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IATA Definitions
New up to date IATA definitions for all you airline or ex-airline peole out there. Learn 'em 'cos there will be a test later!!

* Full service carrier : Padded seats, no charge for use of toilets.
* Low cost carrier : Bring your own cushions and toilet paper, credit card swipe for toilets.
* Cabin attendant : Two legged mobile device for extracting cash from captive audience
* Economy class : Conditions under which transportation of animals would constitute a criminal offence.
* Business class : Exclusive area for use of badly behaved airline employees' children travelling on a pass.
* First class : Exclusive area for use of airline employees travelling on a pass.
* Open-Jaw : What clients do when they find out what their fare will be.
* Double open jaw : As above, but when they realise that this did not include taxes and surcharges
* Passenger: Cargo that talks. Self-loading freight.
* Airline Club Lounge : Paradise-like kingdom guarded by dragon-like creatures.
* Fog: Weather condition, invisible to normal people, generated by airportsand airlines as an excuse for disruptions.
* NO REC : The passenger went online and booked his own flight.
* Direct Flight : 1) Connecting flight in disguise. 2) What self-loading freight (see above) think a non-stop flight is.
* In-flight Snacks : Little treats sealed in a bag impervious to all but chainsaws. Guaranteed to spill when opened.
* Baggage Sorting Area : See "Bermuda Triangle."
* Codeshare: Magic trick in which aircraft from several different airlines leave from the same gate at the very same moment to fly the identical route.
* Gate Announcement: Vital information delivered over a defective sound system and given by specially selected personnel with severe speech impediments and an inability to speak any language known to mankind.
* Blankets and Pillows (archaic): Sleep-inducing objects said to have existed in primitive times.
* Minimum Connecting Time: Time it takes for an Olympic gold medal sprinter to run between two gates.
* Hotel/Car Rental Shuttle: Vehicle subject to paranormal effect. While waiting, every van will come by multiple times -- except yours.
* Overhead Luggage : Rectangular object expected to magically shrink from the size of a refrigerator to the size of a loaf of bread.
* Frequent-flyer Programs: Airline's term for Pandora's box.
* ARUNK: Sound passenger makes when sitting between two very large people.
* On Time Arrival : Obscure term, meaning unknown.
* On Time Departure : Cabin doors closed within 15 minutes of scheduled departure. Subsequent delays irrelevant.
* Unforeseen circumstances : the Captain got lucky last night and overslept.
* Legroom : Small space which shrinks during flight and into which an amputee dwarf would have difficulty fitting his non existent legs.
* "We will be landing shortly, and the captain has switched on the seatbelt signs. Please return to your seats to their locked and upright positions and fasten seat belts" ...... Understood by passengers to mean "leap up and start pulling luggage out of overhead bins whilst aircraft is on final approach in turbulent conditions."
* "Please remain seated until we have come to a complete stop at the gate and the Captain has turned off the seat belt sign." Understood by passengers as "Jump up and stand like sheep in the aisle pushing towards the exit doors which are still closed.."
 

February 1983
Pacific Western Airlines and Wardair Canada reached an agreement for travel between Canada and Europe. Effective May 1, PWA passengers would be able to purchase one ticket and travel to Europe on Wardair Canada without re-checking luggage.

August 2008 - The Airline Business

Once you get hooked on the airline business, it's worse than dope.
Ed Acker, while Chairman of Air Florida

These days no one can make money on the goddamn airline business. The 
economics represent sheer hell.
C. R. Smith, President of American Airlines.

A recession is when you have to tighten your belt; depression is when you have no belt to tighten. When you've lost your trousers - you're in the airline business.
Sir Adam Thomson

If the Wright brothers were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.
Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines, ' USA Today,' 8 June 1994.

This is a nasty, rotten business.
Robert L. Crandall, CEO & President of American Airlines.

The thing I miss about Air Force One is they don't lose my luggage.
President George Bush Sr.

You fucking academic eggheads! You don't know shit. You can't deregulate this 
industry. You're going to wreck it. You don't know a goddamn thing!
Robert L. Crandall, CEO American Airlines, addressing a Senate lawyer prior 
to airline deregulation, 1977.

No one expects Braniff to go broke. No major U.S. carrier ever has.
The Wall Street Journal, 30 July 1980.

If we went into the funeral business, people would stop dying.
Martin R. Shugrue, Vice-chairman Pan Am.

Ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. 
All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going 
again. I trust you are not in too much distress.
Captain Eric Moody, British Airways, passenger PA after flying through 
volcanic ash in a B-747.

The greatest sin of airline management of the last 22 years is to say, "Its 
all labors fault."
Donald Carty, Chairman and CEO American Airlines, 12 August 2002.

If the pilots were in charge, Columbus would still be in port. They believe 
the assertion that the world is flat.
Robert L. Crandall, 1993.

Think and act big and grow smaller, or think and act small and grow bigger.
Herb Kelleher

That place runs on Herb Kelleher's bullshit.
Robert W. Baker, VP American Airlines, regards Southwest Airlines.

There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you 
have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people who do.
Henry Kissinger

There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror.
Orson Welles, interview to celebrate his 70th birthday, 'The Times,' 6 May 
1985.

To me, an airplane is a great place to diet.
Wolfgang Puck

Airplane travel is nature's way of making you look like your passport photo.
Vice President Albert Gore.

I mean, they get paid an awful lot of money. The only good thing about them 
is they can't work after they're 60.
Judge Prudence Carter Beatty, New York Southern District Bankruptcy Court, 
regards Delta Air Lines pilots. Reported in The Wall Street Journal, 18 November 
2005

Told to me by a pilot: "We don't get paid for what we do, we get paid for what we know."

Feb 2008
In May 1970, Pacific Western Airlines took over the routes in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Cranbrook.  A document of that vintage can be seen here.

Neil Burton with the collaboration of  Capt R. Reaville (retired) submitted an interesting story about the first operations of a DH Twin Otter that made its inaugural trip into Mica Creek, BC.  Capt Reaville (then BC Airlines) was at the controls.

Kamloops Daily Sentinel Reporter - 18 July 1968.by Mike Rimmer  
"Suddenly, there it is ....a 20 mile slash of civilization in the midst of a wilderness which closes in on the rock-flour colouration of the Columbia River. For 15 minutes a new DeHavilland DHC-6 owned by B.C. Airlines, has followed the winding river. The flight from Kamloops has been less than an hour's duration.
 
Now photographers press to windows unobstructed by struts or wings, searching for the best shots of Mica City.  Mica City, a town where there is no unemployment; a town where interest focuses upon a 3,000 yard stretch located eight miles upstream.  The town has been carved out of the wilderness since 1965 to serve 2,000 workers on the Mica Dam, third and last of the Columbia Treaty dams.
 
The Twin Otter makes one pass over Mica City before proceeding 17 miles upstream to a crude, gravel landing strip. Enroute it passes over the 3,000 yard stretch towards which all efforts are directed. Safe behind an up and downstream cofferdam, men and machines are scraping the river bed to bedrock."

A Poem by Dennis Currie

On the retirement of Captain Lee Russell I submit this story. Lee was one of the great check pilots, as Captain Jack Magel once said, ‘Lee was a lifesaver in a sea of assholes.’ Thanks Lee.

AIRPORT IV (the Simulator)

The 737 simulator is not everyone's favorite airplane
It doesn't exactly fly like the jet
When you first get in its usually cold and clammy
Though after 20 minutes you're hot, and probably slightly wet

Gordy McLeod, he’s my Ace Captain
I'm in the right seat putting out fires
Lee Russell is ATC, mechanic, flight attendant and that furry little gremlin
He's a busy guy, but not as busy as us fliers

After the briefing we're off to Kamloops
With a controllable APU fire while we're still on the ground
Lee, our mechanic, fixes it quickly
Then we blast off with semi-realistic sound

On the climbout not many gremlins
Just a wheel well fire and an overheated duct
Then level, where Lee the check pilot, hands Gordy a piece of paper
But Gordy, the bastard, won't let me see it and I know that I'm fucked

Then BOOM, there's a WHOOSH, we've lost pressurization
As my Captain slumps lifeless over the wheel
I don my mask as I drive the airplane
Down towards earth and I do the whole spiel

Passenger Oxygen, Seat Belts, Ignitors
Thrust off, Speed Brake, roll her into a steep descent
Call Lee at ATC, advise Lord Lee at Lloyds of London
Look out below 'cause we are hell bent

Down to 14,000 feet where there's air for breathing
Ring for the purser, “is the Captain alive
Recline his seat, Lee, what's his seniority number”
Sort of half cheers you up, when one of those senior guys dies

I say to Lee, remember he's the purser
“If Gordy is dead, then get him out of the seat
And Lee, get me a flight attendant”, I hope one that's pretty
Remember Karen Black in the movie, she really was neat

So Lee says, "Are you sure, okay Dennis; Gordy you're a flight attendant"
Gordy bursts out "I'm George, Wow, this is grand
Gee Dennis, thanks for inviting me up to the cockpit
There sure is lots of dials, hey, who's in command?"
They could not have had this planned

Now don't get me wrong, I do like George
But as help in the cockpit, he would not be the best
And Gordy's impersonation has Lee and I laughing
So hard I've almost forgotten that this is a test

"George sit on your hands", I yell through the laughter
"No, don't touch that gear handle and don't say a word"
I've just barely stopped a self made disaster
Instead of a dead Captain, now I've got a nerd

In ‘real’ time we're still on our way into Kamloops
The roof has blown off, but at least George is restrained
Call Lee in the tower for the ambulance and the fire trucks 
Doing all the checks the way that we're trained

The rest of that leg really went with no problem
I had flown with Gordy enough know how to fly the jet alone
Just an unpressurized, slow descent down into Kamloops
I had to listen to Lee politely go on in a ‘don’t try that again’ debriefing 
Gordy laughing, 
Then sadly, we had to go home

Captain Gordy McLeod
Check Pilot Captain Lee Russell
First Officer Dennis Currie
1989 YVR
 

PWA Will Fly in Hydro Area. Vancouver (Canadian Press) Oct 10, 1957
Pacific Western Airlines has been authorized to open the first air services to the Rocky Mountain Trench area where the Wenner-Gren interests plan a vast hydro scheme.
The airline said Wednesday it has received permission from the air transport board to set up bases at Fort McLeod and Fort St. John and to run an irregular passenger freight and mail service from Prince George into the area. 
Points to be served include Fort McLeod, Finlay Forks, Fort Graham and Fort Ware.  PWA has done contract flying for the Wenner-Gren explorations.

1958 Annual Report 
See the attached PDF Adobe Acrobat document on changes to the Corporate structure and the appointment of the President Karl Springer.  Also you may want to read about a sale of the airline few of us know about.  There is also a notice on the passing of Mr. Springer at age 91. Mr Springer also had 2 aircraft registered in his name.                     (contributed by N Burton)

CF-BMR - Cessna T-50 Crane
May 2, 1946 - K.J. Springer, Toronto
Nov 25, 1947 - Central B.C. Airways, Ltd. - Prince George
Jun 24, 1948 - Damaged Beyond Repair at Giscome, B.C.

CF-BMS - Cessna T-50 Crane
May 2, 1946 - K.J. Springer, Toronto
Apr 17, 1948 - Central B.C. Airways, Ltd. - Prince George
Jun 29, 1948 - Withdrawn from use. 
                                          

Poems
We  have so many gifted people and this page is dedicated to Capt. Dennis Currie who has written many poems about the airline over the years.  He has had his work published in several aviation magazines.  He has truly captured many of those magic moments of our past.  Thank you Dennis

Here are two :  More will be added in the near future.

SUMMER IN KAMLOOPS   

Chuck and I standing in front of a blue jet in Kamloops
Comparing the difference in each of its sides 
It was 746, the Pratt and Whitney engines
Spun in the warm breeze, slung low to each side

Chuck’s side had the main door and the marvelous airstair 
My side had the freight doors and the APU fin
His left air compressor ran, dripping water 
On the right, the last baggage was just going in

Then out of the terminal came long legged Lynda
No lie, she was the girl of your dreams  
She walked up to us and to our elation 
Spoke very kindly, her eyes were agleam

As she climbed up the stairs of our shining spaceship
The Captain called, `steady', perhaps to himself  
But we no longer compared the sides of our rocket 
We just stood there in silence, amazed at our wealth

Lynda Barendregt 
Capt Chuck Reichert  

746 C-GJPW

THE CRASH AXE GEAR CREW
for Ron Henderson
RESOLUTE Over RESOLUTE BAY

We're on short final, runway 17, Resolute Bay
The right forward main wheel is half out of the well
Our Hercules is almost out of fuel, so we're forced to land
The last two hours have been a cold hell

A 10,000 pound chain is wrapped around the right front gear leg 
Gripped by a chain clamp Ron Henderson tightened by hand
I've just buckled in, Ron is nervously fastening his seat belt
The whole town is out to watch us, as we come in to land 

My arms still vibrate from chopping at the u-joint
While we endeavored to free the forward right gear 
With the arctic wind roaring in through the hole in the bulkhead
We were too cold and busy to get lost in the fear

This Herc has no wrenches to disconnect the jammed gear legs
Not heavy enough chain to tie even one leg in
We did the best that we could with the crash axe
As we circled Resolute, our options and fuel ran thin

Bert Copping has kept us flying on the two inboard engines
The hour of gas we had aboard, has lasted over two
Ron Forbes and I chopped at bolts with Ron Henderson
Wishing we had just a few simple tools

The left mains and nose gear thumped down just like always
But both the right Dunlops hung up in their bay
We half freed the front one, chained it to the Barber diesel tank
Its barely below the gear doors, this isn't our day

God, what will happen when we touch that ice runway
With no sparks or kerosene, we probably won't burn
If that thin chain breaks, it'll tear out the gear tracks
Could Nancy cartwheel or will she just gently turn

The end is unfolding, our fate lays before us
A Twilight Zone lit, by the cold midnight sun
Each of us alone in our thoughts for this moment
But we are here as a crew, together, as one

Capt. Bert Copping
F/O Ron Forbes
S/O Dennis Currie
Loadmaster Ron Henderson
C130 CF-PWN 382 ‘Nancy’
April 23 1974