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Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson
Co-pilot - Terry Baker
number 257 date Apr 5th, 1998 1st Published in October 1995
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. One of the recent 'cons' to join us was Doug Davidson who writes from
Kuwait. Doug is presently on a two-year contract as Deputy Finance
Director, Kuwait Airways.
Hi folks:
A quick report on the effects of the recent "Saddam" crisis on the airlines.
BA was the first to react. Mind you, they are particularly sensitive.
They were criticised for allowing a 747 to be trapped in Kuwait at the
start of the Gulf War. Crew and passengers were taken to Baghdad and the
aircraft destroyed.
Their daily 777 from LHR normally turns around with a crew layover in
Kuwait. They introduced a station stop at Bahrain on the return trip, with
a crew change there so that crews did not have to stay in Kuwait.
Arrival in LHR was three hours behind sked, fouling up all the connections.
BA offered passage out of Kuwait to any staff who felt uncomfortable
staying here. In the meantime, London banned the issuance of non-rev
tickets to and from Kuwait. The result was that those who did want to
leave could not get a ticket. The left hand knoweth not what the right
hand doeth.
Yield management challenge: flights were all oversold. When the U.N.
reached an agreement with Iraq, cancellations and no-shows exceeded the load.
Kuwait Airways (and all others) operated normally although in-bound loads
could be described as light. It's an ill wind etc.... I was at the
airport when BBC and CNN crews were leaving to look for action somewhere
else. The boxes they carried with them were unbelievable. Great excess
baggage revenue!
There was never any sense of crisis within Kuwait. Very few people left
the country. It sounds much worse on CNN. Till the next time......
Doug Davidson <
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. Here is a bio from John & Dolores Gallagher -
John D. Gallagher joined TCA Dec 1951 and was kicked out March 1991
[age 60 rule]. I was a pilot for those 40 years. Promoted to Captain 1957
on the DC-3 and flew most of the fleet and the last 7 years on the B-747.
I was always based at Toronto. My wife, Dolores [of some 45 years] live
just north of YYZ on a few acres. I was part of the CALPA executive from
1957 in the safety division - accident investigation and I'm still a
consultant with them. "Them" now being ALPA-Canada, ACPA and IFALPA.
I was in the office a few months ago and just for fun I put my employee
number in the computer to see what would happen. You never know - maybe
they still owe some $$.
The message said I was expired.
I knew I was retired but to be told I'm expired is wrong!
John & Dolores Gallagher <
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" ' "
. FOUND ON THE INTERNET.
Ottawa International Airport is set for a major expansion starting
next spring. The 38 year old airport is running out of space and the
project includes a new terminal building and parking garage. The new
terminal will be built adjacent to the existing building and will be
twice the size. No decision has been made on the timing or the
possibility of an airport improvement fee.
SAY "GOOD BYE" TO A GRACEFUL LADY:
The end of an era in military aviation came last week as the U.S. Air Force
retired SAM 26000, the VC-137 that served as Air Force One during some of
the most visible, traumatic and turbulent times in U.S. history.
SAM 26000 was the plane President John F. Kennedy took to Dallas on November
22, 1963, and the one that carried him home in a casket later that day.
The USAF will restore the plane to its early-1960s configuration and put it
on public display.
A "LOT" OF VODKA?
Poland's national airline LOT was forced to cancel a flight last weekend
after two members of the crew showed up inebriated.
The chief stewardess and a mechanic had been drinking, forcing an
unscheduled RON for Saturday's charter flight 6202 out of Tenerife.
"After blood tests by medical services in Spain it emerged that the chief
stewardess and the ground mechanic were under the influence of alcohol,"
said the carrier.
TURBULENCE DETECTOR:
The beginning of the in-cabin food service has always seemed to signal the
onset of increased turbulence. Now, NASA says its tests on an experimental
laser device may allow flight crews to detect clear air turbulence, making
for a smoother cabin service.
FROM THE "WHY DOESN'T THIS EVER HAPPEN WHEN WE FLY" FILE:
Some people just can't wait to get comfortable on an airline flight.
This evidence comes via an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle, WA
to San Francisco, and involves an unidentified woman whose comfort level
apparently involved shedding her clothing...all of it. Eventually,
security was called and she was escorted off the flight.
No word on the fate of her luggage, or if the event took place in lieu of
the movie!
As reported in McGraw-Hill's Aviation Daily recently.
It seems that at a hearing called by the Senate Judiciary antitrust
subcommittee on March 19, seven airline CEOs -- Robert Ayling of
British Airways, Gordon Bethune of Continental, Richard Branson of
Virgin Atlantic, Robert Crandall of American, Gerald Greenwald of
United, Leo Mullin of Delta, and Stephen Wolf of US Airways -- found
themselves crammed together cheek-by-jowl at the witness table.
Whereupon subcommittee chairman Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) cracked, "Sorry
about the crowding, but welcome to coach class."
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" ' "
. TERRYS TRAVEL TIPS.
Oriental goodies - daily rates twin - minimum 3 nights. Valid for friends
and family only if airline member travels with them.
Malaysia -
PENANG
Golden Sands standard to Dec 19/98 UKP38
book 5 days get 2 days free, 8 days 3 days free, 10 days 4 days free.
Golden Sands seaview to Dec 19/98 UKP50
book 5 days get 2 days free, 8 days 3 days free, 10 days 4 days free.
Park Royal seaview to Jul 15/98 UKP52
Rasa Sayang standard to Dec 19/98 UKP46
book 5 days get 2 days free, 8 days 3 days free, 10 days 4 days free.
Rasa Sayang seaview to Dec 19/98 UKP56
book 5 days get 2 days free, 8 days 3 days free, 10 days 4 days free.
KUALA LUMPUR
Istana to Mar 99 UKP54 book 2 days get 1 day free.
Swiss Garden to Nov 30/98 UKP32
KUANTA
Cherating Holiday to Dec 98 UKP24
Hyatt Regency to Oct 31/98 UKP44
to Dec 31/98 UKP52
book 5 days get 5 days free, 6 days 6 days free, 7 days 7 days free.
Hyatt Regency seaview to Oct 31/98 UKP56
to Dec 31/98 UKP66
book 5 days get 5 days free, 6 days 6 days free, 7 days 7 days free.
LANGKAWI
Burau Bay to Oct 31/98 UKP40
Nov 98 UKP44
Dec 98 UKP49
HONG KONG
Royal Pacific (Kowloon) to May 31/98 UKP98
Newton Hotel (Hong Kong Isl) to May 31/98 UKP80
Concourse Hotel (Kowloon) to May 15/98 UKP72
Contact Magic of the Orient UK 1293-537766 or fax 01293 537888
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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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