Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday July 12, 2025
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British West Indies Airways (BWIA) Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500 Registration 9Y-TGN
Photo courtesy of Jo Beeck
Frankfurt - September 1987 |
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Dear Welcome to The NetLetter, established in 1995 as a dedicated newsletter for Air Canada retirees.
We have evolved into the longest running aviation-based newsletter for Air Canada, TCA, CP Air, Canadian Airlines and all other Canadian-based airlines that once graced the skies. The NetLetter is self-funded and is always free to subscribers. It is operated by a group of volunteers and is not affiliated with any airline or associated organizations. The NetLetter is published on the second and fourth weekend of each month. If you are interested in Canadian aviation history, and vintage aviation photos, especially as it relates to Trans-Canada Air Lines, Air Canada, Canadian Airlines International and their constituent airlines, then we're sure you'll enjoy this newsletter. Please note: We do our best to identify and credit the original source of all content presented. However, should you recognize your material and are not credited; please advise us so that we can correct our oversight. Our website is located at www.thenetletter.net Please click the links below to visit our archives and for more info about The NetLetter. |
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 We have welcomed 106 new subscribers so far in 2025.
We now have 4511 subscribers.
We wish to thank everyone for the continuing support of our efforts.
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 Back issues of The NetLetter are available in both the original newsletter format and downloadable PDF format.
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We always welcome feedback about Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge) from our subscribers who wish to share current events, memories and photographs.
Particularly if you have stories to share from one of the legacy airlines: Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Airlines, CP Air, Pacific Western, Maritime Central Airways, Eastern Provincial, Wardair, Nordair, Transair, Air BC, Time Air, Quebecair, Calm Air, NWT Air, Air Alliance, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Georgian and all other Canadian based airlines that once graced the Canadian skies.
We will try to post your comments in the next issue but, if not, we will publish it as soon as we can.
Thanks!
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 In NetLetter #1560 we published a few photos from 'Horizons' related to Air Canada's 50th anniversary in which, then president, Pierre Jeanniot was prominently featured. After the issue was released, our good friend, John Rodger, contacted us to advise that Mr. Jeanniot had passed away on June 22, 2025 at the age of 92.
Following is an excerpt from Horizons issue dated May 31, 1984 announcing Mr. Jeanniot's appointment to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer.
"The appointments of Claude I. Taylor as full time Chairman of the Board, and of Pierre J. Jeanniot as President & Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada effective June 1 were announced on May 22 by Minister of Transport Lloyd Axworthy on behalf of the Government of Canada.
The two functions will comprise a new Office of the Chief Executive (formerly Office of the President), to which the corporate organization will continue to be accountable.
Both Taylor and Jeanniot welcomed the confidence demonstrated by the Minister and the Board of Directors in recognizing the importance of the two roles as they have evolved internally within Air Canada."
Click the image to read the full Horizons announcement. Mr. Jeanniot's career and achievements are well documented in the links below.
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Sources and additional information:
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Air Canada Inaugurates Flights to Prague
June 7, 2025 - Air Canada’s newest international flight from Toronto took off yesterday evening and has arrived in Prague, Czech Republic.
“We are excited to return to Prague, our newest Europe destination now added to our global network,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer and President, Cargo.
“Our flights connect two countries, facilitating travel, tourism and trade. We design routes like this one to appeal to our customers throughout our North American network, with convenient travel options at our Toronto hub.
Whether people are visiting family and friends in Prague, exploring its celebrated architecture, bohemian history and rich culture, or customers from Central Europe visiting and exploring Canada from coast to coast, our flights make discovering all that our two countries offer easier than ever.”
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Bonjour Scotland! Air Canada Launches Flights from Montreal to Edinburgh
June 27, 2025 - Air Canada’s newest international flight from Montreal took off yesterday evening and has now arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“We are very proud to launch service to Edinburgh from Montreal, our latest route strategically added to our extensive transatlantic network,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer and President, Cargo.
“This new connection between Canada and Scotland deepens our ties and commitment to the UK market. Our Montreal-Edinburgh flights are designed to connect our customers across North America conveniently to Edinburgh with seamless travel through our Montréal hub.
Whether visiting Scotland to reunite with friends and loved ones, explore its historic castles, enjoy the vibrant arts scene, or welcoming visitors from Scotland eager to discover the vast beauty and diversity of Canada, our flights make it easier than ever to experience all that our two nations have to offer.”
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 for the latest posts at the Air Canada Media Centre. |
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 Click the logo to open the Air Canada YouTube channel. |
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated May 1984
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Vancouver gets help rolling.
The Vancouver Employees Special Projects Association (V.E.S.P.A.) consists of a group of employees from different departments actively involved in charitable work.
Many participated in a recently completed project for the Vancouver Food Bank. This organization operates mainly with volunteers who pick up food, bring it to a central depot and distribute it.
With funds raised by a charitable campaign V.E.S.P.A. set out to find a delivery vehicle. Rosemary Van Gaalen from In-Flight Service had a contact in the car business and arranged to purchase a van and the Vancouver maintenance department pitched in to paint it with the Air Canada logo. It is now busy transporting food all over the city.
Flanked by some of the V.E.S.P.A. members, Anne Senko the Vice-Chairman presents the keys for the refurbished van to a representative of the Vancouver Food Bank.
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Issue dated August 1984
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ACRAcise gets off the ground.
Another year older and what do you get?
According to Christine Yap Chung, Time Records Clerk, Vancouver, you get into better shape. In 1983 she began an aerobics class for staff as an ACRA activity. A year later Christine says, “it’s been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work"’.
Last year she negotiated the use of the pool recreation area of the Holiday Inn Harbourside, which just happens to be next door to Air Canada's administration offices in downtown Vancouver. That done, she sent out bulletins, signed up people, organized music tapes, persuaded, prodded and blackmailed some waverers — “Aren’t you a little overweight?”
Christine can’t believe that it’s been a whole year since the workout classes began. Although the sessions are planned for Air Canada staff, people from PWA and other local businesses join in.
Below, Vancouver Sales Representative George Martin assists Christine in cutting the guaranteed calorie-free cake celebrating one year of ACRAcise sessions. Testimony to Christine’s efforts are the participants in the background.
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Issue dated March 1989
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Calgary In-Flight Service marks 10th anniversary in 1989.
Celebrating Calgary In-Flight Service base's 10th anniversary are:
Back row, left to right: Lynne Morey, Suzanne Riley, Lucille Parkinson, John Sinclair, Bob Gillis, John Kerr, Marion Sweeney, Ross St. John, Judie Aucoin, Lorilee Cole and Peter Charuk.
Kneeling in the same order are: Debra Milne, Eileen Hines, Joan King, Marlene Godber, Margaret Van Diest, Susan and Bernie Miller.
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Issue dated March 1991
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Warm Jamaican welcome in 1991.
Our staff in Kingston, Jamaica welcomed Jean-Jacques Bourgeault, Vice President, Passenger Sales & Service - Eastern Canada, U.S. & South and got together for a photograph to mark the occasion.
Left to right are: Customer Service Agents Ralsona Palmer and Wendy Lue; Raynald Jean, Senior Customer Service Agent Haiti; Jean-Jacques Bourgeault; Marc Rosenberg, General Manager, South East USA, Caribbean & Latin America; Karel Tucker, Customer Service Agent; Osmond Harry, Manager Northwest Caribbean; Customer Service Agents Ingrid Evans and Merrick Taylor and Donet Soares, Senior Customer Service Agent.
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UK Sales Blitz
Our London sales staff recently conducted a massive blitz of more than 1,000 travel agencies throughout England.
Over coffee and muffins the agents were reminded of Air Canada’s current winter seat sale, ski programs and our non smoking policy. Calls to the London reservations office rose considerably as a result.
Zachary Clark, Vice President, Passenger Sales & Service - Europe & Asia was on hand to sample a muffin and send the sales blitz team on their way. He is pictured here with:
Front row, left to right: Reservation Agents Sian Ayres, Zachary Clark, Theresa Coakley and Sylvia Wilder.
Back row, left to right: Allen Owen, Sales Office Assistant and organizer of the blitz; Reservations Agents Stuart Duddey and Paul Akbar and Passenger Agent Wieslaw Kowalczyk.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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A “class” act by CP Air -
 CP Air was certainly a class act in the airline industry. CP Air's call sign when speaking to air traffic control was 'Empress', in the same manner as Pan Am used 'Clipper', and British Airways uses 'Speedbird'.
As well each aircraft was named 'Empress'. Some aircraft were named after continents, some after countries and some after cities.
CP Air's inflight service was renowned as well, superb catering served on fine china in all four classes, First, Royal Canadian, Empress, and Economy Class. CP Air was an innovator in the Canadian airline industry and below are some of their marketing campaigns.
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Ken Pickford found this video from a CTV news item on the the reunion of Captain Robert Pearson and a piece of the 'Gimli Glider'.
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Air Ontario de Havilland Dash 8 brochure -
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British West Indies Airways L-1011 TriStar 500
While browsing through a few Horizons issue, I came across a story on AC's maintenance contract with BWIA. Although heavy maintenance was performed at the Dorval base, we often had one of their fleet of L-1011 TriStar 500s overnighting in Toronto. If I remember correctly, they were used on a few flights a week from Port of Spain (POS) to Toronto.
Fin #s 595, 596, 597 & 598 were treated as if they were part of AC's own fleet and line maintenance could order parts through our 'MAP' inventory control system (as opposed to being treated as loans).
I looked into the current condition of these four aircraft and discovered that all but one have been broken up.
Registration 9Y-TGN (fin #596) was delivered to BWIA in August 1980 and spent its entire career with the same airline. It was withdrawn from service and stored at POS from May 2001 until May 2004 when it was dismantled and transported to the Chaguaramas Military Museum of Trinidad and Tobago for preservation.
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Photo extracted from Horizons dated February 1984,
click to read the article.
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Photo courtesy of Gerard A. Mark
October 3, 2005
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| Terry's Trivia
& Travel Tips |
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Terry Baker, co-founder of the NetLetter scours the internet for aviation related Trivia and Travel Tips for you, our readers, to peruse.
The Halifax International Airport Authority has added a fifth security screening line—up from four—in anticipation of the busy summer travel season.
In a release, the authority says the new line includes CT technology at the domestic and international screening area. That means passengers won’t have to remove liquids, gels or large electronic devices from their carry-on bags, helping to speed up the process.
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Our cartoon by Jake Visser appeared in the Canadian Flyer magazine.
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Wayne, Ken & Terry Richmond, British Columbia - December 2019
(Bob Sheppard was not available for the photograph) |
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Wayne, Bob & Ken Richmond, British Columbia - December 2023
(Terry Baker was not available for the photograph) |
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We wish to honour the memories of
Vesta Stevenson and Alan Rust. They remain a part of every edition published. |
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E&OE - (errors and omissions excepted):
The historical information as well as any other information provided in the "NetLetter" is subject to correction and may have changed over time.
We do publish corrections (and correct the original article) when this is brought to our attention.
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