I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for looking over my little homage to CP Air i hope it brought back some fond memories or interested you in some way. I'd also like to extend an invitation to you, to leave a comment here and maybe relate some personal memories or experiences you may have had with CP Air for everyone to read, especially if you happen to be a "Pionair".If you'd like to share the memory of CP Air, please help spread the word about this site and submit this site's link to any related aviation websites, forums or search engines and help keep the memories flying!
This picture of a CP Air 737 with a rainbow behind it, is somewhat of a famous photo amongst fans and employees of the airline and I'd thought i would share the photographer's memory of taking it. The picture was shot by Joe Muff and he writes:
"In August of 1979 i photographed a CP Air 737 in the orange livery, rolling off the active runway 31L and taxiing onto the ramp at Whitehorse Airport in the aftermath of a fairly violent rain squall. If memory serves me correctly, the 737 had to do a missed approach / go-around on its initial landing attempt due to excessive wind shear from the overhead cell.
At the time, this incident also delayed a prompt landing by our own smoke patrol aircraft, a small twin engine machine operated by Alkan Air under contract to Yukon Forestry, which was getting tossed around in that ugly cell upstairs and wanted to get the hell on to some firm ground as soon as possible.
I waded out onto the tarmac in a good 1/2" of standing rain water with my little 35mm Rollei camera and photographed a number of helicopters on the ramp and when the 737 came into perfect position i took this shot with Kodachrome 64 slide film.
Back in those days, a person could actually wander around the ramp without being immediately slapped into irons. The only place that was definitely off limits was the active runway."
The photograph, the best of several taken by Joe that day became so popular the rights to it were acquired by CP Air's Whitehorse office in June of 1985 and made available to employees for purchase.
72 comments:
It's good to see these memories kept alive. Thanks for putting this up for all to visit
Thank you for the romp through CPAir history. You may know that there was a DC-3 in the orange colours which was used for new pilot evaluation in the '70s and which appeared in some newspaper ads of the era alongside the huge 747. Sorry, I don't have a picture but it would be an appropriate addition to your fine collection.
As a now retired CP pilot, I want to thank you for all the work you have done to put this page together. It brought a lump to my throat to see all those airplanes that I spent so many years flying. There was nothing after CP. The food was fabulous, the service was topnotch and the layovers in all those romantic places were to kill for. Things like 4 days in Lisbon, Amsterdam, Rome, Frankfurt, Prestwick, London, and even Manchester. Oh, I loved it.
What a walk down memory lane ... I joined Canadian Pacific at YYZAP in 1967 and still remember that first day in the CP Air uniform. As we walked (in a group) from the parking lot to the counter - going past the A.C. counter where they were all making fun of our tan slacks, green jacket & orange vest. At least we got rid of the hats. Thanks.
Surprised to find this site...my CP time was March 1969 thru 2003 and I have that DC3 in orange livery in front of a 747 at YVR on my wall and I will try to convince the owner of the original to post it....
Johnny - You may be "nerdy" for doing this but you've done a lot of CP Air people a great favour. Is there any way you can change the background colour to assist our "old eyes" ?
It would be great to take a look at a full CP Air Sched from, say, 1982.
Any chance of that?
Thanks so much for the lovely memories. Pictures are nice and sharp. Should'nt mark a guy for doing such a fine job (and much appreciated!) but in the first few paragraphs kindly note that the merge in 1987 resulted in Canadian Airlines International - not Can. Intn'l Airlines. Will try and get some more pix for you to add.
Really enjoyed your blog site. Worked with CP from 1970 thru 1987 at several different cities in Canada and abroad. Along with being a great airline, it was a great place to work. Thanks for this walk down memory lane.
John Gilchrist - YYZ
Those were the days my friend,
We thought they'd never end!
Thanks
Thanks for doing this. It was a lovely walk down memory lane, and brought tears to my eyes. Orange WAS beautiful. I joined CP in 1973 and went through all the changes til 2004. I feel I had the best of times in the airline business, in a time when 'service' was top of the list, and it was a joy to go to work. Thanks so much.
Bev B. YYZ and YVR
Thanks for doing the web page on CP Air. I was always proud to work for them, since they were very good to us employees and customers alike. One story we were all particularly proud of is the mystery of the cancelled flight 064 one morning. The flight normally operated Vancouver-Edmonton-Toronto-Montreal using a B727. One morning it was cancelled, with the only explanation given as "no aircraft available".
Later it came to light that a customer service agent had broken his neck in a swimming accident in The Virgin Islands. The local doctors were unable to do more than keep him stable, but the injuries were too bad for any commercial airline to risk accepting him as a passenger. So, CP Air cancelled flight 064, and flew the airplane from Vancouver to The Virgin Islands to get him. The flight held a medical team and some of the agent’s family. They returned him safely to Vancouver, where although confined to a wheelchair, he still lives.
The flight was done without public knowledge and fanfare, even the employees not involved had no idea what was going on. CP never issued any press releases at all, choosing not to capitalize of an obvious PR opportunity. Once word got out, you can imagine the pride we felt. Reader's Digest later published a story. There was much speculation as to the real motive behind this humanitarian act, and maybe some of it is true. But the bottom line is: we did it, and that person is alive today.
Thank you again for the memories.
Nice job with the site. I was with CP from 1985 until 1998 and it was a great company in which we all had a huge amount of pride. I'm at Alaska Airlines now and there are a lot of similarities in pride, culture and legacy (minus the awesome international network we had at CP)! Thanks for putting the site together for us all.
G. Saretsky (YVR & YYC Marketing)
Thanks Johnny
My time was 1969 thru 1993 with that PWA creation. YXT/YPR/YEG/YYZ
see if you can place faces to these
Ernie...put your hair under that wig now.
E...how come you are wearing 2 coats?
Harry..ice fog..what the hell is ice fog?
Darryl..quite making hair-lip announcements.
Dirk..she was my first...think I'll marry her.
Cpt.John...it's only blowing force 10..the ferry is operating on sked.
Arnold...you guys want any shrimp?
Tim...are sure that wedding gown wasn't tattle tale grey?
Karen...you should see what I did to get this fur coat.
Brian...Bah ! I didn't sign those O/T slips.
Harv...I'll just be over at Swiss Chalet..call if you need a key cut.
Case....they are out the doors...I'll be upstairs making phonecalls.
Erd...she was blocking the TV so I put her head through the door.
Cos...are those dancing shoes under your coveralls?
Pete...my uncle says PWA just bought CP...no way.
Len..is that a 100 or 200 series....oh shit!
TT...what's a HP and V
Pat and Bill...is that a dress or caftan ,dearie?
Rich...let's have that meeting at midnight.
Lou..who needs this crap..I want to be a schoolteacher.
Dom..what?let me check with John.
Deider...you did the right thing.
Tom...Hi guys.
Sylvana...Tony's on the phone.
dave...who taped my phone down?Why me?
Stan...99..back to you asshole.
Bob....he's working his way up to a white woman.
Dave...where's the Brown Cow?
Cpt.?...I'm not leaving...someone ate the bananas.
Load control...let's go out and watch that DC8 scrape it's tail.
Prepare to eat your OD-10.
GP...how about a reach around.
Bruce..lets have a meeting now before the 7am meeting then the 11am meeting before the 2pm meeting.
GD...the only good thing about Friday is that it's just that much closer to Monday.Wish I had spent more time at the office.
Rose...how do you stand that brother of yours?
Don...where's the Pepsi?
Blonde Bombshells...what's a counter stretcher?How do I collect a bucket of propwash?
D....I won't be coming in today...I can't cope.
Mr.D...the belt is broken..get a bagroom..any bagroom.
Ed...I can memorize that OAG.
Carol...I don't want any kids!
Mike..I want to live on a sailboat...for a week.
Commander..pass me the beer for my fruitloops.
got a million of them
Great Job.
I worked for CP Air from 1973 to 1979 at YVR. I'll put a link to this site from mine.
Gordon Dupont
System Safety Services
www.system-safety.com
Johnny,
Very nice job on the website. Thank you so much for taking the time to do it. I was hired into the back seat of the 747 in 1981 and loved every minute of my work until January 2000. I'm still there but the fun has gone. My Grandfather (Thomas "Buster" Brown) was one of the founding fathers of Canadian Pacific Airlines and it is a proud family heritage. My Dad spent 37 years at Air Canada... so the circle is now complete, as I've worked at both.
I will be back to view the site many more times. Thanks again
Chris Brown
Hello
My name is Mike and work for Qantas Airways now as a Flight Attendant. Had the pleasure of flying CP Air many times over the years. A great airline and sadly missed...could show Air Canada a thing or two. One query though, I had the extreme pleasure of living and working in YVR for two years in early 1980s for that great fun airline...Pacific Western Airline. Why is there never any mention of the fact that they existed and bought CP AIR to form Canadian. Its quite amazing as its never mentioned. Must say this is a fabulous effort and one that I have saved....love the ORANGE airline and is sadly missed
Cheers Mike Minogue
Thanks for the memories. I worked for CP Air and Canadian Airlines from 1973 to 2001 in YXY and YVR. Much like Avis, because we were number 2, we DID try harder, and we believed that the public did recognize the spirit of free enterprise at work while we flew. It was a great company with great people. The don't make'm like that today.
Don
Hi, I started working as an aircraft mechanic for CP Air in May 1981. The Vancouver operations centre was the pride of the company back then and a great place to work. There were always different events and promotions going on to keep things interesting and they didn't constantly push for profits above everything else! I still work in that building but how things have changed.. Thanks for bringing back some memories!
Congratulations for your efforts. Very well done.
I have been working for Air Canada for more than 35 years now and I always wished that I would have worked with CP Air and then Canadian Airlines. I liked the routes and the crews. I travelled on CP on a couple of occasions and I always was impressed with their crew members (F/A's). Today, although I am still with Air Canada, I have the extreme pleasure to work with some of the ex-CP Air and Canadian Airlines crews and they have not changed. They are still so professional, friendly , classy and it was a great plus to add them to Air Canada no matter what......
Again, congratulations for all your efforts. Grat job!
In the early seventies, Captain Ron Wood (recently deceased) was on the ground in Whitehorse on a turnaround with one of our B737's. We got word from the tower that a local pilot in a single engined aircraft was lost and getting low on fuel, trying to return to Whitehorse. Ron immediately delayed the departing flight and with just the first officer, a ground agent named Mike Dixon,(also sadly deceased) and himself took off to find the lost pilot. He flew the B737 around in circles for a while until he made contact with him. He then guided the young pilot back to Whitehorse and then brought the B737 in. The flight then operated, delayed. Once CP Air got wind of this escapade, there was hell to pay as you can imagine. Captain Wood was roasted over the coals for taking an aircraft without permission. What saved him, of course, is that CP Air and Ron Wood were the heroes of the decade in Whitehorse, as showing the true pioneer spirit and saving one of their own. CP Air chose to take no action with Captain Wood - a wise decision in my opinion. What was said to him behind closed doors is another thing, and Ron never said, to my knowledge. Anyone who worked with CP Air in British Columbia back in the early seventies will remember this story, and maybe even be able to correct or embellish it. It's one of my memories, and another reason why the former CP Air employees were always so loyal. We had good reason.
How proud and also sad when I was sent this page by a fellow ex CP agent. I miss our days of tight family like friendships, and was always proud to be a representative of this great airline.
Hello ...
I too am part of the worldwide airline family. I notice you did not reply to Mike Minogue reference the "merge" of PWA/CPAir.
I too have always thought it sad that other than former PWA folks, no one ever "admits" to the buyout of CP by PWA. I have no idea why. It saved a lot of jobs for a lot of folks for several years.
I enjoyed looking at your site and all the aircraft. Yes, Orange was beautiful; as were the colours of all the air carriers that made up Canadi>n Airlines International Ltd.
This site is a true link to my personal past as a CP Pilot and you have done a excellent service to all of the former CP Air employees.
Thank-you.
They used to say CP Air was a family affair, it was and I miss them all.
Don Honeywill CP Years 1972-1992
here are some more memory joggers:
attache...dictaphones and hard cover books...hmmmm..sounds like an idea!
Little Richard...I'll be at the Skyline if you need me.
Wease....I'll be with him...if my Lemon TR4 makes it that far.
Bugsy..quit twisting your hair and wake the hell up.
Ernie is on midnights in Dispatch
...oh..oh..
Whats Mel doing with Rotundo in the holding gate?
Pete..we better get out of the Empress Lounge before the cleaners get here.
Where's Ian...asleep over at Gate 42.
Bob..no Officer...I have no ID..I'm naked.
Dinner..who needs dinner..the Beef and Grog has great pupus.
CL..do you think there might be too much garlic in this?
YEG staff...careful that Mr S doesn't sneak up on you..the counters are much taller than he is.
TB..let's see YYZ-BUF..thats time for 4 Bloody Marys
Eastern..YYZ-SJU..gentlemen..we are OUT of alcohol.
do you want more?
I enjoyed your blog. It brings back great memories. I've been fascinated with jets since my childhood. On your display of the ticket, it brought back vivid memories. My parents moved us from Chile where we flew either the DC10-10 or DC 10-30. However, I remember seeing the words just below the cockpit, "Empress of Lima". So if the log you have on display is correct, then it was the DC10-10. Great memory lane. I have my passport being stapled with the airline and flight number. (May 31st, 1981). Good job on your blog and thanks.
AEC, Holbrook, MA
I truly enjoyed visting your site. I had the pleasure of flying CP Air several times and have always wondered about the airline's history. Now I know and I thank you for that. I am a tremendous fan of airline and aircraft history and always enjoy a walk down memory lane.
Thanks
Greg B Toronto
...from Dave W., ex-YQH, YUL, and YYZ.
What a superb website and marvellous idea! Keep up the good work.
Among my many reminiscences are the 4 great years spent at YQHAPCP (Watson Lake), where we had a maximum of 2 flts per day, within an hour of each other. If the flt was late we had 2 B737's on the ground at the same time, with only 3 or 4 agts performing all duties, including cargo and res. The OD-10 agt was kept hoppin', juggling 2 forms and taking calls from the Post Office, downline stations, etc. Under the able leadership of VVC, our on-time performance was amazing. With only a 5,000-foot runway we were often maxed out on hot days, with heavy cargo loads, hunter's dufflebags, hides, horns, guns, etc. plus summer vacation traffic. On these days, cons could not travel, even with empty seats.
Somewhere I have a picture of 2 A/C facing each other on the ground there. Will try to dig it up for you.
YUKON MEMORIES !
Awesome, greast that someone keeps the memory alive. Flown on:
DC8-63 YYZ YVR
737 YVR YXY
737 YPR YVR
D10 YYC YYZ
and Canadian Airlines
767 YYZ YYC
737 YYC YEG
Dash 8 YXU YYZ
The last Canadian Airlines flight i took was in Empress class. The best service ever. It was a 767 from LHR to YYZ. The merger to AC was already in progress. The "Goose" Logo was great however doesn't beat the Oranage and red.
Now I fly with the CP DC8 & DC10 on Flight Simulator only,
"Long live CP Air"
What a great collection of memories and memorablilia!
I hope that everyone is aware of the chance to get together in person in Calgary this summer to share stories and memories at the Canadian Reunion. The reunion will be held August 17 - 19 at the Roundup Centre - and everyone who ever worked for Canadian Airlines or one of the predessesor airlines is invited. The details can be found at: http://canadianpwareunion.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you there!
My Father joined CP Air(YYZ)in 1976 as an Electrician in the Building Maintence Dept. He stayed throught the merger with AC and retired in 2004. He was dianosed with Cancer a few months later. He loved the airline and would always reminisce about the good old days while we sat in the Chemo Clinic. He used to joke and say that he would of paid them to go to work! Our last couple of months were spent in the hospital and there was always his family from the airport at his side. Trevor Bickerstaffe passed away on the 23rd of April. I was speechless by the amount of people that came from CP/Canadi>n to pay their respects and to share their own individual stories with us. I feel very proud that my father was part of this great group of people.
Thank you very much for this wonderful tribute to the greatest airline ever.
Jonathan Bickerstaffe
soundguyjon@hotmail.com
Thank you for the path down memory lane, when airline work was really fun, pay & benefit decent and you usually get upgraded to the "real' first class. remember those? Real champagne in real glass? Everyone treated you with respect.......
I remembered the whole gang having a drink in the Empress Lounge after a particular tough day at the airport. Our supervisors opened the lounge for all the agents to relax. Those were the days.
Oh well, my time was 1979 to 2004. "Retired" with a buyout and full travel benefits. I missed the work, the people but not the Company.
Good luck to all that are still there.
Very nice tribute to CP Air.
On my first day with CP Air in 1973 I was walking to the Ops Centre to start my training as a passenger agent. It was foggy as YVR can often be on an early November morning. There was a sudden roar of jet engines and as I looked over towards the sound a beautiful orange B747 rose into the air out of the mist. For a young man about to start his new career the sight left an indelible impression about the company he was about to join. Awsome!
I retired from Air Canada in May 2006 and while most of my years in the industry were good my fondest memories are from 1973 to 1987, my Canadian Pacific years. CP Air, you may be gone, but you aren't forgotten.
Ken E
Some great memories. I worked for Canadian Pacific Airlines from early 1967 thru CP Air to Canadian then Air Canada and I can't say I'd find a better career anywhere. Retired in 2003 and though I'm glad I retired at that time I did I really miss the people I worked with. Dave H. YVRAPCP YVRFFCP YVRAPCP AND YVRAPAC. Love the stories and I remembered most when they happened.
I had the radio on and heard the song "Wrapped Around My Finger". This song always reminds me of flying to New Zealand back when I was a young teen. It was on the audio track on CP Air. Computer was right there so I thought hey why not look at a couple CP Air pics while the song played. Alas your site. Like many things on the net, it's many times bigger and better than I could ever have dreamed. Brought back the memories... even the soaps I would grab from the lavatory to take home. Thank you for making this moment for me.
I want to thank you for all the work you have done to put this page together. It brought a lump to my throat to see all those airplanes that I spent so many years flying. There was nothing after CP. Things like 4 days in Lisbon, Amsterdam, Rome, Frankfurt,London,etc...etc...etc... I strated in '79 YVR F/A and now I am in YYZ. I am retiring next year... if I was still with CP Air I would work until I would drop! was "good" to go to work! We were like family, treated with respect. Today we pass by our colleagues and we(they) turn their faces the other way!! I still have all my ties, hat emblems pens cards and recently was able to buy on Ebay a brand new "travelling bag" (White with the CP orange logo, I think from the 60's!
I will always remember CP Air!!
FM YYZ
Hi Johnny
Would be possible to create a place were we all could publish and share pics from the CP days? Would be interested to see pics from layovers etc...
Thank you for your wonderfull work keeping such a wonderfull "dream" alive!
FM YYZ
Joined CP Air in 1971 thru to October '85 it was the best job, the best organization and the best friends I ever had. Albeit in Sales it was such a glamourous job to hold and I still even after all these years miss it. I owe so much to CP, I learnt about life and the big outdoors and it helped me grow up, all of my non airline friends envied me, the world was my oyster. Thank you CP
Claudina Rosa was born during a C.P Air flight in 1975 , and her delivery was attended by my grandmother Rosa Vascope. Unfortunately she past away 2 weeks ago and I don't know how contact Claudina Rosa. We only recived a letter form her 32 years ago.
I wonder if her data could be in CP Air files, but I don't know how to looking for.
Do somebody know a contact email of CP Air?...I really apreciated
Thanks, Bye
PD:I'm from Arica - CHILE - SOUTHAMERICA
My Step-dad "Bert Scambler" worked at YVR many years ago in the commissary department. I remember in wonderment the size of the Hanger and Building in general.
After reading all the other comments i must concur that, now in my Adult life I can safely say I have never worked for a company that held such family ideals and where all employees treated each other like relatives (ones that you like!)Whether in Vancouver, Amsterdam or being invited to a BBQ in Nandi.
If someone could bottle the secret and market it, they would be very rich indeed.
Finally, thought I would share with you my most memorable flight ever:
Departed SYD:01/01/77 at 9.00am-the stretch 8 festooned in balloons, streamers and other party paraphernalia.
Arrived in Fiji to refuel ,drop off & pick up passengers etc…,departed Fiji en-route for Honolulu, crossed the I.D.L.& for about an hour and time travelled back in time to 31/12/76!!!! What a New Years Party, Karoke before anyone had heard of Karaoke at 30,000ft above the Pacific.
What a state the aircraft was in when we arrived at Abbotsford!!!
"For Auld Lang Syne CP"
have just read a couple of postings from other people that reminded me what a fool i was to leave CP 22 years ago. does anyone have any idea how to contact old employees i would love to know how they are getting on if they are still alive. does anyone remember Roger Van Den Heede he was VP sales and Mktg Europe Mid east and africa in the early 80s would love to know where he is, i know he went back to YVR in 1986. I have some old photos from those YVR courses in the early 70s i might just publish one of them to see if some people recongnize each other. thanks Ken
I loved working for CP Air. I was hoping to work for them until I retired. The Airline brought me many close friends. There were times when I felt guilty collecting a paycheck.
Tom Letchford
My Name is Karl and i started with CP in 1967..
I retired this year and i love looking at those old pictures..
Brings tears to my eyes
What a fantastic website. Great work Johnny!
Growing up in Vancouver in the early seventies with a father that worked in Richmond, we would often pick up some fish and chips, go to the end of the runway and watch those enormous orange DC8's scream over our heads. What a thrill for a four year old! That's what sparked my interest in aviation, and resulted in a 20 year career in the airline industry, working for Air Canada (station attendant), Canadian (station attendant), Qantas (flight attendant), and my current position as a flight attendant for Air New Zealand.
We have recently returned to Vancouver, flying non stop from Auckland 3 times a week. On a recent working trip, we pulled into the gate and were surrounded by Air Canada aircraft everywhere. How depressing! I dearly miss seeing the likes of CP Air, Pacific Western, and Wardair airplanes parked on the tarmac. I suppose I'm showing my age, but flying today just doesn't have the magic it used to.
Wonderful memories, dreaming of all the long and fabulous layovers
in Acapulco,Mexico city Honolulu,Fidji,Auckland, Sydney,Rome,Athens, Madrid, Lisbon, Estoril,the Acores, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam,Munich,Bangkok, plus all the other interesting cities covered on charters.......
38 years of fun !!!!
Thanks for those pictures, hoping some more will come out of the closets..
last person was possibly based in yyz and joined the same year as I. There are very few people that you can actually have a conversation with about our flying days that really relate. We had the best time and the best people...I thank you all!
My first ever job I worked for CPAir in Ams from '70 to '74 then moved to YVR. Still today I miss this airline like no other. To em CP means a lot more and wish it could be restarted in the same orange color scheme.
Thank you for creating this web site. I often look at the pictures on airdisaster.com and was not aware of this site.
Looks great.
Johnny, great blog, just became aware of it and really enjoyed.
Myself, ex-CP (joined Canadian Pacific Airlines on 1967) at SCL, and who had the most sad experience in my whole career with the airline, to close down the SCL office when AA took over the operations as GSA -The begging of the end of CP-.
Raul Cifuentes jora.cive@gmail.com
Hi what a wonderful journey back thru time in these photo's ! Of course I remember most of them thru my 4 decades of working YVR.
Remember "Empress" ? CP Air had the best service (and on-board meals)- my Uncle who lived in MRY used to plan SFO/YVR especially to connect with CP 388, YVR/EHAM which he flew frequently. Today you're lucky if you can buy an on-board cookie ! The good old days for sure !
Terry Rea -
Air Traffic Controller - YVR Tower
Johnny, fantastic website you put together!
Recently Raul Cifuentes, SCL, pointed out your great work to me. It's so nice to see someone putting together our old memories together and noticed few of our old Haneda Airport pictures included.
I worked with Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1965 and retired from Canadian Internatinal Airlines in 1999. Great happy family and customer oriented airlines.
Johnny, Thanks for the web-site and blog. Some memories of "my CP Life"
YYCFFCP: -humping freight-counting containers- "We do it at Midnight"
YYCFSCP: "C4 Support" -graveyards at SOCC centre- "What ever possessed you?" " Ctrl-Alt-DEL"
YVRXTCP: Cargo Training - "Dukey"-my mentor where are you?
HNLFFCP: My last stint: "The Aloha Spirit"
Hope to see a reunion in 2008!!
Dan Herrera Sep79-June90
I have come across a couple of vintage CP Air serving plates. They are rectangular in shape, with the orange company logo. On the back is stamped, "Made exclusively for CP Air" and they carry different numbers.
The larger one, 8 1/2" by 5 1/2", is in virtually pristine condition. The smaller one, 5 1/2" by 6 1/2", shows some wear but is still in good condition.
If anyone would like to collect these, please call me at 250-339-4171.
-- Jamie
Fantastic website of my favourite airline. Growing up in YVR could always count on seeing Big Oranges at the airport. Got to fly B747 to HNL, B727-217 YVR-YOW, DC-8-53 YOW-YVR, and B737 YVR-YXY. Those were the days (even though it doesn't really seem that long ago). Thanks for the images! I might have some to send you, have to dig thru my archives! Thx Sam H/YEG
Many good memories and even better ones already forgotten. Thanks for the website.
CRC '81 and beyond
Peter 5312263
My dad flew CP from Toronto to Prestwick. It was a charter. Plane was a DC-8. Boy the old DC-8's. Nice to see them on this website. I remember the orange well. My dad also worked for Eastern airlines. The glory days of flying is over. Wished those days were back.
Hi,
Of all the books on aviation that I have written,"Wingwalkers: the history of Canadian Airlines." was by far the happiest to write. When researching it, the airline gave me a couple of passes and I met a lot of wonderful people - from Rhys Eyton to Bob Randall to dozens of air crew and counter staff. What airline employed a full time archivist who meticulously catalogued everything about it - uniforms, photos and cigarette lighters ? I hope all of those priceless artifacts found a good home after the merger.
Years later, I researched and wrote a history of the Canadian Pacific shipping line, just before it was bought up by the German company TUI. That we could allow these two icons that contributed so much to our country's history to disappear, sadden sme.
Keep up the website - Wingwalkers is available from Harbour Publishing, BC.
Peter Pigott
Can anyone help me? While doing a family genealogy project I discovered that Bernard Arthur ("Bun") Paget was a bush pilot who flew with CP Airlines at its inception. "Bun" flew with Quebec Airways which became part of the CPA Family on March 24, 1942.
"Bun" died in a crash on Monday January 4, 1943 outside Baie Comeau (Comeau Bay) PQ while enroute to pick up passengers.
The obit (Huntsville Forrester Jan 14, 1943) indicates that Mr. Harold Coates (representing CPA) and Kelly Edmondson (representing TCA) attended the funeral while "Punch" Dickens (a Director of CPA) sent a message of condolence.
Can anyone direct me to where I might be able to access CPA archived information (including pictures) of my 3rd cousin (once removed) "Bun" Paget?
Garry Paget
jgpag@sympatico.ca
I thank you in advance.
Thank You for allowing so many of us to reflect back to better times. I started with CP Air in YVR in 1975 when flying was really something and Orange truly was beautiful. Over the years Pacific Western was on the tail of my aircraft, then Canadian and now Air Canada. It has been trying at best to go from that to this, having been mortal ennemies in the sky. Nolonger the Family feeling with the caring and concern for an employee. Now I am just a number, working with bare essentials, and doing layovers and back within 46 hours. How things have changed. Miss those choclate cherries we served! Thank you for the memories.
Hi !!!! I would like to see the uniforms flight attendants had on 1986, can you post a photo, either male and female.Inside aircraft also, like seats design and magazine onboard. Thanks.
Don Honeywell said:
It was a family affair.
For Don, it was.
He had a wife in every corner!
yvrrrcp
Thanks for the great website. Orange is certainly beautiful and my family misses it dearly. I come from a CPAL family. My father started with CPAL in 1959 as a flight attendant and retired in 1992 as a PSD. My mom joined in 1972 as an agent/interpreter and retired in the late 90's. I was a flight attendant from March 1985 until 1997. It was the best airline, we were a family. Airline travel has never been the same since CPAir left our skies.
An anonymous writer asked to see a uniform picture from 1986. I have my class photo from 1985. I will see if I can upload it.
I enjoyed reading (and remembering) many of the story and recognized some of the names. This site has brought back many very fond and dearly missed memories of "the good old days". I wish there had been less anonymous said.. and more real names with real contacts.
I would love to hear from any of my dear friends from may days at CPAir, Canadian Pacific Airlines and Canadian Airlines International. Please feel free to contact me at RJBenedetti@yahoo.com.
Orange truly was BEAUTFIFUL!
I've often wondered why the inflight safety trifold brochure found in the seat pockets of the B737 in the early 90's had images of a ballerina and ringmaster exiting the aircraft. In a 19year career with CPAir I never once saw a ballerina or ringmaster aboard.
Hi, I would like to see the old CP uniform of the crew, like shirts, belts, ties, scarf, blazer, also....inside airplane seats, general..etc, etc..whatever involves airports, thanks.
Day one was September 14, 1970 Prince Rupert Reservations. What a place to get posted to for a Manitoba boy. Anybody out there rememeber the Cp Air Curling Bonspiels. They were the best ever. Many a curling season has passed since the first one I was at. 1971 YVR I believe. 4 guys from YPR and YXT. But a lass all great things must come to an end. However, I am curious where the old trophies have ended up? They were such beautiful trophies, A B C events and old "ZERO LIFT" WHO HAS THAT STASHED IN THEIR BASEMENT. If anyone knows where these items are , I would like to hold a reunion Bonspiel sometime with these old relics, [the trophies that is , not the curlers] I am in Calgary now, retired,and miss the old days and friends. I can be reached at 403 257 1764 or email bill.w@shaw.ca
Bill Werbowski - YPRRRCP,YYCRRCP,HNLRRCP,YYZAPCP,YYZFFCP,YYZ CPAIR HOLIDAYS, YYZAPCP,YYCAPCP----THEN RETIRED
I think beat you Bill:
1968 - YXS HNL YYZ YXY YUL YMX YPR YWG YXJ YVR-P2K YHZ YYT YYZ-ASC YUX YFB SHA BJS-PEK - Retired 1999
Now YYJ semi-retired !!!
Brian Walsh
Remember the original CPAir agent uniforms? At YXSAP, our supervisor wanted us to be dress alike while on the counter. We all had to have jackets on or all off.
One day, he admonished us for not being the same, so we all went back to our lockers and retrieved out ghastly vests that we had abandoned within weeks of issue, and came back to the counter all decked-out in orange. He got the point and allowed us to go back to our usual practice of dressing as we each saw fit.
What a great site! Thank you!
I have vivid memories still of my 1976 trip to Australia as a wide-eyed 10 year-old. My family and I were essentially cooped up inside a CP Air DC-8 stretch for 24 hours hours as we skipped from Toronto to Vancouver, Vancouver to Hawaii, Hawaii to Fiji then finally our destination of Sydney.
I will ALWAYS remember the sights, the sounds and the SMELLS of that trip.
There was almost a "roughness" to the plane we were in--you could always smell the jet fuel and the raw aluminum exterior that we saw when we entered/exited looked like it had hammer marks or similar on it.
I also remember the turbulence between Hawaii and Fiji. The plane was at one point bouncing like it was on a string and even the flight crew seemed to be wondering if we were ever going to land.
Of course we did land and once in Oz I was sad to leave my smelly, cigarette smoke-infused DC-8 home that I had now grown accustomed to.
Luckily, our trip home featured a CP Air 747 - LUXERY!
Thanks again, wish I had kept all those CP Air models I built as a kid!
I was reminiscing about my airline days and stumbled across this website. I worked for CPAir/Canadian from 1978 - 2004 (Purchasing, Profit Plan, Financial Analysis, Information Technology & finally Payload). I consider those the best working days of my life so far as I was always proud of the company I worked for.
Jenine Waddington Kalil
kalil@telus.net
Hi, I would like to know if there is any photo to post, for the CPAir uniform ground staff used, and also flight attendants, also....any photo from the interior of the aircraft like seats, designs, etc......does someone still have photos to publish and share???
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