Who is "aviation expert" Peter Clark??

[slackie]

Everytime there is an aviation item in the NZ news the media's "go to guy" is a chap by the name of Peter Clark who they refer to as an "aviation expert". None of his commentary suggests that he IS an expert, but just some guy with some hairbrained ideas.

What is his background?
What are his qualifications?
Who are his sources (apart from the obvious chat rooms, international news websites, and bulletin boards/forums)??

Perhaps he reads this forum?? If you do maybe you'd like to enlighten us??

I, personally, am very suspitious of anyone who states... "the fact is..." a mere hour or two after an incident.... certainly his "facts" with respect to MH370 were wildly inaccurate and pretty much wholy unsubstantiated... and this appears also the case with MH17.

I can understand the media wanting comment and being frustrated by all the ACTUAL experts saying "well, there are no facts that have come to light so I'm unwilling to comment", or "let's wait for the results of the investigation", or "I'm unwilling to speculate" etc, but why do they then feel the need to get some talking head to tell some tall stories????:ugh:

[VH-XXX]

We have a similar guy in Australia too... He also has his own thread :ok:

[mattyj]

The New Zealand "Geoff Thomas" :ugh:

[luckyluke]

I have wondered the same. Pulled this blurb off Linked IN


Aviation Commentator
Peter Clark Freelance
January 1995 – Present (19 years 7 months) Auckland

Aviation Commentator to New Zealand and International Media on aviation issues.
Currently help with news, feature writing and photography with NZ Aviation News.
Contributor to TravelMemo on line.
Some contributions to Flight International.
Have published my own book, Flying.
Have been a feature writer and photograper for Pacific Wings for some 15 years
Have had a private Pilots Licence, with over 300 hours in command of light aircraft.

And:

Peter Clark's Summary

Leading Aviation Commentator in New Zealand.
Have a current knowledge of Boeing, Airbus, ATR and other aviation aircraft and products.
An in depth understanding of aviation in New Zealand the Pacific and with many other countries
I have a strong interest in aviation safety and the well being of the safe future of aviation.

[tail wheel]

Google is your friend!

Peter Clark, Leading Aviation Commentator in New Zealand (http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=208893283&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=Kwsm&locale=en_US&srchid=1858883941405635165465&srchindex=1&srchtotal=1&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1858883941405635165465%2CVSRPtargetId %3A208893283%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary)

PPL, 300 hours.

[Jabawocky]

I think it is a confusion of the Swiss Cheese model and aviation.

Peter Clark is a cheese expert. :}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOkyvYqN0XE

[slackie]

I wonder what knowledge he has of Boeing, Airbus, and ATR aircraft. How many PPLs with 300hrs have flown them (other than on their FlightSim at home!). Maybe he's been a pax in each! He obviously hasn't flown with Eagle or Air Nelson otherwise he'd have further knowledge of Beechcraft and Dash aircraft!!

What an idiot!

[tail wheel]

Wrong Peter Clark Jabba.

This one:

5K97wC8fUfA

[slackie]

I think I prefer the Coon Cheeze one!

[BO0M]

Same guy many moons ago that went on TV saying a Convair that crashed was scud running up the Ohakea coastline. Oh course we all know what actually happened.

There are plenty of reporters in NZ that have substantial aviation experience that could speak with a higher level of accuracy than this guy.

[VH-XXX]

There's the cheese guy and then there's Peter Russel Clarke too....

[fortybelow]

Slight thread drift, but from memory the guy who said the Convair crash was caused by scud running was not Peter Clarke, but was his "predecessor", a real piece of work he was. I believe he passed away due from something unpleasant so will not disparage the deceased.

Without defending the talking heads that the media love to run to who are generally unqualified to comment (which never stops them), I had Peter on the jump-seat one dark night many moons ago and he was actually a really nice guy, with some interesting stories to tell to pass the time.

As an aside to Boom, what was the cause of the Convair crash that "we all know what happened"? PM me if you like.

There is/was substantial disagreement with the official report. Out of respect to the crew and their families I won't reopen a topic which most have forgotten.

[Jabawocky]

Wrong Peter Clark Jabba.

I knew that….but the other one is funnier! :}

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

And John Clarke........of 'Clarke and Dawe'......

aka 'Fred Dagg'......

Prefer them, actually.... :p

[tartare]

He is also a former TVNZ sound recordist.
That's why One News run to him for comment - because they are lazy and they know him.
Air New Zealand also feed him stuff, to get `independent' third party comment.
Well known for the Air Nelson - `I helped land the plane' incident. ;)

[Water Wings]

Peter Clark is a talking head who loves inserting himself into a story whenever the slack New Zealand media are too lazy to actually go and find a real expert.


I can immediately off hand think of two PhD's much more suited to providing factual information but why would you want someone with qualifications and published research in the area when Peter Clark will answer the phone at 6am in the morning?

[NoseGear]

When I read in the Herald that he said "I'm led to believe that the [Malaysian] plane was deviating because of weather conditions," I knew he was crapping on blindly, and totally without accuracy, as I was about 300 miles south of MH17 on a parallel track across the Black Sea, FL330, at the same time and heard ATC calling on guard for MH17. The weather yesterday in the area was fine with a few CBs here and there, nothing that would require any more than 20NM off track. Another aircraft requested wx deviation but was told to go opposite to their request, because, and I quote ATC, "due to the shooting". We looked at each other but thought nothing of it, my own thoughts as we were south of Crimea was someone was lobbing artillery shells or there was a live fire Danger area activated.

And this pearler of enlightenment.....

"We spend millions of dollars on security and screening processes for the people down the back, and all these other things around aviation affect aviation safety. It's a tragedy for the industry," he said. Yes, SAM's do tend to have a negative affect on airline safety...:ugh::hmm:

Why on earth the media can't find a retired Airline or military type that has actual aviation experience, I'll never know. His musings are an embarrassment to the industry.

[Desert Flower]

We have a similar guy in Australia too... He also has his own thread


Been waiting to see that one on TV giving his expert opinion on what happened! ;)

DF.

[Terrorhawk81]

What a plonker this guys is!

[Mach E Avelli]

On both sides of the ditch we seem to have these 'experts' whose sole aviation qualification is a PPL and a few hundred hours.
Contrast this with the Yanks, whose public aviation commentators are usually either ex airline or ex military and in some cases even ex NASA.

[aileron_69]

You all just need to lay off Geoffrey Thomas. He is a very well informed and experienced man in the aviation industry. If you look through his past accomplishments, you will see that in 1970, he spent 18 months as a baggage handler in Port Hedland for MacRobertson Miller Airlines.
With a background in aviation like that, coupled with no doubt reading a book about aviation, he is far more qualified to give up to the minute, in depth and unbiased analysis than any of you lot!!

[tartare]

Ahh yes - Geoffrey.
Courted by the Rat and the Koru.
I once had a conversation with a news editor at TVNZ about Mr Clark.
"But it's so hard to find anyone else," he whined.
Spinmeisters at both airlines are very friendly with both these individuals.
Your raw steak named pruneposter knows this for a fact.

[Manubada]

BTW.......Pete C fits a whole new group..........ex SFA maybe???


Don't you luv karma.....

[Cactusjack]

With Thomas's lack of accurate understanding of complex aviation issues, limited aviation experience (let's make that no experience as 18 months chucking bags doesn't count), plus his penchant for providing biased opinion rather than unbiased facts qualifies him to become the next QF CEO or CASA Director! His interview the other morning with Koche on Bumrise was standard crap. But I did notice that channel 9 trotted out Ron Bartsch for some commentary. At least Ron has a lengthy aviation background.

[500N]

Cactus

I missed the interview, what did he use as his expertise on MH17 ?

[Cactusjack]

I missed the interview, what did he use as his expertise on MH17 ?
Dunno mate. I saw about 2 seconds of Thomas and Koche and I flicked the channel quicker than I would if Mrs Cactus caught me watching porn!

[scotton]

amazing if true