It's strange that, as an aviation journalist, I've made the effort to read dozens of books on airlines and aircraft systems, meet the people who influence the industry, sat in cockpits during flights to chat with the flight crews about their work, walked around air traffic control centres across the world, spoken to controllers to ask their opinions and listen to their concerns, attended dozens of conferences hosted by ICAO, IATA and god-knows-who-else and sat through hundreds of lectures by you good people (and your bosses) on everything from satellite navigation to budget carrier network planning.
Now I know most of you are busy, but I can't recollect ever seeing more than one or two pilots -- let alone air traffic controllers or airport managers -- in my office, despite its being home to one of the most established aviation publications around. Ya know, one of you guys is gonna have to tell me how you've learned SO much about our job, our integrity and our professionalism. Please don't disappoint me and say that it's all from the Daily Mail Fount of Wisdom
Personally, I'd be happy just for a grudging admission that there is a difference between people like me, and people like Scoop Dogshyte, ace tabloid reporter. Perhaps that's a bit much to ask from one or two of you. But I do agree with a lot of your sentiments...I wish the tabloids would stop their sensationalist tosh -- not only because the public gets misled, but because it reflects badly on me too.
I've no great desire to be called unprofessional, inaccurate, or a liar. Especially because I can't hide behind a User Name in a publication. My byline's real, and I stand by everything I write. Yes, really -- some of us are very proud of our work.
Looking forward to meeting some of you at a future Bash (if I can find a way to make myself look presentable rather than like scum straight out of the gutter, of course)