Poor Aviation Journalism
 

Just bought a copy of Australian Aviation, the December 2013 issue. I haven't been a read for almost a year due to falling standards. I must add, that I had faithfully purchesed every copy since it was the Pacific Defence Reporter so that's something like 30 years as a loyal reader.

So I pay my $10 thinking it cant be that bad still. However, I have nearly choked on my coffee at Doug Mcdonalds column. "Shorter is Better".

Two little jems stand out.

"Flying higher to go further bred the 747SP in 1975. Capable of 8,300nm Qantas and Pan Am operated them from the US west coast to Sydney cruising at 45,000 feet...although making 50,000 feet on occasion"

I have heared of some SP's getting that high, but only on a crew only ferry.......but with pax???? I do stand to be corrected.

"Qantas flew a 747SP non stop from London to Sydney in 1989"

Now I know my eyes may not be that good but even I can recognize a 747-400 as apart from an SP. I watched that flight land.

Is this the standard of journalism to be expected of our national flagship aviation publication. Basic facts not even correct.

i stopped reading years ago. seemed to be aimed more at spotters

I never heard of any SP at 50,000 feet even on ferry flights for any operator.In fact I never heard of them going above 43,000 feet.

Never heard of an SP service to London although they did fly to Frankfurt for a while.

We did fly them to Taiwan under another name.

We did fly them to West coast of USA and to Wellington.

In the end we used them anywhere that the classic operated mainly through Asia.We used them so much that we joked that despite having a fleet of 13 classics the rest must be in a shed somewhere as we only seem to operate the 2 SPs

But what would I know, I was only an FE on them?

Wunwing








Wunwing

I stopped buying it after its shrill and unbalanced reporting of 'that year'.

The editor of the time even had a go at the pilots in his teary retirement editorial when he handed over the reins a few years ago.

That makes it nearly a quarter of a century since I have paid for 'F-18s and QANTAS Monthly'! Dare we hope for a balanced article for the 25th anniversary in 2014?

:D

That's exactly what it is. Stacked full of barely disguised press releases and marketing. Written by spotters, for spotters (not that there's anything wrong with that :cool: ).

I read Flight International for industry news etc. Is there an alternate publication for Australia, or is there not enough happening here?

There's plenty happening here worth writing about, but only a few journos (such as Phelan and Sandilands) have the nads to write about it.

Ceiling for all 747 models with Qantas was 45100':hmm:
Gave up my subscription over ten years ago.;)

Yup - Australian Aviation is really about promoting the big end of town. Little of interest to GA anymore, especially since they dropped out the recent registrations listing. Even their 'politics' is big end J-curve oriented.

Australian Flying is better for GA, even recognises RAAus, HGA,APF,and others these days. They do need to get another lead author and get into analyses of Oz accidents - rather than in RSA. Pilots want to read stuff pertaining to their own patch.

happy days,

Owen Zupp is one of the few worth reading.

I did the survey a little while ago and made some similar points to the above. In general though I don't mind it though my mother in law generally pays for my subscription each year and I'm not sure I'd buy it myself if she didn't.

As for Geoffrey Thomas. :rolleyes: :ugh:

Strangely enough, Owen Zupp is shown as the Technical Editor of the magazine. Does he, or the other editors check the contributions for technical accuracy!

That article Guptar mentions is cringe-worthy.

I liked the embellished description of the Townsville to Brisbane domestic operation in the SP.... with the STOL landing in Brisbane to keep the pilots current for Wellington!

This is the kind of bollox that only a supremely aviation ignorant "the full anorak" journalist could produce -- and I did enough landings into Wellington in the SP to know.

Tootle pip!!

So did I Keg. Unfortunately I'm not expecting much in the line of any changes.:(

Found that irritating as well.

Owen Zupp seems ok. I like his flight test articles, and I have enjoyed bits and pieces of his writing elsewhere. Doesn't he have a job that would preclude him spending too much time contributing to the magazine?

Owen Zupp is a QF FO, or at least he was when I worked for QF.

But you must be wrong!

source: AA?s Frawley aviation journalist of the year | Australian Aviation Magazine (i.e. themselves)

No idea who comprises the "National Aviation Press Club" ... google showed up nothing except Australian Aviation and Airservices Australia.

Maybe it's a conspiracy against Ben Sandilands?

Now that IS funny! :ooh:

Dr :8

Yup, Journalistic PAP and Thomas is a disgrace, note that his awards come from fellow journalists not aviators.


Therein lies the disgrace, he doesn't need facts, just reasonable English and lots of column inches.


I also stopped buying the F18/Qantas magazine 10 years ago.

I think it's pretty well accepted that aviation & the written word by a journo don't go 2gether, like the word 'should', that to is not to be used with flying especially when airborne:-)

There's not really a good aviation rag around these days besides the net has killed off anything worth reading.

Stay safe out there in the skies guys/gals over this silly season & may ATC give us all 'direct to':ok:............yeah like to see that!:E

Wm2

Good one there 'foxy' love it!:ok:
Too much choice there though for these guys:E


Wmk2