Who is Jim Ferguson??

[jungliebeefer]

Over recent years, whenever there is any kind of aviation incident (in the UK), journo's various seem to wheel out "Aviation Expert", Jim Ferguson. Is this guy actually an aviator, because judging by his b&$%*ks comment, he learnt everything he knows from a ladybird book. He seems to thrive on feeding the media frenzy with wild speculation .... Vent over and feeling a lot better now!!

[finalchecksplease]

Don’t know his background but doubt he was an aviation professional.

As a lot of the people in the industry I don’t take much notice of what he says, but from speaking with some journo’s friends of mine they say the reason they use him all the time is because he is always available for sound bites to use as filling in their reports (most of the time there aren’t much official statements when the accident / incidents just have happened).

[OvertHawk]

He's certainly never been an aviation professional of any kind - someone did once tell me his background (it was unimpressive and i've since forgotten) but it did not include any relevant professional expertise. I have met him a couple of times and he talks a good story but it's surface knowledge and name-dropping with little or no substance.

At best, he's a well connected spotter - at worst, he's an ignorant "Walt' who opens his mouth and lets his stomach rumble.

I think that he's already been the subject of a discussion on Pprune in the past.

Surprised not to have heard him holding court over the latest tragedy in the Moray Firth - it's only a matter of time.

OH

[Hedski]

He's a complete idiot who speculates and feeds the media frenzy every time an accident happens north of the border with absolute rubbish and ill informed comment.

[ShyTorque]

Surprised not to have heard him holding court over the latest tragedy in the Moray Firth - it's only a matter of time.

He HAS! See my comment in the Tornado accident thread in the military forum about him talking to the Telegraph.

[heliwot]

The nearest jim Ferguson got to an aircraft was in the Royal Navy as a Scribe at RNAS Yeovilton, he is not an expert and I cringe every time he is pulled out of the draw to comment on a subject he knows nothing about.

[fisbangwollop]

He used to be a crew member of the Aberdeen lifeboat if that helps!! ;)

A quote from a recent article in the Scotsman newspaper....

James Ferguson is an aviation writer based in Aberdeen.

[Impress to inflate]

I remember an old Bristow pilot telling me on a long boring flight how Jim Ferguson used to badger the office for a "look see" every week. After a while they banded him form the premises.

I had a technical problem one flight and RTB'ed after informing ATC of my intentions. He then wrote an article for the local rag and LIED, his technical knowledge is woeful to the point of liable

He should be banned from all airports

ITI

[the beater]

Upland Goose posted the following in the McRae Crash & Fatal Accident Inquiry thread.

James Duncan Ferguson was born near Udny Station in Aberdeenshire in July, 1938. He was educated at Robert Gordon's School, Aberdeen and Gordonstoun School.
Service in the Clerical Branch of the Royal Navy followed, between 1957 and 1963, with a number of Fleet Air Arm related postings. Always keenly interested in military and civil aviation matters, he became a specialist writer on the Aberdeen oil-support operation from its ealriest days in the late 1960's. He is Scottish and European aviation correspondent for various British and US publications (Rotr & Wing) as well as a regular contributor to a wide range of specialist magazines. A crew member of the local life-boat and he also covers aviation and rescue matters for both press and radio. He is married to an art teacher, and has lived in Aberdeen since 1963.

[Shackman]

When 8 Sqn (Shackleton AEW) formed up at Kinloss, one of our first tasks was OP Tapestry, which was a regular patrol of the early oil rigs/fields in the North Sea. Mr Ferguson was introduced (sic) to us as 'an expert' by Bristows at one of the first meetings at Aberdeen Airport on deconfliction between ourselves, rotary and other mil traffic in what was then a free for all piece of airspace. Certainly he visited us, and seemingly wrote lots of articles about North Sea ops, which appeared in both local press and some aviation magazines.

[Gandalf the Viking]

When I was on 819NAS at Prestwick late 70's he visited and wrote an article for some spotters' rag. One line raised a bit of a laugh in the crew room. Probably not 100% word perfect but the gist was -- " I was to fly on a night ASW exercise but at the last minute it was decided that the back of a Seaking at night was no place for an observer -----" :D:ok:

[Frankie B]

I remember Jim Ferguson from the late 70's when I worked for a handling company on the eastern side of Aberdeen Airport. He would roll up regularly on his scooter, dressed in his rain mac & armed with a bagged lunch. At that time he wrote freelance aviation articles for the Aberdeen Press & Journal.
Back then he collected his own sound recordings of every aircraft & chopper at Dyce, including a Skyways DC3 coming in on one engine. Surprised he's still at it!

[Anthony Supplebottom]

Service in the Clerical Branch of the Royal Navy followed,
So what you are saying is that he was in fact a Navy Sky Pilot! :E

[Sir Niall Dementia]

I once appeared in one of his articles, he is a lying little turd, if he would like to make something of my comment he is welcome to P.M me and I will happily see him in court.

Aviation expert my a:yuk:

SND

[OvertHawk]

I don't think i've ever seen a thread run for this long on Rotorheads where everyone is so largely in agreement! :E

Just a shame that this individual and many like him have such influence on the public perception of our industry. :(

Safe flying one and all, if for no reason other than to avoid giving this person a chance to talk about your mishaps!

OH

[paco]

"Just a shame that this individual and many like him have such influence on the public perception of our industry."

Yup. It is an industry largely influenced by the uneducated. :)

Phil

[Snarlie]

I have known Jim Ferguson since the mid 1970`s when his day job was running a paint shop in Rosemount Terrace in Aberdeen as well as covering matters aviation for various publications. He is a knowledgeable and intelligent guy but at the end of the day he is a journalist. He was a regular visitor to Bristows where he blended in very easily and gleaned some very juicy background material from certain gobby individuals with axes to grind. Bristow management then thought it would be better all round were he to make an appointment and be accompanied on visits.
He normally takes a lot of trouble to research any story or article and has never been prone to making it up if he doesn`t know for sure. Over the years his reporting of aviation has been factual and accurate, particularly with regard to offshore helicopters. He may not say or print what some people would like him to say but he is rarely wrong.
In my view he is someone offshore operators would do well to cultivate in order to get their version in first.

[jungliebeefer]

Snarlie,

I'm afraid I would have to disagree. Would I by spending a period of time reading medical books and hanging around hospitals, have the moral authority to pass myself off as a medical expert - not at all. You can read about aircraft and being a pilot / aviation engineer, all you like, but unless you have actually worked in the industry, the gaps in your knowledge are huge. Unfortunately he does'nt seem to refer to himself as an Aviation Journalist but as an Aviation Expert - there is a huge difference. An Aviation Expert is supposed to presumably provide insight, pithy comment and answer questions from the point of view of an Aviation professional. All of the comments I have seen would support the fact that whilst he may of read alot and have spoken to aviation professionals he has no experience of being one ....

[Lewycasino]

but unless you have actually worked in the industry

Perhaps you can provide your definition of working in the industry?

[Brom]

Snarlie,
you must know a different Jim Ferguson than the rest of us.

[Shell Management]

I agree with snarlie. I feel for Jim, he is often taken out of context.

[jungliebeefer]

And the troll returns ... !!

[Shell Management]

I'm not Norweigian. Please don't be racist.:=

[OvertHawk]

Just when you thought that things could not get worse for Mr Ferguson - Shell Management sticks up for him! :} Case closed. :ok:

[Anthony Supplebottom]

Ejector seats are made like a Swiss watch
Some are self-winding while others have to be wound-up!

[jungliebeefer]

Post the CHC 225 ditching Jim is at it again! In a BBC report today he is quoted as saying that unlike the May Bond incident this aircraft actually had a cracked shaft! Presumably he is unable to read AAIB reports because if he could he would see that the Bond aircraft also suffered a cracked shaft ... In light of this he may want to retract some of the statements he has made recently about the bond crews spot on actions ... Will the BBC please stop using this ill informed amateur!!

[TipCap]

I think helicomparator has sent a note of complaint to the BBC.

[HeliComparator]

Yes, and if everyone else did too, it might have some effect...

[TipCap]

Sadly the Beeb only listen to who they want to and, as you know HC, I was familiar with JDF in the old days so I know how inaccurate his comments are...........

[Soave_Pilot]

I'm afraid I would have to disagree. Would I by spending a period of time reading medical books and hanging around hospitals, have the moral authority to pass myself off as a medical expert - not at all.

Bravo! :D:D

[cyclic]

I have used the BBC complaints system online and by phone. The phone call only takes a couple of minutes and I encourage everyone with an interest in the industry to give it a go. The man is a complete idiot.

[Nubian]

Just when you thought that things could not get worse for Mr Ferguson - Shell Management sticks up for him! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/badteeth.gif Case closed. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

or maybe Jim Ferguson IS Shell Mangement.......! Or maybe twins...:eek:

[helicrazi]

I've just made the phone call, as cyclic says, a few minutes out of my day, and hopefully if enough people take the same 5 minutes, we can make a difference. He's damaging the industry as a whole!

[Woolf]

Done via website.

[bigglesbutler]

Dont forget STV too

STV - Scottish news, sport, entertainment and catch-up with your favourite TV shows (http://www.stv.tv/contact/)

At the bottom of the page.

[TipCap]

Thanks Si

Anyone got a link to the BBC complaints

[bigglesbutler]

Right hand side of the screen, the gent I spoke to was very nice.

BBC - Complaints - Home (http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/)

Si

[heli-cal]

He's damaging the industry as a whole!

The industry doesn't need his help to do that...

[lowfat]

Just had a re read of the bbc coverage of the chc 225 ditching and all dereference to jim has been removed.....

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Sadly its' still on BBC On Line.

The man is a Walt and its time that his source of license payers money was withdrawn.

Hopefully the BBC, and the rest of the media will read this thread and see how professional helicopter personell see him.

Added my complaint to BBC Complaints on Line.

SND

[Bravo73]

Like lowfat said, the majority of JF quotes have been removed: BBC - Search results for jim ferguson (http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/news/?q=jim%20ferguson)

The only one remaining quote (from an article on 25/10/12) is "Aviation writer Jim Ferguson said: "What is now of some considerable concern is how many other shafts may have the same problem." He said there could potentially be long-term "serious disruption" for the industry."

Which, to be fair, are both very valid points. (But, please don't construe this as me trying to defend the man. Everything else that he has said has been :mad::mad:).

[VeeAny]

Whenever there is a serious incident the media invariably call me as my number is on the helicopter safety website.

I was called yesterday by a gentleman from the BBC who wanted to interview someone from Helicopter Safety about the incident, as usual I politely declined.

I took the opportunity to question why they use Jim Ferguson as an 'Aviation Expert' (the words were a little bit shorter and may be have been a bit less complimentary), when members of the helicopter community who know a lot more than he does , do not consider themselves subject matter experts.

The journalist concerned did indicate he was 'aware' of Jim Ferguson and had heard some recent questions on the quality of his information.

[Gordy]

I was called yesterday by a gentleman from the BBC who wanted to interview someone from Helicopter Safety about the incident, as usual I politely declined.

As is your right.... But "who" should they call......?

Maybe this is an opportunity for you professionals in the UK to maybe appoint a spokesperson and "recommend" that person to the relative news agencies. Seems like nobody likes JF, so take the bull by the horns and appoint someone.

[Ullevi]

The media and offshore workers are desperate to hear some news or expert opinion after these events.

I know after these incidents it is impossible for the helicopter operators to comment until all the facts are known which inevitably leads to a period of silence.

Maybe it's time someone from the helicopter safety group was made available to comment / provide technical expertise in the days following these incidents?

Of course in an ideal world these accidents wouldn't happen and Jim wouldn't be needed!!!!

[VeeAny]

Gordy

I always recommend they talk to the BHA and provide them
With contact details, this was after agreement between myself and their chief exec after the REDL crash in 2009.

All of the companies affected by the recent north sea incidents are members and I still think this makes sense.

I am always loathe to speak to journalists about stuff I cannot speak with authority on, especially as I sometimes get given sensitive information which is not for sharing with them and do not wish to lose any trust which has been established in past years.

I think the current arrangement works, I am open to opinion about a better way to deal with enquiries.

[topendtorque]

The incumbent chairman / president or CEO or appointed delegate of an appropriately incorporated body representing the interests of its members and is large enough to claim representative clout is always the way to go.Large enough in this country is better than 10% of its industry.

Such people should have media training to enable their clean replies.

That's how we do it in another industry over here and such should be asserted to editor's in chief of major newspapers. Past presidents or members etc always refer nosy reporters back to the correct delegate.

That is how CASA does it, one person only does all the media work.

It's certainly no use complaining about other misrepresentation, get in there and claim your stake, with a legal letter to back it up if necessary.

cheers tet

[helicrazi]

Dear .....


Thank you for your telephone call. Your comments were passed to the Head of News and Current Affairs, who has asked that I forward his response as follows:


"Thank you for being in touch about our programmes, and in particular our use of the aviation writer, Jim Ferguson.


We take very seriously our obligation to be fair and accurate in our reporting, and we value your thoughts on our output.


First, as a general point, we make every effort to distinguish between our reporting of the facts of a story, and the analysis or interpretation, whether by correspondents or external contributors. We also strive to ensure that these are fair and accurate.


In our reporting of the particular story of the recent helicopter ditching in the North Sea, we have made extensive use of interviews with key figures in the industry and the relevant trade unions. At all times we have tried to obtain interviews with people who have the most direct knowledge of the subject.


We have turned to this particular contributor especially for interpretation of the events surrounding the initial controlled landing of the aircraft, and the early stages of analysis of the significant implications of the AAIB report on the incident.


In our reporting of the story, we have not misrepresented the background of this contributor. He has been introduced as "an aviation writer", rather than as an "expert" in the field. He remains a frequent contributor to a wide range of other broadcast and print media organisations. He has been writing on the aviation industry for 40 years. This period spanned 30 years as North Sea/ Scottish Correspondent for "Aviation News", 25 years as UK/ North Sea Correspondent for "Rotor and Wing", and 20 years as Scottish/ North Sea Correspondent for "Flight International".


We are committed to expanding our base of informed contributors to news developments in this vital industry. We would welcome discussions with potential interviewees who have specialist knowledge, and are prepared to comment at short notice on major incidents. If you feel you can help with this, please contact our Managing Editor for the North East and North Isles, Sandy Bremner, in the first instance. His email address is [email protected]


If you would like to comment on a developing story regarding the offshore helicopter industry, please contact our news team in Aberdeen at [email protected] AND our online service at [email protected]


Thank you, once again, for taking the time to contact us.”


Details of the BBC complaints process are available online at BBC - Complaints - What happens to your complaint (http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/handle.shtml)


Kind Regards


Patrick McManus

BBC Complaints
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints (http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints)

[OvertHawk]

exact cut and paste of what they sent me... :rolleyes:

[lartsa]

Veeany
If everyone politely refuses the press will use anyone who will give their views

Steve

[cyclic]

Rather typical of the arrogance of the BBC which in the current climate seems a little ironic.

[Geoffersincornwall]

Does Joe Public really notice the difference when the weight of the BBC is behind the publishing of his tosh.

:ugh:

G.

[jimf671]

If everyone politely refuses the press will use anyone who will give their views

That's the key.

The same problem exists elsewhere. If experienced practitioners exercise their professional judgement so as to avoid making public statements, then inevitably, the result can be mediocre, and occasionally worse, since media officers and journos are not usually experienced in the subject matter.

Directing the press to sources such as ARCC, AAIB and CAA, where the best available factual details may be available, is about the best that can be done if nobody is willing to step forward out of the gloom.

[HeliEng]

Hurray for Jim Ferguson!!! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Bravo73]

Oh joy.

Now Jim Ferguson is being interviewed on BBC national news. :{

[Northern Listener]

Thoughts for those involved, sad day.

However, if it wasn't so tragic it would be laughable the utter, utter sh!te the news presenters are talking. (asking random non pilot witness about helo approach procedures FFS)

[Tequilaboy]

Tragic news and my heartfelt condolences go out to all involved.

I have seen some mentalist, un-informed reporting in my years but some of these stories are stunning. Just looked up this Aviation Expert Chris Yates and I don't know how we have ever managed without his insight. His piece on the Hudson River crash is a marvel of expertise and knowledge.

I am just waiting for the headline in the Murdoch press that this was an attempted Al-Qaeda attack on the American Embassy however no-one informed them of being incomplete.

Ken Livingston and various MP's should just shut their faces and spare a thought for the people injured and lost their lives and actually praise the response this morning.

More important things this morning than their useless bile.

[500 Fan]

Dermot Murnaghan on Sky seems to be beside himself with excitement, apparently delighted that this incident has happened during his shift. He is treating the whole incident with what appears to be a fair degree of light-heartedness. You would never think, listening to him and his colleagues, that two people had lost their lives and others are injured, some seriously.

Journalists are a disgusting collection of people.

500 Fan.

[Alloa Akbar]

Without wishing to thread creep.. But in the case of a journo looking for a different angle for a story Rather than vilify these guys for their lack of knowledge, would it not be better to educate them and help improve their ability to report facts?? Would that perhaps better serve the memory of the Pilot, who will mostly be known for whatever the press portray??

Just a thought.

[lowfat]

BBC have rolled out that window licker on the lunch time news... I thought they stopped using him.

Commiserations to all involved.

[ShyTorque]

JF will know the square root of F - all about helicopter ops in the Battersea area. :ugh:

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Shy;

Fresh complaint sent to the BBC about JF. To hear that care in the community failure talking as an "expert" about one of my oldest friends, a man who's knowledge of aviation was huge, who's generosity, hospitality and fun were legendary just disgusts me.

Ferguson's knowledge of aviation could be written on the head of a drawing pin, lets face it he is basically spotter with a persuasive manner, as well as being a total c***

SND

[ShyTorque]

Good one.

How on earth can he be described as an "expert"?

I suspect they use him because they've used him before, they have no-one else they can think of, and need to fill some more air time because someone at the top has decided this is the story of the day and they need to keep it going and going.

[heliboy999]

Complaint about JF submitted to the BBC.
Need to get true facts about helicopter usage to the BBC as well. This awful female MP is having an open forum to to spout her "personal" opinions about helicopter usage. She keeps banging on about the "increase" in helicopter usage and also about the "hovering" helicopters. Maybe she needs to tell the difference between the police helicopters and the civvy ones.
I want to put my foot through my TV screen listening to her.

[chevvron]

On a GATCO visit to Battersea once, I met a 'Jim Ferguson' who was a controller at Heathrow doing SVFR amongst other duties; is the one mentioned above the same one or different?

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Chevron;

Sadly no. This Jim Ferguson used to run a paint shop in Aberdeen's Rosemount area. He was a Fleet Air Arm clerk during national service and a reggie spotter in his spare time. He got to know some Bristows pilots during the early OS days and sold their accounts of incidents/accidents to the Aberdeen Depressing Journal and the BBC, from there he was suddenly an "expert." Bristows, BA/BIH and Bond all eventually banned him from their premises, but it was too late. Now he makes it up a he goes along.

He spewed some serious lies about me after an incident and I offered him a visit outside or the opportunity to sue me for publicly calling him a liar. He wouldn't try either, I suspect that the outside option meant him getting very hurt, and standing in court suing me meant the truth of his knowledge and abilities pouring forth and destroying his second pension and proving that he really needed to be in a home.

The BBC and others still waste license payers money on him and I for one view it as an absolute disgrace. They read this forum so see what the pro's have to say about him and don't even acknowledge complaints to their own website about him.

I remeber the other JF at SVFR as a really nice bloke.

SND

[MightyGem]

BBC have rolled out that window licker on the lunch time news... I thought they stopped using him.
Looks like they may have taken note of the complaints. A Ppruner, Bondu, was on the BBC 6pm news.

[Hedski]

But sadly STV in Scotland had him on their 1800 edition instead talking sh1te about the ongoing 225 issues!!!:ugh:

If any of the press had a brain (not likely given today's evidence) they would approach an informed source with relevant knowledge. One or two out there that the tiniest research could identify and track down....

[jimf671]

... He was a Fleet Air Arm clerk during national service ...

So if I have any questions about instrument maintenance schedules on Supermarine Scimitars, ...

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Is it just me that is slightly dismayed at the purile personal attacks on this man. He is a journalist trying to make a living just like the rest of us.

Childish trashing of a mans reputation and attempting to have his employment terminated tars us all with the same unreasonable brush.

Funny how we all welcome the journos when they are saying something nice or making a programme like the "Blues and Twos" or "Helicopter Heroes".

If we were all "experts" we would probably not be providing the press with so much to write home about.

I have met Jim and he seems a decent guy trying to scratch a living out of his aviation enthusiasm.

I think some people need to grow up and get a reality check.

Complaining to the BBC so he loses his work.....shame on you all!!

DB

[Bravo73]

Is it just me...

It is just you. :E

[ShyTorque]

I've been to the doctors a few times. If the BBC have any medical questions, they can call me, anytime - for a fee.

[407 too]

"his aviation enthusiasm"

I am enthusiastic re: the female persuasion, but that does not make me an "expert" to speak on their behalf.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Come on......surely ONE person at least partially agrees with me if only to prove Bravo73 wrong!!!

[airpolice]

He's being paid from the BBC Licence Fee, to which we all have virtually no option but to contribute and we seem to have very little influence over how they spend it.

He's a bit like the people at the BBC who produced a site map of the crash are and it features the "M16" Building. D'you suppose that's where the guns are made?

[airpolice]

Fit Like Double Bogey?

I see that according to your pprune id, you are in the Granite City, perchance you are Mr. Ferguson?

You may need to create another pprune ID in order to get your suggestion seconded.

[lowfat]

Got no problem with anyone earning an HONEST living..


He just makes it up as he goes along talking utter bollox...


which can affect my honest living....


Keel hauling's to good for him.

[OvertHawk]

Double Bogey.

Whilst i will step back from the more extreme name calling - the man is not qualified to speak about what he is being paid to speak about.

As for "just trying to scratch out a living" - if i just tried to scratch out a living pretending to be a doctor i'd be sent to prison (despite the fact that i'd probably make a better Doctor than JF is an aviation expert)! This man is pretending to know about aviation and the effect of his erroneous drivel is detrimental and offensive.

I too have met him and he is a perfectly nice chap with whom i would be happy to have a cup of tea in any airport cafe... Which is where his involvement in aviation should end.

[jumpseater]

Childish trashing of a mans reputation and attempting to have his employment terminated tars us all with the same unreasonable brush.


I've never met him. Thing is, on my telly in my front room, he was saying that he had 'flown into' EGLW several times in the past. He gave the distinct impression that he was the bloke in the front right hand corner who pulls the levers and stuff.

I don't have a lot of time for people like that, least of all while doing it on national telly.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Ok...................I'll get my coat then!!!

PS - I am sure I am NOT Jim Ferguson....but this has been a very strange week!!!

DB

[Ye Olde Pilot]

Someone should tell MP Kate Hoey the choppers that hover and make noise
over Westminster belong to the Met Police.

[chopperchappie]

To summarise,.. picking from bits and pieces.....

If nobody speaks to the media and says the things the way they want to hear them, they are going to talk to someone that will.



I watched Sky (in shock and horror) most of yesterday and IMHO the sensationalism did seem to get turned down a notch or two when multiple people said the same thing.......which was basically

"we don't know why - and we won't until the AAIB publish, but we need to remember this is an extraordinary and tragic accident which will take months of diligent research before we can identify the causes and contributing factors, from which to learn any lessons, and if we don't learn lessons, that would be a further tradgedy, in the meantime any poorly considered knee jerk reactions could actually have a negative affect!"

Politely saying that the media asking "why" and looking for someone to point the figer of blame at isn't the right thing to do!

But they have got gaps to fill and it's unfortunate that people prefer to hear the sensationalist claims and the (w) anchors know that, even if they know nothing about aviation.

In the meantime - many of us were still watching the media !

[Northern Listener]

What an interesting thread about this chap!

He is a journalist trying to make a living just like the rest of us.Many of us are just trying to make a living, I make mine by taking a lot of trouble to ensure I get detail correct, checking facts and researching to ensure that I am doing things correctly (I assume, like many people in their work). Because if I talk pish and cock things up I will rapidly run out of work.

I have been working in aviation for 15 years and I am no doubt deluding myself if I consider myself in the dizzy heights of a rank amateur, however I still find myself stunned when I listen to the drivel this man, and others speak which is presented as expert knowledge.

My complaint has been sent to the BBC for what it's worth.

However I have to echo what others have said, those who ARE expert in the industry need to put themselves in a position to be available for comment to better represent the industry and stop idiots speaking to the ignorant who in turn broadcast to those who are unaware.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

NORTHERN LISTENER - just so I can fume into my whisky&dry, what exactly did poor old Jim include in his journalism that prompted you to complain to the BBC??

I hate bullying in all it forms!!

DB

[Northern Listener]

Inaccurate and ill informed speculation delivered with a theatrical 'correction' of a journo's supposition, albeit irrelevant, on this occasion. Similar antics in the past.

I am taking objection to your comment of bullying, into my whisky on ice, who and how have I bullied?

And, since when has talking rubbish on the TV amounted to journalism?
(errr... hang on...)

[heliski22]

Try to remember, people, that the "public's right to know" has long since become confused with "the editor's (or CEO or whoever) need to show profit!".

Like any other business, the various media exist as corporate entities to, first and foremost, show profit so that stock values and dividends remain high to satisfy investors.

In the case of TV generally and TV news in particular, whatever keeps the viewing public on channel is what will lead - simples...!

Why? Because advertising revenue is where it's at. Advertising revenue is what keeps turnoevr up and thus keeps profits up. Jim Ferguson might as well be quoting Byron for all the difference it makes to the people interviewing him - try not to forget that and it might help understand why your complaints are going un-noticed. Yes, as somebody said, he should probably be confined to the tea-shop in his local aerodrome but that is of little or no consequence in the greater scheme of things.

Those who anchor the various hourly news programmes have one task above all others - that is, to keep the viewers on their channel and away from the others. Whatever it takes, let it be ****e or otherwise, is what will be done.

The public interest? Hmm....yeah, right...!

[Brian Abraham]

Had our Jim Ferguson been asked you would have got sensible answers (should he still be with us). Started his own helicopter business circa 1965 and in his capacity as a reserve RAN type came to Vietnam for a bit of Huey troop lift stick time during his holidays/reserve time.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Sad news. I liked Jim.

Shame on all other posters on this thread that collectively bullied, complained and defamed the man for doing the job he loved best!!!

This is probably the most shameful thread I have ever seen on PPRUNE!! Theres is nothing "Professional" about it.

If any of Jim's family are unfortunate to read this thread - Jim was a good guy who always tried his best with the information and resources he was given. The morons on this thread who trashed him deserve no such attention.

DB

[ec155]

Well said DB
I agree with everything you have said regarding Jim.
Condolences to Jim's family.
RIP

[TroyTempest]

I met Jim. A passionate aviation man, as probably most of us here are. We all have views on aviation points, and where would we be if didn't have people like Jim to question.
All the best Jim, you put your heart into it.

[Angry Relative]

As an immediate member of Jim Ferguson's family, I accessed this site for the first time yesterday, and was astonished and appalled at this thread.

I wish that before people indulge in this sort of anonymous personal and professional character assassination online, they would stop to consider that they are talking about someone's husband/brother/father. I have no idea if Jim was aware of the kind of things that were being said, but I suspect that with his customary good sense he would have chosen to ignore it - he never did suffer fools gladly.

Contrary to the picture painted in many of these posts, by people who obviously didn't know him, Jim Ferguson was an intelligent, honest and decent man, with strong moral principles, who was making a living doing something he was passionate about. He was always forthright, could be opinionated, and perhaps didn't always get it right - but people who live in glass houses, etc....

I can only hope that some of those who have been so free with their opinions are prepared to put their money where their mouths are, and try to fill his shoes.

RIP Jim - I am sure many more people will miss you than won't.

[heli1]

Well said " AngryRelative" whoever you are.be assured not all PPruners are small minded bigots.

[Francis Frogbound]

Angry Relative;

You may be utterly shocked and appalled at this thread, but sadly what Jim wrote and said in the media was often innaccurate and misleading. You may feel that his reputation has been trashed, but that is how the relatives of dead aircrew he wrote about feel about what he did to them. He was alive when this thread began, he was informed of it and chose not to use his right to reply, what about the people whose professional reputations were traduced by Jim but had no right of reply? What about the widows and children of dead pilots who heard and read his ill-informed reports and whose friends/neighbours believed that their man was guilty of gross pilot error.

I was once in a serious incident, Jim wrote about it at the time and again when the AAIB reported. Now, post Leveson I would have the right to reply, then I had none, Jim's report bore little resemblance to either the original incident and none to the AAIB report, mud sticks, and I spent alot of time with smart arses telling me how it was all my fault (as Jim reported) when the AAIB had praised both me and the P2 for our actions.

Others on here such as DoubleBogey claim the moral high ground and accuse posters of bullying, I personally know a lot of the posters on this thread and know that there was no bullying, just huge anger when Jim purported to be an expert on a subject which we all spent years learning and decades honing. I have permission from one poster to admit that he had a nervous breakdown after one incident and that a lot of his problems were caused by innaccurate reporting which he couldn't respond to.

After an incident/accident no-one from a company or the AAIB is allowed to talk to the media, except to report basic facts. The media go into a feeding frenzy and sadly Jim's reporting fed the frenzy, and innocent people got trampled in the rush. His reports on the death of Pete Barnes on the 16th January were classic examples and Pete's familly had to cope with an "expert" who had never flown a helicopter giving an impression that he really knew what it was like to fly into EGLW and how to fly an A109 when his knowledge was really zero.

Angry Relative, if you pm me I am more than happy to give up my annonimity and discuss Jim and the media with you. Passionate and commited he may have been, I don't know, but I do know how much he hurt me, my familly and the famillies of many others, none of whom were ever allowed to be heard in reply. As I said earlier, he had the right to reply here, which is far more than anyone he ever wrote about had.

MODs this post will probably p*** a few people off. If I get banned I don't mind. I am also passionate and commited and I have written as I believed, apparently as did JF, although I did at least speak to other posters, and the famillies of several dead North Sea pilots before posting.

[MOSTAFA]

Apposite FF

[inditrees]

Well said FF,

As for DB calling posters bullies, POT-KETTLE-BLACK shame on you sir

[MightyGem]

Can't see anything there that should get you banned FF. Just a well thought out reply.

[212man]

I concurr with FF and it's a pleasure to read such a balanced post against a backdrop of obvious personal feeling that could have been far more vitriolic, but was tempered and fair and magnanimous.

[Mk 1]

From Brian: "Had our Jim Ferguson been asked you would have got sensible answers (should he still be with us). Started his own helicopter business circa 1965 and in his capacity as a reserve RAN type came to Vietnam for a bit of Huey troop lift stick time during his holidays/reserve time."

That's the bloke I recall. I flew with him as a kid in the 'yellow peril' (his banana yellow 206) in PNG in 1976 IIRC. You could not say that bloke didn't have aviation experience. Sea Furies off the Sydney and plenty of rotary wing experience. If he's still around, thanks Jim.

[Heliport]

Angry Relative

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
According to a friend of mine who knew him well for several decades, he was a delightful man.
_________________


http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/infopop/icons/icon4.gif

Some posters are commenting about a different Jim Ferguson.

The late Jim Ferguson ('aviation writer' and the subject of this thread) was not a pilot and never had been, nor did he work in the aviation industry.



H.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

FF

However hurtful Jim's reporting may have been for you AS A PROFESSIONAL PILOT, it is hard to understand how you could drop that last post given the fact that Jim's family is reading.

Maybe your ego is worth more than making Jim's family feeling good about their relative. Is that the message you really felt the need to post!!

Sorry mate but to me your post is an appalling response to one family's grief. Shame on you.

DB

[Brian Abraham]

However hurtful Jim's reporting may have been for youLet me get this straight, are you saying it's OK for a reporter to besmirch a persons professional reputation, but its not OK for the besmirched to make known that he has been besmirched. :confused:

As Heliport says The late Jim Ferguson ('aviation writer' and the subject of this thread) was not a pilot and never had been, nor did he work in the aviation industry.He may best be described as an enthusiastic amateur it seems from this side of the world, and as such had no place being the public face commenting on aviation matters and being presented as an expert. All too often reporters/commentators make themselves the story.

That doesn't detract from the fact that he may have been a delightful bloke to share a beer with, and a wonderful family man.Passionate and commited he may have been, I don't know, but I do know how much he hurt me, my familly and the famillies of many others, none of whom were ever allowed to be heard in reply. As I said earlier, he had the right to reply here, which is far more than anyone he ever wrote about had.Commiserations Francis, I have two personal press stories, neither good.

Call a spade for what it is.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Brian, you clearly did not even know Jom and yet still you feel justified in writing ****e that could be hurtful to his family. What is wrong with you people!!!

[Brian Abraham]

DB, no I don't know Jom (your spelling) but had you noticed this thread started over eight months prior to his death. Note the thread title, and please avail yourself of the commentary egAt best, he's a well connected spotter - at worst, he's an ignorant "Walt' who opens his mouth and lets his stomach rumbleThis aint a condolences thread, start one should you desire.

As foryou feel justified in writing ****eit seems from what I read here nothing stopped Jim writing ****e.

Hurtful to his family? Perhaps they may understand from Francis's post how hurtful his so called "expert opinion" was to some of the subjects of his "expert opinion".

[cockney steve]

In the last year, I've lost both my partner and her daughter.
Painful though it is, I am a realist ad face the fact that the daughter was bought up in an extremely bizarre and disfunctional family environment.
This meant. in turn, she had a deeply flawed personality.
To deny it, or to deny her mother's part in her character, is to deny the truth.

I never met J.F. Nor did I knowingly subject myself to any of his Journalistic endeavours. Yes, he was entitled to an opinion, but the Character-Assasination in which he apparently freely indulged, deserved the vilification it brought forth.

I'm sorry the grieving Relative has been directed to this site and found not solace, not praise, but a catalogue of resentment at their dearly-held 's mercenary attitude to Aviation Casualties.

I'm NOT a pilot, Aviation Professional or even a "Spotter" or "sim-er" Just an ordinary bloke on the street.

Jim caused a lot of grief to a lot of people in, or connected with Aviation.
The evidence is loud and clear in this thread . be thankful that it's in a highly -specialised forum and not in the national media...a grace which was not extended to his victims.

[Angry Relative]

I had no intentions of posting on this site again, but Cockney Steve's comments have driven me to do so.

CS - you freely admit that you are not an aviation professional, nor would it appear that you have any knowledge of Jim Ferguson other than some of the vitriolic opinions expressed here. Jim never had a 'mercenary' attitude to aviation casualties, and to believe that he did simply shows how little you, and many others, knew of the man.

Of course he wasn't universally popular - he was a journalist, for God's sake, and as such will have upset numerous people in his working life. But to claim that he had no consideration or feelings for those affected by tragedy is abject nonsense.

My thanks to DB and others who have expressed balanced views on Jim, both here and in other threads.

As for me, I will content myself, along with the rest of Jim's family, with the very many genuine messages of shock and sympathy that have poured in since his untimely death. A large number of these have come from individuals in the world of aviation, and have expressed huge appreciation both of the work that Jim did, and from those who actually knew him, of the person that he was. They will help to sustain his wife in the weeks and months ahead, and for that I am very grateful.

[Ginipigg]

This is the first I have visited this thread since the passing of 'aviation expert' Jim Ferguson and I'm glad to see other people besides myself do not feel they have to be PC since his death. Perhaps now the media will find someone who knows what they are talking about and does not utter the complete drivel this man did. No, I did not know him and yes, he may have been a wonderful guy, but he talked nonsense and passed himself off as an expert. It was extremely galling to read the praise heaped upon him by the Scottish Parliament and local dignitaries etc.
I had cause to write to my local paper some time back regarding the 'earthquake' felt over parts of Scotland and how it could actually have been a sonic boom(!) This man uttered the following;



''They have to get permission for the sonic bang and it is quite possible it could have been a QRA call, which means they have to get out somewhere quickly.’’
''It could have been a training mission but they don't use them (sonic booms) as often as they used to these days.'' :confused:



WHAT? 'Use' sonic booms? I don't class myself as an expert, but I'm sure I, and any other enthusiast, could have come up with something better than that! :ugh:

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

This is ROTORHEADS. WTF would we know about SONIC BOOMS???

GINNIPIG by the tone of your post and the total disregard you have for human decency I suggest you drop the GINNI from the first part of your handle.

For the record Jim was correct. You can't go "Sonic Booming" willy-nilly without upsetting someone!

[ShyTorque]

This is ROTORHEADS. WTF would we know about SONIC BOOMS???

So we're agreed that it's not right to make out you're an expert when you're not? :rolleyes:

[nomorehelosforme]

Maybe time to chill and think about life's basic rules, one been,don't speak ill of the dead!

[XV666]

Maybe time to chill and think about life's basic rules, one been,don't speak ill of the dead!

Sure: but everything said was discussed here before Mr Ferguson's death. What would you have the previous posters do, go back and recant all their posts and make out none of it happened? That his kin now feel upset and aggrieved is regrettable but must be seen in the light of when and why such comments were made, before his death.

The issues related by Francis Frogbound put into context why others felt the way they did and are just as valid as the feelings of Angry Relative.

[Brian Abraham]

the total disregard you have for human decencyAbsolute nonsense. He is free to say whatever it is he wishes to say, as heli notesSure: but everything said was discussed here before Mr Ferguson's death. What would you have the previous posters do, go back and recant all their posts and make out none of it happened? That his kin now feel upset and aggrieved is regrettable but must be seen in the light of when and why such comments were made, before his death.

The issues related by Francis Frogbound put into context why others felt the way they did and are just as valid as the feelings of Angry Relative. Be thankful that you live in a democracy and are able to break out the champagne and dance in the street when a Prime Minister dies.

As I said before, this is not a condolences thread.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Brian, the trouble with democracy is it allows people to speak their minds without thought or care for the consequences. Being deliberatley insulting and unkind about an individual who has passed away, knowing full well that persons family is reading this thread is nothing short of disgusting and utterley unforgivable.

It mixes up the proffessional with the personal and that is not, in my view, the true spirit of aviation or common decency.

That fact that majority of the negative posters have never even met the man heaps insult onto this family's injury.

Jim was a journalist. He did not always get it right and he was the first to admit he was not expert. He filled a void that was there and for the most part he did a reasonable job. The many so-called-experts on this thread who speak if as if they have the divine right to trash the guy need to look inward. They need to imagine what it would be like if they passed on and their own few iniquities (and we all have them) were so publically aired as to cause such pain to their family.

It is not rocket science, really! If you have nothing good to say then say nothing at all.

Shame on them all!!

DB

[bigglesbutler]

May I suggest we close this thread as the original subject is now no longer valid. Anything said now will simply be infighting and will likely get even nastier as people get "hot under the collar".

For what it is worth I don't believe in dancing on people's graves whoever they are, and singing the witch is dead is plain sickening (Thatcher). Yes we had issue's when Jim was alive but please lets move on and more importantly let him and his family do so now.

I vote for the Moderators to lock the thread.

Si

[heli1]

Hmmmm....I wonder how many of the critics are experts in every facet of aviation/rotary wing subjects and how many offered their services to the media as commentators because they felt they could do a better job than JF ?

Well now's your chance because you can be sure the newspapers ,tv.and radio will be looking for "expert" comment immediately following the next air accident or other newsworthy story.
Who is clever enough not to be trapped into giving them what they are after,a sensationalist story?
Who out of the posters in this thread is going to volunteer first?

[jumpseater]

Hmmmm....I wonder how many of the critics are experts in every facet of aviation/rotary wing subjects and how many offered their services to the media as commentators because they felt they could do a better job than JF ?
I doubt many of us who have posted here are experts in every facet of aviation, and in my time on the professional side of aviation, every company bar one had a specific section in my T&C's, no unauthorised talking to 'media', from the days of scribblers and snapper to todays social networking. I bet that most of the 'pro' community from whatever field (mines not flying) have that same or similar clause.


Well now's your chance because you can be sure the newspapers ,tv.and radio will be looking for "expert" comment immediately following the next air accident or other newsworthy story.

See above re T&C's. I do however occasionally do free lance scribbling and snapping for newspapers and mags and local and national level.


Who is clever enough not to be trapped into giving them what they are after a sensationalist story?
That's easy, all you have to say is I can't answer that without further research, and I'm not prepared to speculate. You won't get asked back though. Where the wheels come off is when the talking head carries on. My only experience/knowledge of JF was seeing him on a number of telly interviews, where even for me as a heli specific industry outsider, it was clear on those occasions he was to put it politely, 'making it up' as he went along. I'm happy to acknowledge he may have written and provided good copy over the years and was a really nice bloke, but his appearances on TV didn't give me that assurance, least of all on the London accident.


Who out of the posters in this thread is going to volunteer first?
Last year based on his knowledge of my experience and that he knows me as an acquaintance, one of the regular contemporary BBC news reporters asked if I would be prepared to be an 'expert' for them on aviation. Contractual issues aside, I still said no thank you, as even with over 25 years 'in the game', I don't consider myself an expert, even in my own fields, I'm always learning.

[cockney steve]

Who is clever enough not to be trapped into giving them what they are after,a sensationalist story?

That is the nub of the debate and why I made my possibly tactless "mercenary" comment.

JF volunteered himself as an Aviation/ Helicopter EXPERT
And a professional journalist.
He apparently was not an Expert, but took the Media's shillings, nevertheless.

A likeable rogue?- Maybe. The issue, is the damage his ill-found pronouncements made to other ,PROFESSIONAL Aviators' friends, families and reputations,

Yakking about things in the confines of PPruNE is one thing, Publishing same to the international public-at-large is another thing entirely.

[Brian Abraham]

the trouble with democracy is it allows people to speak their minds without thought or care for the consequencesAnd there's the rub DB. The issue, is the damage his ill-found pronouncements made to other ,PROFESSIONAL Aviators' friends, families and reputations,You can't have it both ways DB.

[Fareastdriver]

He's dead now; it's all over. He's history, let him rest.