peter Rebek
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. Terry's travel tips.
San Jose, Costa Rica 3 Nights/4 Days
Lowest price of the year!! from us$229
Round trip space available air from Miami or Los Angeles (with supplement),
3 nights hotel accommodations with breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges.
Sydney/Auckland Combo with Positive Space Air from us$1179
Round trip positive space air on Air New Zealand from LAX to Sydney,
Sydney to Auckland and return (or from Auckland to Sydney) 6 nights first class hotel
accommodations, 3 nights in Sydney, 3 nights in Auckland, hotel taxes and service charges.
Sydney Explorer from us$1148
Round trip positive space air on Air New Zealand, 4 nights accommodations, transfers
Call 800 422 3727 for more details
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. Smilie.
It seemed that everybody and his brother arrived back at Moody AFB at
the same time. The frequency was cluttered with directions to breakout
and reenter, formations breaking up on the downwind and other
challenges to the over-taxed controller.
At the height of the confusion, a T-38 arrived on initial. Aboard was
a crew with keen appreciation for the burden placed on the folks in the
tower. Their radio call?
"Moody Tower, Sacker 43 on initial. What are my intentions?"
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