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Since October 1995, Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker have been issuing an email newsletter for those ex Air Canada types who have provided us with their email addresses. The Newsletter was created by Vesta, who gave the name 'NetLetter' and added 'Between Ourselves' - a TCA periodical with which you are probably familiar with from the 50's and 60's. It was then changed to "Between Yourselves" to avoid confusion when "Horizons" resurrected the name. Then finally simplified to just "The NetLetter".

We believe that our NetLetter, which originates from Vancouver Island, was the FIRST to use this medium to disperse information for retirees of Air Canada.

The NetLetter contains airline related information such as anecdotes or stories supplied by some of the recipients, Internet tips, travel news, cheap... excuse me, "inexpensive" accommodations, tours, interline travel, and, in some small way, we help keep our Air Canada family together and in touch.

Our 'NetLetter' is NOT sponsored by any Pionair group, nor are we seeking any financial support, only the Internet email addresses of those who would like to receive our 'NetLetter'. Please forward this to other retirees who can then subscribe right from the forwarded link at the bottom of this email.

Welcome to the 951st issue of "NetLetter". We now estimate that the NetLetter is read by over 2738 retirees when counting our email distribution and those that print the NetLetter and give them out to their friends.

The "NetLetter" is written by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker from Vancouver Island (see sidebar) and published courtesy of the ACFamily Network at www.acfamily.net

From the Saskatoon Airport News - 75th year edition

July 1947
Trans-Canada Air Lines a forerunner of Air Canada begins scheduled passenger service to Saskatoon using a DC-3 aircraft. This service initiated the first direct, daily, scheduled commercial passenger and mail service. Saskatoon is linked with transcontinental flights between Toronto and Vancouver.

1950
• Trans-Canada Air Lines introduces the four-engine Canadair North Star to its Saskatoon service.

Sept 1955
• A new air terminal building opens, after a year of intensive construction and improvements. Trans- Canada Air Lines begins serving Saskatoon with the Vickers Viscount, a four-engine turboprop aircraft.

1967
• Is Canada's centennial year. Air Canada introduces DC-9 jet service to Saskatoon, gradually replacing Viscounts.

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the first two of 19 777-300ERs and has not ruled out orders for the 777-200LR and possibly the 747-8.

From: Edna < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >
Subject: SERVICE PINS
I'm the widow of a retired Air Canada employee - M.L.Rachuk, who joined TCA on October 1, 1946 and retired in 1983. I have a handful of his service pins and just wondered if there was somewhere I could donate them. I'd appreciate any information you could give me.

I thoroughly enjoy the NetLetter and appreciate the effort put into turning these informative emails out. I think it is a job very well done and certainly enjoyable.

Edna Rachuk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Shirlee Schacter sends this report from the Friends of Front Street annual get together. This was for for former Computer & Systems Services (C&SS) Alumni

Dear FoFS Member -
A good time was had by all at the 5th annual "Friends of Front St." (FoFS) Reunion Luncheon on Sun. Oct. 29th, 2006. General consensus among the 80 people in attendance was that the early-up to October was better overall. The weather can pretty well be counted on to comply and the snowbirds haven't started to head South yet. Looks like we can look forward to a repeat of an Oct. date for next year's get-together.
Here’s the link to the FoFS Photos Website where you can view the happy faces of those who attended. Simply click on this link to go to the album: http://imageevent.com/fofs/fofsreunions

The above link will take you to thumbnails of all 6 albums and just double-click on the top one for the current album.
If you then click on the “Show All” option at the top right of the screen you will receive the full display of pictures without having to click "next" to go to the next page. Then, by just double-clicking on any photo you can enlarge it. The very last photo will initiate a video clip.
Another option to viewing is “Start Slideshow” at the top left of the screen which will display the pictures in the larger format automatically. You can adjust the viewing time once the show starts.
Also note that you can choose to “Sign the guestbook” and enter comments with that option shown at the top of the screen display.
If the above link didn't take you to the site, copy and paste it into your web browser's location bar. Still not working? Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text16545 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
You can also order prints.
Credit to Bob Newson for the digital photos he so diligently took and added to the FoFS Website, and to James Bacchiocchi for the wonderful video clip complete with sound.

Regards, ShirLee < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

Fred Peddar sends this report by JAMES WALLACE P-I AEROSPACE REPORTER
Steven Halinen was supposed to be in college Wednesday, but instead he abandoned his classes to watch what will soon be the world's biggest commercial jetliner make a quick stop at the Vancouver International Airport.

"Wow, it's gorgeous," Halinen, 22, said as he stood in snow and bitterly cold morning temperatures when the big Airbus A380 taxied past him after landing at 7:32 a.m.

Dawn was just breaking over the airport as the double-decker jet, which will typically seat about 100 more passengers than a 747, approached from the north after a flight across the Pacific from Sydney, Australia.
"Oh my, just look at that thing. It's huge," Halinen said.
The plane was due to depart Vancouver at 4:30 p.m. for its return via the North Pole to the Airbus headquarters of Toulouse, France.
It stopped in Vancouver as part of a series of technical route-proving flights, the final process in a long test flight program that is required before a new jetliner receives a critical airworthiness certificate and is allowed to carry paying passengers for airlines.

Note: - Over 80 photos of the A380 in YVR can be seen by visiting http://picasaweb.google.com/acfamilynet (as posted on the ACFamily Network on Nov 30, 2006)

Visiting Amsterdam?

The "I amsterdam card" (previously known as the 'Amsterdam pass') is a product Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board. The card comprises a transportation ticket, a chip card (for free admission to the museums and a book guide (a voucher booklet for discounts at restaurants and tourist attractions). The information is in Dutch, English, French and German. The "I amsterdam card" is available at all local tourist information offices.

The Amsterdam card is your entrance ticket to a long list of Amsterdam museums, city's attractions and all buses, trams and metro in Amsterdam. Please note, train tickets to and from the airport are not included in the product.

There are three different Amsterdam card types available, and starts to expire since the first use:
24 hours (EUR 31)
48 hours (EUR 41)
72 hours (EUR 51)


With the Amsterdam pass you:
* can use all public transport in Amsterdam,
* can enter many attractions and museums for free,
* get a free canal boat tour,
* get many discounts
The card can be purchased in every Amsterdam tourist office, for more information please visit the homepage: www.iamsterdamcard.com

Overheard in the vicinity of Buchanan tower in Concord, Calif.:

Cessna: "Buchanan tower, this is Cessna One Two Three, seven south of Buchanan, 2000 feet, request transit, northbound."
Tower: "Cessna One Two Three, transition approved. Report clear."
Half minute pause, and then: "Tower, this is Cessna One Two Three; where is Clear?"

Order now for Christmas Gift giving!

Enjoy this visual display of Air Canada’s historic fleet from its beginning in 1937 to the present including aircraft from:
- Trans-Canada Air Lines
- Canadian Airlines
- Pacific Western
- Eastern Provincial
- Nordair
- Transair
- Wardair

This 68 x 96 cm (27 x 38 inch) poster is printed in full colour on high quality paper and depicts over 300 aircraft and liveries flown by Air Canada throughout its history.

The cost of the poster is $24.99 plus tax and shipping where applicable. This is a great gift for Christmas, reunions, retirements and birthday gifts, etc.

A donation is made to Dreams Take Flight for each poster that is sold. Any other profits support the operation of the ACFamily Network which brings you this newsletter.

The hosting and mailing of the NetLetter as well as the conversion to HTML format is provided compliments of the ACFamily Network and Nerds On Site. Content is researched and submitted by Vesta Stevenson and Terry Baker. Thank you for letting us into your homes!

Important reminder, for all new articles, submissions and or comments for the "The Netletter" please send to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text66811 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Please add to your Address Books).

This e-mail address has been set up so that both of us Terry & Vesta (exclusively) will get an automatic copy and so we can keep up with the continuity of news for the NetLetter.

The archives of the NetLetter are kept on the ACFamily Network Forums area. They are in plain text format so you can print them from there if desired. If you are not a member of the ACFamily Network yet, we encourage you to join us there. Non members can Register here. (It's Free!)