The NetLetter
 For Air Canada Retirees

 (part of the ACFamily Network)

 

March 26, 2011 - Issue 1158
First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
In This Issue
CAHS Upcoming Events
Pionair Meetings and Events
ACRA Upcoming Events
Women in Aviation
Our first 70 years
Air Canada Related News.
Reader Submitted...Photos
TCA/Air Canada People Gallery
Alan's Space
Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc
Reader's Feedback
Terry's Trivia
Smileys
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Greetings!
Terry Baker

We welcome you to allow the NetLetter to be your platform, and opportunity, to relive your history while working for either TCA, AC, CPAir, CAIL, PWA, AirBC, Wardair. etal. and share your experiences with us!

The NetLetter is an email newsletter published every weekend and contains a mixture of nostalgia, current news and travel tips. We encourage our readers to submit their stories, photos and/or comments from either days gone by or from present day experiences and trips. If we think that the rest of our readers will enjoy it, we will publish it here

We also welcome your feedback in regard to anything we post here. Many readers have commented with additional information, names and personal memories from the photos and articles presented here.

The NetLetter, which is free, is open to anyone that wishes to subscribe but is targeted to retired employees from Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and all the other companies that were part of what Air Canada is today. Thanks for joining us!

Terry & your NetLetter Team
CAHS Upcoming Events - Compiled by Alan Rust
 
CAHSWe have a listing below of all the CAHS (Canadian Aviation Historical Society) upcoming events that we are aware of.

If you are at all interested in Canadian aviation history, then we encourage you to attend a meeting or visit their web site at: www.cahs.ca

Ottawa ChapterOttawa Chapter

Date: March 31, 2011
Time: 1930 hrs

Guest Speaker: John. W. Crichton, President & CEO of NAV CANADA, shares details of the history and operations of Canada's civil air navigation services provider. Join us for what promises to be a most interesting evening.


Toronto ChapterToronto Chapter
Date:
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Time: 1830 hrs

Special 3rd Annual Dinner Meeting

Guest Speaker: Author & Historian, Ted Barris


British Columbia ChapterVancouver Chapter
Date:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Time: 1900 hrs
Guest Speaker: TBA - For more info call Jerry Vernon at (604) 420-6065


Montreal ChapterMontreal Chapter
 
Date: April 21, 2011
Time: 1100 hrs

Guest Speaker: Paul Gagnon, a Quebec pilot with 45 years of experience, from bush pilot to airline captain  and government air service administrator, will speak on the topic of Wheeler Airlines, 1952-57.


CAHS National Convention
 
Edmonton - June 22th to 26th - Mark your calendars for the CAHS 48th annual convention where they will explore the rich aviation history of Edmonton, the province of Alberta, and Canada's North. 

Presentations will range from civil and military aviation topics, to how regional heritage institutions are promoting this fascinating history, to creative ways authors are bringing these subjects to new audiences.

 

See: www.cahs.ca/events/convention.html for more information as it becomes available.

Pionair Meetings and Events - Compiled by Alan Rust

Pionairs LogoThe Air Canada Pionairs have ongoing Coffee Club Meetings in the following Districts; Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Okanagan, Edmonton, Calgary, Man-Sask, SW Ontario, Central Ontario, Ottawa, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia - P.E.I., Newfoundland, UK - E.C. and the USA - Caribbean. For full information, click here.

 

Meetings provide an opportunity to meet old friends, learn the latest news regarding Air Canada and your  pensions or hear a variety of guest speakers speaking on topics of interest to retirees.

ACRA Upcoming Events- Compiled by Alan Rust

ACRA  LogoRetirees Welcome!  

Steve Kerwin, organizer for the annual ACRA System Golf Event invites all retirees to the annual ACRA System Golf Tournament, Sunday, September 11 - 15, 2011. For more information see: www.acra.ca  Rates include 4 nights room, golf, dinners, and breakfasts from $326.00 - $400.00 per person.


AGM 2011 VancouverAre you aware of an ACRA Event that is open to retirees? Please use the online form by following this link to submit your ACRA Event. (ACRA Events only please)

Women in Aviation - Compiled by Terry Baker

A woman flying as Captain for IndiGo has had her certificate revoked after the investigation of a rough landing in January found she had allegedly forged papers to earn her ATPL certificate, according to India's aviation authority, the DGCA.

 

The landing at Goa airport apparently involved a nosewheel-first touchdown technique, which led to a problem with the gear discovered on the return flight to Delhi. (The specific type of aircraft was not mentioned in reports, but IndiGo only operates Airbus A320's). A subsequent investigation discovered the pilot had not only used her nosewheel-first technique several times before, but had also failed her ATPL examination seven times. The case of forged certificates is not unique.

 

See complete story here...

Our first 70 years - Compiled by Terry Baker
Trans-Canada Air Lines/Air Canada


1973 - March 15 - Inaugural flight between YYZ and YVR with TriStar equipment.
           March 26 - Canadian Transport Commission approved purchase of one-third interest in Wardair.  
Air Canada Related News - Compiled by Terry Baker
Air Canada News Boeing has advised that delivery of its first five B787 Dreamliners, previously scheduled for 2H13 are now targeted for 4Q13. This is an average delay of 5 - 7 months. (source SpeedNews)

(With all the delays, this aircraft is well named "Dreamliner" - eds)
Reader Submitted Photos - Compiled by Terry Baker
Readers PhotosReader Submitted Photos - The photos and information below was sent to us by our faithful readers. If you would like to send us some old photos you have lying around. we will consider them for publication in a future NetLetter. We prefer good quality airline related photos, with descriptive text included with the submission.
cftiaJack Stephens has sent us these photos -

"Newspaper carriers boarding Trans-Canada flight" August 8 1963 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Credit: Vancouver Province Newspaper. Courtesy: Vancouver Public Library.

yowairportTrans-Canada Air Lines "Viscount" At The Quebec Airport"

 

Credit: Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales Du Quebec.

TCA/Air Canada People Gallery - Compiled by Terry Baker
 
TCA/Air Canada  LogoMusings from the "Between Ourselves" and "Horizons" magazine, an Air Canada publication from years gone by, and various in-house magazines.
Issue dated - March 1955
Extracted from the "Between Ourselves" magazine

erhardtWith the increase in passengers, many training courses were instituted. These three were held in Montreal.  

Here we have a photo of the passenger agent course.

HONOR OF BEING THE 500th passenger agent went to 24-year-aid June Erhardt, of Regina (seated at centre, front row)
Others trom the left are: Front row: Misses A. Cameran, WG; B. Granlield, YZ; A. Staddart, NY; M. Streicher, QR. Middle row: R. Dunham, NY; Miss G. Owsher, K'S; Mrs. W. Berman, NY: C. E. Barrett, UL: Miss S. Koulianas NY; J. E. Bowler, YZ; Miss J. Fercier, UL; D. McMahon, WG. Back row: R. G. Warren, (instructor); F. G. Schaeffer, YC; J. A. Dawsan, OW; V. Gookin and C. Silvia, NY; R. Chernich, SA. 

firstpatelPICTURED HERE is the first PA (Tel) course this year from the left are, standing: (Instructor) R. J. Warren; I. Mangolf, YZ; Miss E. Rowon, WG; D. Hart, UL; Miss M. Farmer, XF A. Bond, QG: Miss V. Trow, YZ; W. Williams, QG P. Comes,
LON; K. Lanihier, OW; P. France, YZ; R. Mulcock, OW; W. Card, OW; J. MacDonald, OW; W. Nicholson, OW; W. H. Rourke, (instructor). Seated: Misses F. Shea, UL; M. Leitch, WG; E. McManus, XF; V. Brayden, LON; N. Coniff, UL.
cntrcourseRepresenting the first course of PA (CNTR) this year are, standing: D. T.Mantle, UL; G. B. Hawley, SD; R. C. Climie, (instructor); V. Slivitsky, UL; A. Smith, BDA. Seated: P. Kavanaugh, MLTA; Miss R. Rogers, UL; Miss P. Myers, UL; Miss l. Whittiker, UL.

Issue dated - March 1973
Extract from "Horizons" magazine
laxwidebody
On December 21st 1972, Flight 790 operated LAX-YYZ-YUL with B747 equipment marking the first time a Company wide body aircraft had been handled by the LAX station. The flight crew is shown in the photo with some of the LAX staff. While we have no clue as to the identifications for any of the crew, we do know that George OHagen is eighth from the left, Len Zak is fifth from the right, Gord Froede is third from the right and Tom Branick squeezes in on the far right.

klondikegirlsLondon (LHR) passenger agents dressed in full Klondike rig at the Wardorf Hotel to publicize the "Great get around Holidays for 1973" promotion to travel agents. In the photo London Passenger Agents as Klondike Kates surround Jim Finlay, General Manager, UK & Ireland.

 

From the left: Iris Bamborough; Sheila Smith; Denise Francis; Jim; Karen Murray; Sandra Stone and Trish Miller.


Issue dated - April 1973

purchasecourseDo you detect a touch of pride in the smiles of the threesome on the right?

 
They have every reason to be proud, having just completed a "Professional Purchaser" course involving four years of home study. From the left are Kitch Olson, VP - Purchasing & Facilities, presenting diplomas to Jim Waugh, Les Nagy and Jim Jamieson. 

Alan's Space - by Alan Rust
Alan's Space
Alan Rust
Franklin Airshow Piper Comedy Flight - submitted by Jim Macfarlane

This is a video of a stunt pilot who, in real life, is a Delta Airlines pilot. His act at air shows is to pretend that he is a drunken spectator, who rushes from the stands and jumps into a Piper Cub and takes off without any understanding of how to fly a plane.

The Piper Cub is actually specifically built to withstand an enormous amount of stress and has a very powerful engine.

This type of stunt is actually the most dangerous of air show acts, because of the low altitude at which the pilot performs...  Obviously, this pilot possesses unbelievable skill.

Air Show - Piper
Canadi>n/CP Air/PWA, Wardair, etc. People & Events
- Compiled by Terry Baker
CAIL TailsNews and articles from days gone by gleaned from various publications from C.A.I.L. and it's "ancestry" of contributing airlines.

Doug Saunders has sent us this information -
The overseas mainline operation of Wardair Canada Ltd was initiated by the lease of
CF-CZZ Canadian Pacific Airlines
#446
in January 1962. CZZ was a passenger freighter with a large cargo door. We flew the aircraft during the late winter and early spring on a freighter operation in the High Arctic under contract to the Polar Continental Project. The main freighting operation flew out of  Resolute Bay to the weather stations at Issachsen, Eureka, Alert and  Mould Bay as well as the USA Thule air force base in Greenland.

When the Arctic freighting ended in the spring, Wardair commenced its overseas passenger charter operation with the first trip flying from Edmonton to Copenhagen on June 22, 1962. The flight refueled en route at Frobisher Bay and Prestwick and took 17 hours and 51 minutes of flying time. CZZ was utilized during the summer of 1962 out of Western Canada and Toronto to the United Kingdom and Europe.

(Photo used with permission)
When the summer charter season ended in September, the company could not find work for the airplane and it was returned to CPA. Grant McConachie, CPA president, apparently commented that he made more money leasing the DC6 to Wardair than he could have flying it.

In 1963, Wardair purchased an ex KLM DC6B, CF-PCI, to continue the overseas charter operation. CF-CZZ was also leased once again from CPA for a portion of 1963 to run the Arctic freighter contract. It was returned to CPA in late fall of 1963.

CF-PCI was used until 1966 when Wardair bought the first B727 in Canada for the passenger charter operation. CF-PCI was then leased to PWA for a couple of years, then sat at the Edmonton Municipal Airport until November 1968.

Myself and another Wardair pilot ferried the PCI to the Edmonton International Airport where it was sold to a Florida company.
wardaircfczzI recall seeing CZZ at Abbotsford in Conair colours in the 1970's.
wardairdc6Regards Capt. Don Saunders retired Wardair Canada, Canadian Airlines International.

Reader's Feedback - Compiled by Terry Baker
Reader's Feedback
Every week we ask our readers for their stories or feedback on what they have read here in previous issues. Below is the feedback we have received recently.

Ken Picford sends us this information -
In Issue 1153 I noted the following item in the Odds & Ends section: British Airways fleet of B757's has 39 named after castles in the UK. "Has" should read "had". BA retired their last few 757s a few months ago after 27 years service with the type.. Final flight was October 30, 2010.. Link below re the last flight.
  
  
At one time BA had over 50 757s in service. They were the joint launch customer along with defunct US carrier Eastern Air Lines. Most of BA's 757s were sold to cargo carriers for conversion to freighters. The one that operated the final flight is only 12 years old, delivered 1998. It's going to FedEx.
 
Regards, Ken

viscountThe NetLetter gang has been sending information regarding the Viscount operated by our company to the Viscount web site via Jack Stephens in Calgary. Fellow Viscount aficionado's can view this site at www.vickersviscount.net

Here is a photo we recently sent in, taken from "Between Ourselves" issue June 1955, and Brian Burrage, the co-founder and historian of the site sends this informaion - The fleet number on the nose is 603, which makes it CF-TGK, which was delivered 25 Feb 1955.


The fleet number on the nose was dropped in about 1960 and, as you say, moved to the nosewheel door. You would have thought that it would have been changed when they introduced the white top to the fuselage but it wasn't!

In the far background, in the photo above, constitutioncheck out the large aircraft on the far left compared to the Connie by the hangar. This can only be a Lockheed R6V Constitution!!

 

From 1953 they were being using as a touring Navy recruitment plane and were finally retired to Litchfield Park in Arizona sometime in 1955 which fits the date of the photo (circa March 1955) The airport is therefore in the USA, so is either New York, Chicago or Cleveland. I suspect it is Chicago.

What a shame they didn't preserve a Constitution as it was certainly a monster. We should have preserved the Bristol Brabazon. Both aircraft suffered from underpowered engines. 

Perhaps you could circulate this photo to see if anyone recognizes the location.

 

Kind regards  Brian


(Does anyone have any ideas of the location - eds)

Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
Terry Baker
Terry Baker

Jamaica Jump Up 2011 hosted by the Interline Club of Jamaica.
June 2 - 5th 2011 package costs us$375.00 pp dbl single us$525.00, all activities meals and drinks consumed at the hotel, transfers to/from MJB airport. Interline service charge passes available.


Deadline April 15th 2011. check www.waca.org the events page for full details.
 



From the monthly newsletter issued by the U.K. Pionairs -
March 2011 edition
 
Take the Train instead...   (Shelagh Langlands)
I suppose writing an article about the pleasures of rail travel in an airline newsletter is tantamount to treason but before the judge "sends me down", let me plead for the alternative to  a) the uncertain departure  b) the lengthy security search and c) the dawn arrival for the noon flight.


To have the privilege of an airline pass, entitling you to relatively cheap travel, is a wonderful thing and I for one have made much use of it in the past. However, when you live some distance from Heathrow and have made provision for the care of your home and animals, it becomes less attractive when you arrive at the airport to find you are unable to travel on the day you intended because all the flights are full.


Last September a company called www.Railselect.com advertised various rail packages throughout Europe. It sounded interesting but the dates didn't fit so we contacted them to see what else they could offer. They told us to list where we wanted to go and on what dates, and they would organize the trip which would include all rail travel with reserved seating, all hotels on a B & B basis and all transfers.


Our first choice was Berlin and since it wasn't possible to get there in one day from Salisbury, we had an overnight stop in Cologne, and the following morning headed for Berlin where we had three nights in a three-star hotel off the Kurfurstendam. It's a very easy city to get around with their hop on/hop off bus service and a good underground system and we certainly made the most of it.


Our next stop was Prague, a city which we love. This was our third visit and our hotel was at the end of the Charles Bridge which is for pedestrians only. Prague appeals in so many ways; it has a fascinating history, you can walk everywhere, there are great restaurants and every night there is music somewhere, either in concert halls with a full orchestra or tiny salons with three or four players.


From Prague we boarded the train for Vienna where we had two days, both of which were wet! The hotel was three floors of a fairly old house, but our room was big enough to put a grand piano in the corner had we wanted one! Last stop was Salzburg where my mother and I had been in 1973. 

 

The Eagles Nest
The Eagles Nest - John D. Shaw

 We had visited Berchtesgaden where Hitler spent much of his time in a house called "The Eagle's Nest" high up in the mountains. Unfortunately the cable car hadn't been in operation then so we were unable to see the amazing view. I was really looking forward to doing it this time but, alas, a snowstorm prevented it! To compensate, they took us down the salt mines instead - a very poor alternative! We travelled home the next day with a sleeper from Vienna to Cologne and onwards to London.


The plus side of the trip was that the arrangements were faultless, the hotels were good and the transfers from station to hotel and vice versa were particularly helpful in an unfamiliar city. Everything was paid for so there was no fiddling about, trying to find the right money. Each leg of the journey had a plastic folder containing our vouchers, tickets, phone numbers for the hotel and the taxi transfers and some useful information about the city we were going to. No security checks;  simply a matter of finding the right spot on the platform for our carriage and no worries about whether we would get on or not. On the minus side, the euro was not in our favor and therefore eating out could be expensive. On balance though, we would do it again, albeit with a different itinerary.

ultimateb&bBud Liversidge sent us a bunch of photos, here is one - a unique Bed & Breakfast, interline rates available.
Smileys - Compiled by Terry Baker
Smileys
As we surf the internet and back issues of airline magazines we regularly find airline related jokes and cartoons. Below is our latest discovery.





Heard in Cape Town, South Africa:
N1234A (someone with an American Accent): "Cape Town, uh - is that going to be the ILS Yankee or Zulu for Runway 19?"
Someone Else (not a controller, but someone with a South African accent): "It must be the ILS Zulu. Yankees are in America, but Zulus live here in Africa."
The controller and pilot from N1234A both laughed.
 

From Alan Evans -
IF you are not in the SPIRIT don't fly INDIAN AIRLINES.
Years ago I met a Capt Morse who was the ghost check airman with EASTERN.He would fly the routes as a passenger checking for this sort of thing.They had a dry out farm in California which believe it or not was used extensively by major airlines including a few Canadian companies. It was not uncommon and I recall a few in some airlines I flew with especially if they were ex RAF or an airforce of whatever country.

Alan noticed this item in his local newspaper - Translated from our daily MERCURY NEWSPAPER 13th March 2011

PILOTS TACKLED
NEW DELI: Indian airlines authorities caught 57 pilots over the alcohol limit about to take to the cabin of passenger carrying jets over the past two years, but most had been cleared to fly again, media reported yesterday.

Only 11 of the pilots lost their jobs.The rest were handed varying punishments determined by their airlines, such as warning letters or a fine. To combat the rising number of inebriated pilots in Indian skies, authorities brought in a rule last year grounding first-time offenders for three months and stripping repeat offenders of their flying license.

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of the NetLetter, see you next week!
 
Sincerely,

Your NetLetter Team
 
First published in October, 1995
  • Chief Pilot - Terry Baker, Nanaimo, B.C.
  • Co-pilot - Alan Rust, Surrey, B.C.
  • Flight Engineer - Bill Rowsell, Londesboro, Ontario
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