Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter
Since 1995 Saturday, April 11, 2026
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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 51 new subscribers so far in 2026.
We currently have 4592 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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 The Air Canada Pionairs 49th Annual Pionairs Conference and Annual General Meeting is coming soon, Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Location: River Rock Casino Resort Hotel
8811 River Rock Road, Richmond, British Columbia
We look forward to welcoming everyone to the AGM
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Okanagan District
You’re invited to meet and share the experience of Air Canada flight 143, now known as the “Gimli Glider” which made an emergency landing in Gimli, Manitoba on July 23, 1983.
Where: The KF Centre for Excellence at Kelowna International airport (YLW). 5800 Lapointe Drive, Kelowna. (Free parking).
When: Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Admission is $10.00 per person for Pionair members and guests and is payable in cash at the door.
Come and hear Susan Jewett’s personal account of the frightening moments leading up to and during the emergency landing of the Boeing 767 on it’s route from Montreal to Edmonton with a stop in Ottawa.
Susan was a cabin crew member on flight 143 and she has agreed to join us in Kelowna and address our District Pionairs and guests to share her experience aboard “The Gimli Glider”.
Come and hear a first-hand account of one of the most widely covered events in Canadian commercial aviation history. Following the presentation there will be a Q & A with the guest speaker.
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43rd World Airline Road Race –
Fort Worth, Texas - October 2-4, 2026
The World Airline Road Race (WARR) is a not-for-profit society, run by volunteers, who put on an event each year for airline industry professionals from all corners of the world.
Our goal is to provide a worldwide athletic event, promote travel within the airline industry and foster friendships and co-ordination between airlines. All airline associates, their family and friends are welcome to participate in WARR.
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From Barbara Lavoie -
I submitted a story on the Trans-Canada Airway in NetLetter #1977, however, there were a few errors in my text. Would you be able to publish a correction?
I have made the corrections in the brackets in bold italic below.
"After working on my father’s story of working in a relief camp in Ontario during the Depression, I discovered that the federal government’s unemployment relief scheme included setting up and engaging up to 200 labourers (in more than 160 relief camps in every province except Prince Edward Island) to clear land, build aerodromes as well as intermediate and emergency landing fields across the country between 1932 and 1936. (A total of 160,000 men participated in the scheme, some on public works projects but the majority were engaged in the aviation initiative.)”
"Below is a postcard (found in the archives at) Library and Archives Canada celebrating the Trans-Canada Airway in 1937."
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From Anthony Herben -
It was interesting to read in the NetLetter #1578 that, “A pair of DC-2s were briefly leased from Canadian Colonial Airways of Montreal early in the war.”
I searched the web for this information and could not find this information mentioned anywhere, not even in stories about Colonial Airways (Canadian Colonial Airways).
I did find on Wikipedia that, “While Canadian Pacific Air Lines (CPA) is famous for its long history with the Douglas Aircraft Company, it did not operate the Douglas DC-2 under its own brand."
Also, in Wikipedia, “The DC-2 (1934) was a 14-passenger airliner that preceded the iconic DC-3. By the time Canadian Pacific Airlines was formed in 1942 through the merger of ten "bush" airlines, the aviation industry had largely transitioned to the more advanced DC-3 and other wartime-era transports.”
Could you tell me where you found the information about Canadian Pacific Airlines leasing the Douglas DC-2.
Editors' Note: Anthony's keen eye spotted this interesting detail published in CPAL News from May - June 1986. It certainly caught the attention of our team and sent us diving into our own research. See Wayne's Wings for more info.
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Anthony would like our readers to know that he published a book in 2024, titled “Empress of the Skies – the History of Canadian Pacific Airlines.”.
It is a 123-page soft-cover book with 90% of the photographs in colour.
If you may be interested in acquiring a copy, contact aherben@dccnet.com for more information. |
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Our Bob Sheppard snapped this photo while on a cruise of New Zealand.
At the port of Picton, New Zealand, we went on an excursion to the Omaka Maori Marea (sacred place). While waiting for our official welcome, I heard a lot of noise and saw these two planes flying overhead. Later I discovered that we were very close to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.
We did some research on these aircraft and we can identify the lead aircraft as a Cessna A185F Skywagon, registration ZK-JKH. It is being followed by a Nanchang CJ-6.
Designed in 1959, the Nanchang CJ -6 became a widely used two seat training aircraft for the Chinese PLAAF, the aircraft having well harmonized controls, good aerobatic capabilities and a respectable performance.
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Found in 'Horizons' magazine
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Issue dated November 1997
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During 1997, the Toronto Maintenance Crew 41 hosted its first golf tournament and were joined by the Toronto Check Crew.
In the photo from left to right, front row: J. Langan, W. Sewell, V. Gonidss, F. Machado, J. Noh.
Middle row seated: A. Bailey, A . Brodie. J. Neault, B. Lennox, J. Hobbs, J. Critchley (event organizer), A. Pirhosseinlou.
Back row standing: R. Westgate, C. Nauboris, N. O'donnell, J. Sutton (event organizer) with his son, G. Murray, R. Ellis, D. Hansen, B. Grennen, P. Ho, P. Brennan, F. Guay, S. Luengo, A. Fountain, R. Manti, M. Neilson, C. Antonopolous and K. Krajewski.
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Issue dated December 1997
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Gearing up for the sun season-
As the winter chill spreads across Canada, the prospect of a warm, sunny vacation becomes almost irresistible.
Horizons ... News for Us takes a look at how our colleagues on the island of Jamaica are preparing for the winter rush of Air Canada passengers.
"Our peak months are December and the first half of January," says Osmond Harry, General Manager, Customer Service, Western Caribbean.
"The preparation for these months is always the same, and our ultimate goal is to make the customer feel good enough about Air Canada to want to travel with us again."
From Montego Bay, left to right: Joy Schroeter, Karlene Taylor, Janette Maragh, Desmond Gordon, Diana Chrichton, Maureen Gayle, Karen Tavares-White, Robert Ferguson, Kerry-Ann Miller, Deborah Jackson and Hazel Tenn-Black.
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The Air Canada Material Sales team celebrated the grand opening of its new surplus sales area on September 3, 1997.
From left to right: Ed Murch, Detail Materials Inspector; Peter Franzago, Supply Accounts Assistant; Robin Wohnsigl, Vice President. Technical Operations, Pat Guilfoyle, Joyce Quzor, Materials Assistants; Giuseppe Citton, Don Caivano, Stockkeepers; Bruce MacCoubrey, Director, Materials Services and Component Maintenance; Ken Gibbins, Manager, Materials Sales; Jack Patterson, Stockkeeper.
Missing from the photo are: Peter Koshman, Richard Alexandrowich, Stockkeepers; James Duncan, Manager, Purchasing and Inventory Services and Cindy Galarneau.
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CP Air / Canadi>n People Gallery |
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From CPAL News
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Issue dated May - June 1986
Expo '86 edition
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Down to business in Shanghai!
The new Shanghai route, which actually had been a route in a state of suspension since CPAL began its first international services in 1949, was successfully launched April 29 with appropriate fanfare in both Canada and the People's Republic of China.
And already the company is looking ahead to an expansion of services to China, solidifying its status as Canada's flag carrier across the Pacific.
There is a provision in the bilateral for twice-weekly service to both Shanghai and Beijing, and CPAL plans flights to Beijing as soon as demand warrants such an extension, Ted Shetzen, senior vice president, marketing, told travel writers taking the inaugural flight.
Photos by Fred Cawsey
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Looking after CPAL's interests in Shanghai, from left, Harry Hargadon, general manager, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia; Sophia Garcias, airport agent, who transferred from Los Angeles; Sheila Blake, supervisor, sales and service, also from Los Angeles; and John Gilchrist, general manager, People's Republic of China, who transferred from Vancouver airport.
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The Shanghai inaugural flight crew, from left, Joanne Bremer, Diane Mortenson, Stan Tso, Connie Fetigan, Al Coeman, Jerry Pilot, John Clark, Sherry Medlock, Lilly Ip, Rick Wiley, Bob Weatherly and Chris Campion.
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Snip, snip hurrah! The Shanghai - Vancouver half of the new route is officially opened for business.
The ribbon cutters from the left, Sheldon Stoilen, senior vice president, sales and service; Captain Yuan Taoyuan, chief - CAAC Shanghai; and Bob Weatherly, vice president, flight ops, who commanded the inaugural flight.
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More defunct airlines of Canada
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AllCanada Express
AllCanada Express (ACE) was a cargo airline based in Mississauga, Ontario. It operated nightly flights to some of the major United States cargo hubs and to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
It was established in October 1992 by John MacKenzie and Murray Lantz. In 1997 AllCanada Express obtained the UPS contract for domestic Canada line-haul and added two more B-727-200Fs. The aircraft were very noticeable in their silver and black livery with the "ACE of Spades" on the tail.
It ceased operations in October 2005.
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AllCanada Express - B-727-100 C-FACX
Vancouver - July 16, 2001
Photo by Ken Fielding
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Eastern Provincial Airways
Eastern Provincial Airways began operations from St. John's, Newfoundland in 1949 acquiring and reorganizing Newfoundland Aero Sales and Services.
Early air services included a mixed bag of ambulance and mail services, cargo, charters, and forest and ice patrols, but would evolve into a modern air carrier. EPA acquired Maritime Central Airways (MCA) in 1963 and continued operating as Eastern Provincial Airways. EPA was acquired by CP Air in the early 1980s and was fully merged into CP Air in 1986.
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Eastern Provincial Airways Boeing 737-200
Miramichi Airport, New Brunswick (YCH) - October 21, 1985
Photo by Alain Rioux
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Canadian Colonial Airways
As mentioned in the Subscribers' Feedback section, the item we published in NetLetter #1578 entitled 'Salute to the DC-3 at Expo' contains the line "A pair of DC-2s were briefly leased from Canadian Colonial Airways of Montreal early in the war".
I extracted this item from CPAL News of May - June 1986. I did not think it was especially significant but historian Anthony Herben took notice and queried the source of our article.
Neither Anthony nor our own Ken Pickford could remember CPAL ever operating DC-2s but they do remember Canadian Colonial Airways. We could not find info on the circumstances of the lease mentioned but we did find some interesting trivia on the airline.
Canadian Colonial Airways "Limited" was a Canadian airline founded in 1928 in Montreal, as a 100%-owned subsidiary of Canadian Colonial Airways "Incorporated", a United States airline founded in 1928. The two airlines operated joint service between New York City and Montreal. The 'Limited' Canadian subsidiary ceased operations in June 1942.
In 1942 the U.S. carrier's name was changed and it continued as Colonial Airlines Inc. operating a fleet of DC-3s and DC-4s post war. It was acquired by Eastern Air Lines in June 1956.
References:
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The photo above is of an American Airlines DC-2 at Montreal Saint-Hubert airport circa 1937/39.
U.S. registration NC14925. It would later be acquired by the Canadian subsidiary in 1939 and registered as CF-BPP.
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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.
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Austin Airways
Austin Airways, established in 1934, was a passenger airline and freight carrier based in Timmins, Ontario, and one of the oldest in Canada.
A comprehensive history of the airline, detailing its operations, anecdotes of bush and arctic flying, and its principal operations in northern Ontario. The book is well-illustrated with over 250 black and white and color photographs, providing a visual journey through the airline's history. It is a valuable resource for those interested in aviation history and the Canadian airline industry.
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Austin Airways de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300
Twin Otter C-GFJC
Redding Municipal Airport - September 3, 1983
Photo by Eduard Marmet
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From 'Between Ourselves' magazine
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Issue dated July 1966
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By Dave Mathias. Caption reads :
"Ever since he won that art show award, he thinks he's Van Gogh."
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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.
Disclaimer: Please note that the NetLetter does not necessarily endorse any airline related or other "deals" that we provide for our readers.
We would be interested in any feedback (good or bad) when using these companies though and will report the results here.
We do not (normally) receive any compensation from any companies that we post in our newsletters. If we do receive a donation or other compensation, it will be indicated as a sponsored article or link. |
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