Robert Arnold sends this trivia -

A tidbit of information for our readers to ponder! Did you know Trans-Canada Air Lines had their own brand of office staples? The box still contains several clips of usable staples in it.

We have this photo of the 2017/2018 Pionairs officials for the USA, Caribbean & Latin America District.

(Source: Pionairs USA district newsletter, Winter 2017)

Found in the "Horizons" magazine issue dated August 1982.

Nordair Ltd of Dorval secured a contract to modify ten Boeing 737 passenger aircraft belonging to People Express Airlines of Newark, N.J.

The project involved strengthening of the aircraft structure enabling the planes to take on additional fuel. This will increase their range and improve fuel efficiency. The $5 million contract marks Nordair's initial major maintenance contract.

"Bloeing 747" finds a new home.

The Air Canada balloon, better known as the "Bloeing 747" has been turned over to the "ACE Fly-in". For a fee, fly-in officials plan to make the balloon available for company events, (promotional or ACRA) with the approval of the Vice President of the area in which it will be used. (does anyone have a photo?)

In June, Canadian Liquid Air Ltd sent a 12,500 pound tank measuring 60 foot long by 32 inches diameter from Dorval to Louisiana. This was not exactly startling news, but the aircraft chartered to do the flight attracted a lot of curious glances from Air Canada cargo people who supervised the loading and stowing of the tank aboard the Aero Union DC-4. The DC-4 had been modified, making it resemble a jumbo jet's little props cousin and renamed to become an ATL-98 Carvair . Some employees at Dorval and in Atlantic Canada might remember that Eastern Provincial Airways owned two of the aircraft in the early '60s.

Further information on this aircraft will be in an upcoming NetLetter.

Issue dated January 1983.

Here we have this follow up to the story in NetLetter #1383, ''Wings of Life''.

In August, Don Muir, 26 and Andre Daeman, 22, went into the record books tor the fastest around-the-world flight in a single-engine aircraft, smashing the old record by 26 hours.

Their historic flight also raised funds for cancer research. A network of employees working under the banner ''Wings of Life'' were the driving force behind the daring duo. “Wings of Life” is a non-profit organization established last year to sponsor unusual or challenging aviation events as a way of raising funds for medical research.

Issue dated June 2005. (used with permission)

• June 2, 2005, service between Toronto and Beijing non-stop commenced.
• June 16, 2005, daily flights from Toronto to Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, Amsterdam and Zurich began.

Issue dated July 2005. (used with permission)

On May 27, 2005, Air Canada Jazz took delivery of the first of 15 new Bombardier CRJ-705 at a ceremony at the Bombardier facility near Montreal. 

Air Canada Jazz is the world’s first operator of the Bombardier CRJ-705. Commercial service began with a positioning flight from Toronto to Winnipeg on May 31, 2005, then on to Calgary to begin regular service on June 1, Calgary to Houston. July 1, CRJ-705 launched the Toronto - Houston route and Toronto – Dallas route on August 1.

B737 donated to Edmonton Museum.

An Air Canada B737-200, fin 545 painted in its original 1970's Pacific Western Airlines livery, took its place of honour at the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton on June 17, 2005 together with the logbook. The fully-operational aircraft will be used to enhance education opportunities of students throughout northern Alberta, students attending the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and a safety vehicle for the Edmonton police and RCMP.

Spreading their Wings

Soon after the war a new Empress of world travel was to make its debut. Grant McConachie, the unquenchable airline enthusiast and William Neal, who had succeeded to the presidency of the company, had won a major victory. They persuaded the government to allow Canadian Pacific not only to continue to fly, but to fly to the Orient and Australia as well.

The first overseas flight of the Empress of the air was in 1949. New destinations were quickly added until, six years later, Canadian Pacific flew 22,000 miles of routes to five continents. But the hoped for right to fly to destinations across Canada was still denied.

(Source: Canadian Pacific "COMPRESS" magazine 1981)

The Little Wings Day Care Centre at Vancouver, a special project of M & E, opened in November of 1991.

It is staffed by licensed day care workers and has a capacity for 24 children. Studies are being conducted to determine if day care centres are feasible at Calgary and Toronto. M & E also sponsored the startup of carpooling and van pools in Vancouver.

Coordinator of both special projects is complex clerk Marg Bantield, with Dylan King (2 years), and Sean Varley (18 months), at the opening of Vancouver Little Wings.

Following is from the Little Wings Day Care Centre web site

Little Wings opened in November 1991 as an Infant/Toddler Centre created as an initiative of the Maintenance and Engineering Department of Canadian Airlines International.

After Canadian Airlines disbanded, Little Wings continued to operate in leased facilities on Air Canada property adjacent to YVR.

Pictured is a representative group of M & E employees reaching the 25 year mark with the airline in 1992, honoured at a dinner in April.

Standing from left: Eric Falkenberg, Shop Technician, Power Plant Overhaul; Keith Zinger, Lead Stockkeeper; Gordon Bell, Lead Stockkeeper; Ivan Slatten, Station Attendant, Cargo; Gary Simpson, Supervisor, Quality Assurance; Bob Zeiler, Shop Technician, Aircraft Maintenance; Rex Nightingale, Lead Stockkeeper; Ron Hutchison, Lead Avionics Technician; Tony Dunn, Foreman, Structures Shop, all of Vancouver; and Sidney Gough, Supervisor, Quality Assurance, Calgary.

Seated, from left, Bill Hadfield, Supervisor, Line Maintenance, Toronto and Al Bostjancic, Foreman. Structures Shop; Pete Evans, Crew Chief, Line Maintenance, both from Vancouver.

Calgary Aero Club 

On November 1, 1927, barely six months after Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean, a group of over 100 aviation enthusiasts met to form an organization that would become an important part of the lives of several thousand pilots.

The Calgary Aero Club (the name was changed to "Calgary Flying Club" in 1946) came into being due to a number of factors. You can read about the early history on FaceBook

It operates out of Springbank airport, CYBW. 

Neil Burton sends us some more information regarding the Aero Club of BC which we had in NetLetter #1380 -

Photo courtesy of the Ringer brothers, whose father, Johnnie, was taking automotive maintenance training in Vancouver, B.C. at that time. The aircraft is located in front of an Aero Club of B.C. sign.

On Wednesday, September 30, 1931, Lana R. Kurtner, with passenger Elmer Manning, both of Seattle, in a low-wing aeromarine (NC 199 –M), won the first Vancouver-to-Vernon airplane race, landing on the Vernon airfield at 3:30 p.m. They flew up, experiencing fog, the Fraser and Thompson rivers to Kamloops, before heading south-east to Vernon. Four other competitors were not yet in sight; their prize $100.00

Second place went to Eddie Brown and Ted Morrison, in a Travelaire, followed closely by Art Leaf, in a Great Lakes, and Eddie Kearns and Al Paulson in a Stinson Jr.

The event was the opening and pageant for Vernon’s airfield – September 30 – October 1, 1931, on Mission Hill. At least 15 aircraft ended up participating in the pageant. Estimated crowd of 6000 spectators.

(Research: Vancouver Sun, Vernon News, Victoria Daily Colonist).

Neil Burton

Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.

Ways to avoid paying too much to travel. (Source: MSN.COM)

Not Springing for that Long-Distance Phone Plan.
Whether you’re jetting off for a lengthy 12-day trip or a mini weekend-getaway, never neglect getting your phone plan on board with your modified area code. Most phone plans offer a variety of travel packs, from daily discounted travel rates to weekly promos that cover you from domestic to international jet-setting. Nothing kills that post-vacay high like a phone bill that’s a few too many digits long!

Splurging on Sunscreen at the Resort.
Sunscreen may seem like a small expenditure, but the markup on this stuff at resorts and in the airports is off the charts! Take the time to pick some up beforehand and pack it carefully into your carry-on (double-wrap in baggies to avoid any mess if the bottle should burst) – you’ll thank us when you aren’t paying a small fortune at the hotel boutique every other day for another mini-bottle of SPF 30. 

WACA International is offering "Jordan Adventure 2018"

The package includes:

• Transfer Airport – Hotel – Airport.
• Three nights’ Accommodation at Crown Plaza hotel – Amman on BB basis.
• One Accommodation at Crown Plaza resort & Spa - Dead Sea on HB basis.
• One Night accommodation at Hillawi Camp on HB basis.
• All transfers by Air Conditioned Bus.
• English speaking Guide from Day two to April 30 to May 3.
• Lunches and dinners as per program.
• Ride horse at Petra for one way only.
• Tour at Wadi rum for two Hours by Bedwen 4WD.
• Visa & entrance fees are included in your Jordan pass purchase.

Package does not include:

• Waca FEES USD $20.00
• Any drinks (except water during sightseeing and at Wadi Rum).
• Air Fare not included.
• Travel insurance recommended.
• Tip for Guide and Driver

For registration & any information Click Here for the full brochure. 

Please send your application to:

Mrs. Zeina Suleiman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or Miss Ruby Atallah – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Complete the application form with deposit of USD $300.00 or full payment per person to be paid before March 28, 2018.

From the archives of the Flight magazine issue July 20, 1939.

This Lockheed Aircraft Corporation advert is titled "Trans-Canada adds to its Lockheed fleet", and notes that - On April 1, 1939, Trans-Canada Air Lines added a daily passenger schedule to its established airmail service from Montreal to Vancouver.

Within a few weeks, six more luxurious Lockheed 14 transports were ordered. This will bring Trans-Canada's total Lockheed fleet to twenty. 

In the Flight magazine issue dated November 28, 1952

We found this advertisement by Vickers-Armstrongs Limited regarding the order for 15 Vickers Viscounts placed by Trans-Canada Air Lines.