Disappointing Magazine articles

[dublinpilot]

Am I the only one who looks at the aviation mags headline and sees what looks like an informative article, only to be disappointed with the article itself?

I read Flyer & Todays Pilot....don't read Pilot so can't comment.

As an example...this months Flyer. Top of the cover page "Headset Compatibility: The problems and the solutions". The article goes into a bit of dept on the reasons for the problem. The solutions?.....a passing reference to diagnostic too available. No comment on what it does...or test of it, or alternatives. We all know about the problem! A bit more on the solutions would be better

This is just an example. There are numerious articles on flying to certain countries, billed as "All you need to know about flying to...", but only give a passing reference to what you need to know. In three year of reading these mags, I've yet to read a trip article that would be of any significant use when flying to that country.

So back to my original question....am I the only one to look excitedly at the articles billed....only to find I was mislead, and the contents don't match the headline?

dp

[Monocock]

I know where you're coming from DP.

I have often looked at the front page and thought "Oh good, something I've been wanting to find out more about" and then been disappointed.

The techhy ones are particularly bad. They try and encourage you to do things to your a/c and then leave you paranoid that you will do something wrong!!

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Two suggestions, dublinpilot:

1) Read 'Pilot'.

2) If you still think it lacks something, submit your own piece.

In defence of 'Flyer', I think Miles McCallum's techy pieces are the dog's whatsits.

SSD

[Irishwingz]

Articles

I'v ever only bought one mag before, thst was Flyer, primarily for the classifieds. However I got this months Pilot for their specialon flying abroad - I found the article on western Australia particularly informative and since then I've contacted the school named and been happy etc.

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. At the end of the day they are trying to shift copies, spend a bit more time browsing all titles before you buy any of them. I only bought Pilot becaause of a recommendation on this forum for another Ppruner...

To be honest I think you can get anything from here on Pprune so why bother with the mags??

Slainte

[Pilotage]

I've good reason to believe that at least three of the main writers in that issue of Flyer, as well as the editor, are readers and/or regular posters on PPrune (although as it happens I've no idea who the author of the headset article - certainly not me.)

In that context, if you fancy giving a detailed assessment of what you think about the content, strengths and weaknesses of the individual articles - or the general makeup of the issue, whilst they may or may-not choose to respond, I suspect that your opinions will at-least get read carefully by some Ppruners who take their aviation writing seriously (and I'm pretty certain they all do).

P

[dublinpilot]

Pilotage,

I don't mean to be critical of that article I mentioned. The article was fine. It clearly described what the problem was, and what caused it etc etc. My problem was more with the way it was billed "Headset Compatibility: The problems and the solutions". It clearly was about the problems.....but had nothing to do with the solutions. Who ever wrote the headline didn't properly reflect what the article was about!

In any case, I don't mean to focus on any one article. I only picked that one because it was to hand when posting!

It just seems that in general the writer writes about one thing, and then who ever writes the head lines, describles it as something else!

[Pilotage]

I think that editors are often quite fond of changing titles (some will change almost anything, but the latter probably don't keep the good writers).

P

[sean1]

mags

I agree, i have stopped buying flying magazines.Do you notice every other issue has some article on 'how to make perfect landings'.Which will go on to reveal such gems as: 'Do your down wind checks,2nd stage flaps on base,3rd stage on final,maintain steady approach speed,flare correct height,touch down on main wheels',maintain directional control.....etc'.

''next month how to make landings you pax will love''

I get the impression these articles are put together at the bar of some flying club.

[Timothy]

To be fair to the editors, they have the unenviable problem of a readership that is very diverse in its knowledge and experience.

There will be those who are just thinking about booking a trial lesson.

There will be some new bunnies who will want to know how to make a decent landing, particularly in the light of some pretty appalling stories we hear about quality of some instructions.

There will be others who have 100 - 150 hours under their belts and have flown N, S, E and W and now want to spread their wings and venture abroad. They want to know about Le Touq and customs clearance. Others in this experience range want to think about IMC or IR, aerobatics, twins, tail dragging, floats etc.

Then the 250-500 hours guys who feel ready to take a longer, more interesting trip...to the Arctic Circle, or St Petersburgh or North Africa. These people might be thinking about a CPL or ATPL.

Then there are the 1,000+ hour pilots who really want to be stimulated...read about Polly Vacher's exploits, or flying the Antarctic Survey, or maybe build their own strip or their own aircraft, or convert to turbine or rotary.

It would be impossible for any mag to satisfy all these people in every article.

There already is some differentiation between the mags (I see Flyer as being more taildragger and Pophamy, whereas Pilot is more Mooney and Bigginy, I have never looked again at Today's Pilot since the first edition was such crap), but unless we have mags for every different Niche "Today's 500-1500 hour taildragger Pilot with his own strip who is thinking of building his own" we are all going to have to compromise.

My 2p worth anyway.

W

[GT]

I feel I have to agree with the topic starter. I used to by all three of the flying mags. every month: now I rarely by one. As I flying instructor I would like to see more in-depth articles on how we might improve our flying skills, but that, of course, is only my personal opinion, biased towards what I do.

What really makes me fed up are the endless flight tests of aeroplanes that most of us won't even see, let alone get a chance to fly. What's more, the same aeroplane is often reviewed in the same month by more than one of the magazines, or at best following months.

Try having a look at the American flying mags., e.g. Flying. They're much more interesting and informative, in my opinion. Having said that I do accept that it isn't easy pleasing all of the people all of the time etc., but a little more originality wouldn't hurt. Gripe over.

Regards, GT.

[Whirlybird]

Just to give me an idea...would people like to see readable, interesting, amusing, mildly informative but not that much, articles... a bit like the stuff I write on here? (If you don't think I write interesting, readable stuff on PPRuNe I don't want to know! )

The reason I ask is I'm thinking of trying to get a regular column if they'll have me, on sort of this-and-that...but aviation related this-and-that of course. I have an idea for a theme; it's not quite that vague...but I'm not sure how well my particular brand of this-and-that would go down with the general readers, and I just wondered what you all thought. My own feeling is that a lot of the stuff in the mags is boring because it's not well written - and I'm conceited enough to think I could do it better, or at least liven things up a bit.

"No, go away Whirly, we don't want any more rubbish in the mags, bad enough we have to read it on PPRuNe" is an acceptable answer...and means I'll go back to writing the stuff I get paid well for.

[CSX001]

I think the problem that many are identifying is a reasonable writing style, and a lack of content.

Getting the level and quality of content right is a problem given the large variations that there are in the consumer base.

Whirly, whilst you are an author with some history, do you think that you are able to write month-in-month out on the variety of subjects that would make for a regular column, whilst still packing the content in?

IMHO, there are already enough chatty articles and the mags need more substance.

Charlie.

[140cherokee]

The content of all three magazines is very 'samey' and the tutorial stuff is always VFR. With the IMC rating being so popular, why aren't there many articles on instrument flight?

In the three or four years of reading all three, I've yet to see an article on ADF tracking or flying an NDB/DME procedure! (the Thom book is hopeless in this respect too!)

140

[gasax]

There have already been a few topics on how similar the magazines now are following Pilot's recent changes.

I like many others above no longer regularly buy all three. I occasionally buy either Pilot or Flyer. But as they test the same aircraft, go to the same events and retread the same topics for articles it is now very easy not to buy any of them. I can look up in the loft and find the old articles - which are often very much better written, checked and technically orientated.

Now that Pilot has dumbed down to be a near exact clone of Flyer I'm left with the PFA mag and Flight Safety etc.

It does seem to be a huge shame that the technical and historic background of much current writing is so poor. I could never consider myself an authority but bindingly obvious errors now litter most articles - perhaps it's the editors havng so little background?

[SimJock]

Interesting Thread

Apart from Flight which I get on subscription, my criteria for buying a UK flying mag would be:

1) Are there any free vouchers that will get me into a big airport cheap or encourage me to try going somewhere completely new?
(best one I had was Bristol and that was in Pilot)
2) Are there any comprehensively written 'flying round Europe' type articles
3) Are there any IMC/IR type articles/tutorials/tips

Then I'll scan for aeroplane reviews/flight tests but probably put it back on the shelf.

My fave mag is the US 'Flying', whilst littered with unuseful ads for a UK pilot, Tom Berensons insrument flying exploits in his Baron, the avionics and equipment reviews and safety articles are in my opinion of the highest quality.

This from a 100-150 hr PPL/IMC (for the survey)

Just my 2p's worth

[strafer]

I submitted an article to two of them some time ago and didn't even receive a reply. This could have been for one of three reasons:

1) They receive so many articles, they don't have time to read them all
2) My article was pointless and/or boring
3) Each issue has the same old tosh written by their mates.

I know which one I believe (and no I'm not bitter!).

[Timothy]

strafer

I fear that you are too bitter.

When I first thought about writing in a couple of mags, I first checked with the relevant editor that they would be interested (I was unknown to them at the time), they expressed interest, but no commitment until they saw the copy and then agreed to publish when they got it.

There is no secret, masonic ritual...you just have to write something that the editors think will make their mag better, and it is better to check with them first that they are likely to be interested.

W

[strafer]

Fair enough Mr Collins, however:

An e-mail acknowledgement can be made automatic now we're in the 21st century. A total lack of response, even if unrequested, is not something I give to my customers.
As previously stated by another poster, the articles in all 3 mags do seem to be the same tired subjects, written by the same people (with certain exceptions - John Farley's always good). I'd be interested to know whether they are losing readers or expanding?

Still not bitter.

[QNH 1013]

I do think, however, that a lot of inefficiency is shown. Following a telephone discussion with one of the three last year they asked me to submit a draft article for comment. I didn't even receive the courtesy of a reply, even after two follow up phone calls.

I've had plenty of articles (and more) published elsewhere, so my writing isn't that bad.

[markd.greenfield]

Guys

You may have been unlucky.

In my (admittedly limited) interaction with the main two, they have been interested and have performed as promised.