The NetLetter
 For Air Canada Retirees

 (part of the ACFamily Network)

 

April 2, 2011 - Issue 1159
First Issue published in October 1995!
(over 5,400 subscribers)
In This Issue
CAHS Upcoming Events
Pionair Meetings and Events
ACRA Upcoming Events
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
Odds & Ends
Terry's Trivia
Smileys
Web Site Information

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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

British Columbia ChapterVancouver Chapter
Date:
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 at the monthly meeting of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, on Thursday April 21.  His topic will be  Wheeler Airlines, 1952-57.  Meeting starts at 11:00 AM and is  at the Royal Canadian Legion, 365 St. Louis Ave., in Pointe Claire.  Voluntary contribution of $5.00 is requested to cover the light lunch provided.  Anyone interested in the history of civil or military aviation is welcome.  For further information call 514-481-8786.


Ottawa ChapterOttawa Chapter

Date: April 28, 2011
Time: 1930 hrs

Guest Speaker: TBA


Toronto ChapterToronto Chapter

Special 3rd Annual Dinner Meeting 

Date: April 9, 2011

Time: 1830 hrs
Topic: "The BCATP Story - "The Aerodrome of Democracy"

Guest Speaker: Author & Historian, Ted Barris


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 System Golf
ACRA  LogoRetirees Welcome!

Steve Kerwin, organizer for the annual ACRA System Golf Event has found a venue with outstanding value for this years event. 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)

Our first 70 years - Compiled by Terry Baker
Trans-Canada Air Lines/Air Canada1973 - April 28 - Final Vickers Viscount flight YVR-YYJ route.
Air Canada Related News - Compiled by Terry Baker

Air Canada NewsDue to the lack of public enthusiasm, the following services are being cut effective May 1st, 2011, Ottawa - Thunder Bay, Ottawa - Dulles in Washington, Montreal - Dulles in Washington, Calgary - London, ON, Calgary - San Francisco.

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.
dc8interiorA DC-8 interior - 1960.
dc8firstclassFirst class dining in a DC-8.
1011interiorL1011 interior at 37,000 feet.
inflight1955 In-flight service in 1955.
northstarinteriorAnd from the NetLetter archives, so you have something to compare how things have changed  -
North Star interior.
l10ainteriorL10A Electra interior.
lancasterThe converted Lancaster bomber carried 10 passengers. Average time between YUL-PWK 12 hours.
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 "Between Ourselves" magazine
stationservicesMore than 2000 man-hours of instruction was given last year by station services in a variety of courses conducted by six training assistants. This group has recently completed a course in Montreal for billers. They are, front row, from left: M. Ethier and C Taylor, Montreal (Atlantic); R. F. McDonald, Victoria; and J. Stock, Toronto. Bock row: G. L. Barber, supervisor of training, station services, Montreal; H. Medensky, Toronto; R. Lahey, Winnipeg; F. A. Prier, Vancouver; and Craig Butters, Montreal, training instructor of this class.
presentationPresentation to mayor N. Phillips of the First ticket purchased in the newly renovated Bay Street ticket office in Toronto is made by J. A. Northey, a TCA director. Passenger agents from the left are: Pat Ford, Marion Aitken, Carol Martyn, Pat Price, Chris Fisher and Mary Ellen Strath.

Issue dated - April 1955
basicpaTHIS GROUP OF 17 represents another graduation class of basic PA (TEL) and will be added to staffs in reservations offices. Back row from left: R. J. Warren (Instructor), G. MacNeil (XF), C. Shields (YZ), F. Powers (OW), R. Fournier (NY), R. Legault (UL). Middle row: Miss C. Ellis (NY), W. Vauthier (UL), Miss B. McCready (YZ), Miss S. Jay (QM),
H. Fennell (NY), T. Cahill (NY), Miss P. McArthur (CV). Front row: Miss G. Rickard (YZ), Miss R. Bolte (NY), Miss M. Heffelfinger (NY), Miss J. Gray (CV), Miss B. Rish (CV).
lhrstaffTHIRTEEN IS NOT AN unlucky number as far as this group from Heathrow (LHR) is concerned. These people represent Operatoins, part of the team of a recent Air Freight "sale of the month' team. From left they are: G. Wallis, L. Barrett, J. Nye, A. Lake, B. Johnson, P. Clarke, C. Lima, J. Baker, B. Baldwin, George Rogers, A. Murray, J. Armstrong and B. Lewis.
(Your chief pilot recognizes most of these people as he worked at LHR in the 60's - eds)

Issue dated - May 15 1973
Extract from the "Horizons" magazine -

lastflightThe affectionate "pat" Lucy Beaudry gave the Viscount on its final day of Vancouver - Victoria service is well deserved.


Victoria District Manager Stan Mooney estimates the turboprop workhorse has carried some three million passengers in its 12 years on the run. It replaced the venerable DC-3 on that route in 1961. And now the remaining propeller-driven aircraft in the fleet has given way to the DC-9 Flight 195 on April 28 was the final Vancouver - Victoria Viscount operation, and the turn-around (Flight 196) was the final in the other direction. Captain Trevor Bolitho commanded the final flight, with Stan Hockley in Flight Service Supervisor stewardess.

leisuretourKicking off the summer leisure tour program at Chicago, Dick Sebring, Reservations Manager, shows Passenger Agents, from the left: Phillip Collins, Patrick O'Connor, Anne Marie Black and Susan Mullen some of the prizes available in the
Sales Incentive Contest.

Issue dated - May 2 1973
acrachampsThe Montreal Air Canada Recreation Association (ACRA) Broomball championship was a fight to the finish. Teams from Place Ville Marie and Dorval Stores battled out a two-game total goal series with PVM winning the first game and Stores losing the second by one goal to put PVM on top by a score of 5-3. The new 1973 champions are, from the left, front
row: Daniel Bleau, Germano Starnino, Gary Johansson, Mike Brennan, Jim Evans, and Gerry Schreindorfer. Back row, from the left: Eric Wheeler, Hans Kuyper, John Fox, Gary Rust, Kevin Mimee, Graham Hamilton, Gary Sams, Bob Blake, John Kerr, and Art Ainscow. Dan Murphy is missing from the photo.
Alan's Space - by Alan Rust
Alan's Space
Alan Rust
Our April Fools Edition went over fairly well and we received the following feedback...

- Thanks to the entire team for 'making my day' with the Apr. 1st special issue of The NetLetter.
I always enjoy reading the NetLetter but really appreciated todays issue - nice job!!!!! Keep up the great work!! - Dave Becker
  
- Well done team, keep up the good work. - Rick Humphrys
 
- Congratulations. It's hard enough to smile before 8 am most days, but your April Fool's issue even got a couple of chuckles and a loud guffaw out of me. Thanks. - Jim Jardine

 

- Very clever Netletter today.  We really enjoyed it.  Vesta would be proud!! 
Diane and David Bellamy, Brodhead, Wis


- Just what the doctor ordered!!  We need  some humour big time because the nasty way the federal election is running it is a breath of fresh to read today's newsletter!! Thank you so much!!  But please tell everyone to get out and vote in the next letter. We need a clear mandated government (of whoever you choose) but just no coalition type again - majority is needed. So many elections are so costly!!  Jay

 

- Dear Netletter Team: Loved your April 1st issue, gave me a much needed laugh, keep up the great work! - J. Hunter

 

- Hello  Folks! ... Thanks for starting my day with a big smile and many a laff! :)  :)
Karen  Carson - Canadian / Air Canada - Retired

 

- Really enjoyed reading your "Special" newsletter - Roy Miles.

 

- Ha Ha, very nicely done! Love the Gmail news...... Pauline James
(for a complete list of Google April Fool Jokes from 2000 follow this link)


One of the best April Fools jokes came from WestJet (you know, the other airline). It received quite a bit of news coverage, so I imagine most of you have seen it, but if not, here it is below. It's well worth watching!

WestJet April Fools Joke
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.
Issue dated - October 1997
Extracted from "Canadia>n Flyer" magazine -
yhzbbqEnjoying the fare at the YHZ airport bbq and Corn boil in August (L to R) B Scott, Sandy Sweet, Claude Veniot, Gild Rornanelli, Ralph MacDonald, Mike Wolthers, John Worsley, Don Hippern, Anne Hawco, Roger Harmon,, Dennis Hartham, Mike Ryan, Rick Gaudet, Gloria Belec, Heather Hartford. Kneeling and taking a well-deserved  rest is cook, Tim Bryne.
yxtstaffTerrace (YXT) employees raised $1,400 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation this summer in the annud Big Bike Race. Customer service agents, ramp handlers and their spouses raised a minimum of $60 each Top fundraiser was Anna Blazosek, who raised $450 The team included Customer Service Agents Donna Folmer, Yvonne Workman, Diane Moroskat, Jacquie Terpstra, Doreen Goodwin, Debbie Minhinnik, Anna Blazosek and team organizer, Gail Morrison. IAM members are Jutta Smeltzer, Ernie Hidber, Jason Ellis, Andrew Simpson and Norm Stack

Ken Bjorge sends us this url - Canadian Airlines tribute
Hi---Thought you might like to see this. Beautifully done, Gone but not forgotten!!! 

Check out this video on YouTube (click on image)
 

CAI Tribute

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.

Grant Wilson from Dubai sends this response to the article in Alan's Space NetLetter nr 1155 -
Interesting to see your: Middle East Map Quiz.
It came into me a few weeks ago from a Kiwi, did pretty well except I got 2 of the 'Stan's mixed up.

Anyway, the really interesting item is the overview map & the label "Persian Gulf".  Where I am living, Dubai, it is never referred to as anything more than "The Gulf".  And I know that there have been a long-standing feud going on over this, complete with UN Resolutions.

More interesting, is that recently I came across a PR from somewhere on the subject of Canadians now requiring a Visa for the UAE.  The PR was by the Liberal Opposition Deputy Leader, Ron Goodale & he was arguing that the Government had badly mis-handled this file "blah-blah-blah" as Opposition parties do in Canada but he made reference to the "Persian Gulf".

So there were no points gained in the PR if anyone of importance from the UAE was reading the Canadian papers that day & I can only imagine that Mr.Goodale's speech writer comes from the other side of "The Gulf".  And I assume that your Quiz comes from there as well! Brgds, LGW L. Grant Wilson Dubai, UAE.

newyorkstaff
Conrad Karsen
has sent us this information identifying some of the people in this photo which we published in NetLetter nr 1157.
Hi Guys, you are doing a great job with the Netletter
Left to right: Christine Pearson, Nancy Trentadue, unknown, Baldwin, Rhanda Spotten, Madelaine Zaino, Valerie Ravenhill, unknown, unknown.


Conrad Karsen

Odds & Ends - Compiled by Terry Baker
 
Odds & EndsSometimes we receive articles and information that just doesn't fit in our other areas. This is where it goes!

DUTCH CARRIER KLM Royal Dutch Airlines says it Is the first major air line to add a flight to its schedule following a bet on the social media website Twitter.
  
In 2011 the Ultra Music Festival was held from March 25 to 27 in Miami Florida and KLM offered to add a non-stop service from Amsterdam to Miami especially for the Dutch Dance Industry, if enough bids were made on the Internet from the Twitter request. Amazingly, the flight was filled within five hours, with 351 reservations."Its why we took on bet" said Martijn van der Zee Vice President of E-Commerce at KLM. We can rightly call it a first-the first time KLM will deploy an aircraft following a request on Twitter- Social media.
Terry's Trivia and Travel Tips - by Terry Baker
Terry Baker
Terry Baker
The UK government decided not to replace the country's current Air Passenger Duty with a "per plane duty," and it froze the APD at current levels, delaying the planned increase for a year. It also dropped plans to impose the tax on transit and transfer passengers.
 

 

 

 

 

Mike Horan in Ireland sends you the following,

RyanAir take note . . .  (Click on image for video) 

 

Cheap Flights


 

Trish & Chris Arbique send details of these offers -
The website is www.StarTrips.com
Title: Motor home TRANSFERMANIA!
This special starts March 24th right through to the end of May 2011.
Choose from any of the following three offerings and get a jump on Spring!

Vancouver to Calgary and the wonders of the Canadian Rockies in the Springtime.
Package offerings are Truck & Campers and 29' and 30' Class C motor homes.
Includes, 7 days, 1,200 kilometers, preparation fees, bedding (kits) and CDR insurance!
All for just $99.00 plus applicable taxes. 

Vancouver or Calgary to the wonders of Whitehorse!
Package offerings are 20' and 24' Class C motor homes.
Includes 12 days, 3,000 kilometers, preparation fees, bedding (kits) and CDR insurance!
All for just $199.00 plus applicable taxes.

Halifax to Toronto.
Choose from a huge selection of various motor homes to tour from Halifax to Toronto.
Includes 10 days, 2,500 kilometers, preparation fees, bedding (kits) and CDR insurance!
All for just $99.00 plus applicable taxes.
 
Our second offering is for all Air Canada active and retired employees.
Trish and I operate the Destiny Beach Resort in Osoyoos, B.C. and we would like to offer the following special.
Title: Destiny Days @ Destiny Beach Resort Osoyoos.
The Destiny Beach Resort located in sunny Osoyoos is offering all retired and active employees the following special!
Book 3 nights get your 4th for FREE and $25.00 for gas!
View the offerings of this AC employee special here:  http://www.destinybeach.net/AC_Employee_Special.html  

P.S. This special link is not on the www.destinybeach.net website. The above link is the only way to view this special.

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.
 
notextingallowedBud Liversidge sent us this - No cell phone or texting, which is dangerous and against the law,
so this is a safer alternative.
cartoonHere is another Mathias cartoon from "Between Ourselves" magazine issued April 1955.

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
To contact us, send an email to [email protected]