Amazing statements
Dear MU2:
I find your post incredible and hardly a reflection of the FACTS and you do not appear to be across all the issues and thus may not have a full appreciation of what is going on.
I will attempt to answer you comments in order.
MU2….”But the things that get me the most is the biased reporting you do. It never seems objective and you seem to pick at all the little ins and outs of the company which are hardly newsworthy. If you write so much about Skywest, you must be able to write a novel about Qantas every day relatively speaking.”
GT…..As far as the daily paper is concerned I have written very little about Skywest and have avoided all the ins and outs…such as “we blow hydraulic lines all the time” from Mr David Fletcher and the blown tyre the other day. I avoid all incidents like that with all airlines and only really get involved if I am told to by editors. Sure I know about Lake Johnson and QF run-off the runways in Darwin and the few Virgin Blue incidents but that simply frightens passengers unnecessarily. However, if CASA gets involved than clearly we have to.
Please remember MU2 that I have not reported to the wider public the following:
1. Skywest’s chief pilot “failing” his F100 endorsement.
2. Skywest trying to get engineers for the F100 through NJS in Adelaide.
3. Skywest cutting back 27% on its maintenance costs.
4. Skywest engineers ringing to voice concerns about cut backs.
MU2….”How about Skywest's 40th Birthday? Ok it started from Carnarvon Air Taxis or whatever and they traced their roots back.”
GT…..Sure would have made an interesting topic BUT nobody from Skywest gave us advanced notice and I was away in the EAST the day the press release went out so it was old news. Besides we did nothing for Qantas’ 80th!!
MU2….“And when you report something, there always seems to be something that you drag back in that's old news but you repeat it like a broken record.... (or is it pading for your word quota?).”
GT….As with all stories we attempt to bring the reader up to date with what has gone before. The fact is very simple. If an airline dumps its high profile CEO in a massive board room spill and the other board members are themselves “high profile” and have an “interesting history” then its news like it or not.
MU2….”I don't really care who your analysts are, but if you can't say who then don't use them or their quotes or information. Very poor indeed. I bet Media Watch would have a field day!!!!!”
GT “Every newspaper around the world and trade journal use anonymous analysts. In fact the best ones DO not want to be quoted and often the ones who do are just trying to build their image and are novices.
MU2….As for Bias….."Somebody mentioned BM suing. Yes he has and for damn good reason and has won every time and may do so over Skywest" - well doesn't that record get played again and again in the West...."They take on BM at their peril" - ...
"Now for the bad publicity." & "I have not bothered to report...." you have now.
GT…Hang on I was given a serve on PPrune by an “anonymous” person and it is my right to reply and set the record straight. And talking of anonymous, you get stuck into me for quoting un-named analysts when the 61,000+ members of PPrune are all but about three, anonymous!
MU2 ……PPS.YOUR QUOTE.....So let’s get the facts straight. As Gaunty said: I know a great deal more about what is going on than has been reported. Well i very much doubt that. AND THAT IS A FACT.
GT…What can I say. I do know a great deal more but to elaborate in this forum would expose certain sources which is not an option.
The question for Skywest is “where is the airline and where is it going.” It has a leaner operation under it in Skippers and an extremely well run jet charter/RPT operation in NJS above it. Skywest is marginalized and has few options to expand. When you add to that the position of the airliner’s owners and their apparent objectives then you have a difficult situation. I have tried to leave them alone and have in fact written a couple of positive articles when SH joined and then detailing the re-structure.
Hope I have covered the points you raise.
Best GT