Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions
Reload this Page >

Geoff Thomas "Aviation Expert" on Sunrise

Wikiposts
Search
The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions The place for students, instructors and charter guys in Oz, NZ and the rest of Oceania.

Geoff Thomas "Aviation Expert" on Sunrise

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 19th Dec 2008, 02:08
  #21 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tasmania
Age: 49
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well all i can say is "You know what an expert is ....x is an unknown factor ..and a spert comes from something under pressure.....so Geoff must be an unknown factor under pressure.....lol
Starting4 is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 02:17
  #22 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: The Coast of Sunshine, Australia
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Let us not fall into the trap of getting 'personal' towards Thomas. It is certainly 'open season' on his qualifications and comments by discussing their validity to the current matter.

You know, the same way contributors to PPRuNe vigorously discuss Dick Smith's ideas without resorting to personal and demeaning abuse.
Disco Stu is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 02:48
  #23 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Living next door to Alan
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs down

I don't know what all the hassle is about. Sunrise and the Today show have about as much credibility as Today Tonight and A Current Affair.

Basically sensationalist, tabloid trash
Hugh Jarse is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 02:59
  #24 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,217
Received 71 Likes on 38 Posts
Did Koche have an opinion, after all he his a natural laxative?
Would have been a bit of a squeeze in Channel 7, with Mr Thomas and Mr Smiths ego's ?
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 03:09
  #25 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: DSS-46 (Canberra Region)
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post Think before submitting!

Beached As Brew won't be around for a few days.

Just remember people - Don't write anything slanderous or libellous unless you're prepared to back it up in court.

TID
Tidbinbilla is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 03:29
  #26 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Downwind
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Personally, I have found the skills and objectivity of the interviewer to be somewhat lacking on a wide range of topics.

I expected, and received, another disappointing few minutes viewing, finalised by a sweeping statement supported by all previous questions (not necessarily the answers) and bearing little resemblance to the relevant issues.

I've been critical of some of Dick's public appearances in the past, but I suspect one of 2 reasons explain why he wasn't interviewed - either he wasn't available, or he didn't have the right opinion.
Freewheel is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 03:38
  #27 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From what everyone is telling me, Dick was unavailable as he was on Channel 9's morning show.
VH-XXX is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 03:51
  #28 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There's nothing else to call them, as a Professional is merely someone who gets paid to do what they do. Eg. we've all probably been a professional lawnmowist as some stage of our lives, but that doesn't make us an expert.

An Expert (SME - Subject Matter Expert) is either self proclaimed or someone who has been awarded or commended on their contributions. In this case the journalist has been awarded or commended on their contribution to aviation reporting and can rightly-so proport to be an expert and I would agree with that.

I didn't (and it seems that nobody else) agreed to the comments this morning.
VH-XXX is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 04:27
  #29 (permalink)  

Evertonian
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: #3117# Ppruner of the Year Nominee 2005
Posts: 12,495
Received 105 Likes on 59 Posts
Anyone else going to do the x-spurt joke before we wrap it up?

I did not see the segment but, having worked with Geoffrey on a project previously, I would like to hear his side of the story. However, if the thread continues on as a character assassination, then I wouldn't blame him for ignoring it.

We all bemoan shoddy aviation stories we read, and journos skulking in the threads on fishing expeditions. GT is one of the few that posts under his own name and is accessible to us here on Pprune. It would be a pity to encourage anonymous journo's here.
Buster Hyman is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 04:29
  #30 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: YMML
Posts: 2,561
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
XXX, agree with that. Just blotted his copybook in this case.
OZBUSDRIVER is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 05:16
  #31 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oz
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Trojan1981
Not a Pilot? Another good reason not to read that magazine.
Another big call! What other reasons are there Trojan?
FoxtrotAlpha18 is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 12:47
  #32 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I certainly regard GT as enough of an "expert" to warrant listening to. I always read his articles in Australian Aviation and have a couple of his books (e.g. "Qantas Flightpaths"). Whenever I encounter an article of his somewhere (e.g a newspaper), I will go out of my way to read it.

I have been a GA pilot for over 20 years and a close follower of the industry, world-wide, for much longer - I have had a subscription to Flight International for about 25 years now.

GT - if you're reading this - keep up the good work. The Qantas Flightpaths book is so good it should be a textbook for just about everybody in aviation.

As for the appearance of a "live" interview: Television stations often will capture a long, sometimes rambling interview with some expert then take out little snippets for play back later. Of course, those snippets need to be given "context" so the TV station will add the interview questions back in, so as to fit the snippets!

And the interviewer, of course, will not be the original interviewer but one of the personalities that is normally on air at that time slot (e.g Koch or Mel). So Mel just reads out the list of questions and the snippets are played back in response.

To the average viewer, it all looks perfectly live.
FGD135 is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 14:33
  #33 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Dog House
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by FoxtrotAlpha18
Another big call! What other reasons are there Trojan?
Enough with the "ooooh! You'll be in trouble"

I'm assuming you're about to lay your cards on the table and declare to all that he's a 50,000 hour pilot who flies the Red Bull Air Race course in a B777 with it's engines shut down and designed the A380 in his spare time.

Do you agree with what he said or not?

ElPerro is offline  
Old 19th Dec 2008, 19:02
  #34 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oz
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Enough with the "ooooh! You'll be in trouble"

I'm assuming you're about to lay your cards on the table and declare to all that he's a 50,000 hour pilot who flies the Red Bull Air Race course in a B777 with it's engines shut down and designed the A380 in his spare time.

Do you agree with what he said or not?
Firstly, I was querying Tojan's call on the "magazine"...but anyway...

Have met him and he always strikes me as a decent fellow. Don't know his flying background but, as far as I'm concerned, that doesn't matter. I agree with FGD that he's a good commentator worth reading.

I also don't know enough about the GA scene to know whether he's right or not, however I suspect he didn't just pluck his claims out of his arse for the sake of a good sound bite.
FoxtrotAlpha18 is offline  
Old 21st Dec 2008, 00:50
  #35 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: nocte volant
Posts: 1,114
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
G'Day FA18

WRT the magazine, I don't like the articles that read like press releases (with little crititcal analyses), many of the opinions expressed over the years and an apparent pre-occupation with military aviation. All personal opinion, of course.

I do not mean for this to sound like a personal attack. GT has been recognised as a successful aviation journalist and I am sure he is a decent fellow.
However, Bankstown tower was operating at the time and so comments relating to pilots not making radio calls to avoid fees are unhelpful and irrelevant. Viewers who know very little about aviation or GA will be up in arms after hearing speculation like that. Hence D Koche's comment about an inquiry into aviation.
Trojan1981 is offline  
Old 21st Dec 2008, 06:50
  #36 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oz
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
G'Day FA18

WRT the magazine, I don't like the articles that read like press releases (with little crititcal analyses), many of the opinions expressed over the years and an apparent pre-occupation with military aviation. All personal opinion, of course.
Thanks for the clarification Trojan - I'm mates with AA's main military writer and will gladly pass your feedback on to him.

Cheers
FoxtrotAlpha18 is offline  
Old 21st Dec 2008, 07:35
  #37 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Gods Country
Age: 44
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have never posted on this forum however being closely assosiated with the events of the last few days I felt I must. The only thing more shocking too us all than loosing our friend and collegue was the disgraceful behavior of the media, the tricks, lies, and harassment of the Family, Ken and the staff of the schools involved has left me with a sour taste in my mouth that will not leave me for a very long time. Its quite ironic that this forum has focussed on the sunrise program as channel 7 were by far the most appaling along with the reporters of the Herald, telegraph and the Australian. I am reluctant to ever buy a paper, or watch the news again, for two reasons, one never to support these animals and two half the crap that was printed or went to air was completely innacurate with zero care for who it affected.
Most of you know, but dont ever believe what you read or hear.
I dont wish the events of the last few days on anyone.
GrobStream is offline  
Old 22nd Dec 2008, 04:59
  #38 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: nocte volant
Posts: 1,114
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the clarification Trojan - I'm mates with AA's main military writer and will gladly pass your feedback on to him.

Cheers
No worries

Gobstream, good post.
Trojan1981 is offline  
Old 29th Mar 2014, 05:21
  #39 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Retired-ville
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Clearly still hasn't much of a clue what he's talking about.
Typified by a recent "look at me in a 777 sim" where he talks incessantly about altitude in metres rather than what real pilots use in thar area - feet.

Flight recreated in 777 simulator - The West Australian

Sensationalism and claptrap at it's worst.
LongTimeInCX is offline  
Old 29th Mar 2014, 05:56
  #40 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 133*50 23*50
Posts: 163
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I caught a clip where he said the malaysian pilots were using non standard phrasologies. Then attempted to demonstrate the correct call and got that terrifically wrong. Aviation expert my foot!
Mail-man is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.