Dozy;
It is courteous and respectful to permit the person addressed in a communication to respond first. Thank you.
Apologies for the presumption - I only did so because I know you only check in here rarely these days. Won't happen again.
Originally Posted by
Lyman
The Captain's comments were initially leaked, "This is STALL, get the Nose DOWN". That was reported in the Press, and one can draw their own conclusion.
Quite - this is the same press that is regularly pilloried in these forums for not knowing the difference between elevators, ailerons and flaps (and tending to use the term "wing flaps" for all three), having no apparent grasp of piloting or procedure and turning every incident into a "terrifying plunge" which narrowly avoided schools and hospitals. The same press that to all intents and purposes punished Captain Burkill of BA038 for refusing interviews by publishing scuttlebutt - almost destroying his career in the process. The same press that frequently quotes out of context to create controversy.
I'm not saying that there haven't been occasions where press action has brought things to light in a positive way (I'm thinking particularly of the expose on the MD/FAA "Gentlemens' Agreement" regarding the DC-10 cargo door, and the Seattle PI's dogged pursuit of the 737 rudder problems), but on balance I'd say I'm inclined to take isolated press reports with a hefty dose of salt.