UK Air Accidents

[Graham Drinkell]

Recent Air Accidents/Incidents appear to have been very poorly reported by
the press. Especially when light aircraft are involved. They are extremely
unknowledgable, wether a paraglider (or other a/c) / RAF training a/c is
involved?

[David Starer[_2_]]

I suspect press reporting in of air accidents and incidents in the UK is
worse than in most places in the world. The attitude (particularly of local
press) seems to be that flying is a dangerous newfangled fad that should be
discouraged at all costs. In many other European countries gliding is part
of the fabric of everyday life and I would expect reporting there to be
better informed and as a result, much more balanced and accurate.

A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe outlanding in a
field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was in progress.
Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in the usual
sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death Plunge" kind of
language. This does nothing to enhance public perception of our sport and I
think we need to be much more diligent in taking the culprits to task. If we
insisted on balanced, accurate, and informed reporting maybe we could start
preventing this kind of ignorant rubbish from appearing in print, along with
the damage it does to our sport.

"Graham Drinkell" > wrote in message
...
> Recent Air Accidents/Incidents appear to have been very poorly reported by
> the press. Especially when light aircraft are involved. They are extremely
> unknowledgable, wether a paraglider (or other a/c) / RAF training a/c is
> involved?

[Jose Jimenez]

David Starer wrote:

> In many other European countries
> gliding is part of the fabric of everyday life and I would expect
> reporting there to be better informed and as a result, much more
> balanced and accurate.

<:o)

> A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe outlanding in
> a field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was in
> progress. Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in the
> usual sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death Plunge" kind
> of language.

Unfortuately, this is the norm rather than the exception even in
Germany. For the very least it's titled as an "emergency landing".

[David Starer[_2_]]

"José Jiménez" <nospam@please> wrote in message
...
> David Starer wrote:
>
>> In many other European countries gliding is part of the fabric of
>> everyday life and I would expect reporting there to be better informed
>> and as a result, much more balanced and accurate.
>
> <:o)
>
>> A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe outlanding in
>> a field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was in
>> progress. Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in the
>> usual sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death Plunge" kind of
>> language.
>
> Unfortuately, this is the norm rather than the exception even in Germany.
> For the very least it's titled as an "emergency landing".

At least that's a "landing" of some sort; here it's usually reported as a
"crash", even when it's blindingly obvious there wasn't one!

[bildan]

On Jun 17, 8:26*am, "David Starer" > wrote:
> "José Jiménez" <nospam@please> wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > David Starer wrote:
>
> >> In many other European countries gliding is part of the fabric of
> >> everyday life and I would expect reporting there to be better informed
> >> and as a result, much more balanced and accurate.
>
> > <:o)
>
> >> A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe outlanding in
> >> a field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was in
> >> progress. Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in the
> >> usual sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death Plunge" kind of
> >> language.
>
> > Unfortuately, this is the norm rather than the exception even in Germany.
> > For the very least it's titled as an "emergency landing".
>
> At least that's a "landing" of some sort; here it's usually reported as a
> "crash", even when it's blindingly obvious there wasn't one!

The only bright spot is that these local rags are rapidly dying for
lack of advertising revenue. The screaming headlines and lurid
stories are a desperate attempt to hang on to readers for their
advertisers as long as possible. Real "news" vanished from their
pages long ago - pretty much everyone knows that.

The Internet with it's unlimited choice has won. For newspapers, the
'light at the end of the tunnel' is the headlight on a train named
Google.

I still relish the look on the face of a newspaper marketing guy who
knocked on my door with an unfortunate lad in tow trying to get me to
take the local paper for "free" when I told him, "No, I don't want to
pay the refuse collector to haul it away." If you can't sell "free",
you're toast.

[Del C[_2_]]

Some years ago I made the front page of the Leicester Mercury when I made a
field landing during a Hus Bos Comp.

Allegedly I was 'desperately seeking somewhere to land', 'swooped low
over a farmhouse', and then 'crashed into a field where some local
schoolchildren had been playing only the previous day'.

Actually it was an out and return task, I had identified the field as
being suitable when I got a bit low on the way out, some 30 minutes before
I actually landed in it, and did a very copybook circuit and landing. It
was a nice big field with no obstructions on the approach, stubble
surface, and no animals or children!

They also got my name and the make of my glider wrong. The only facts they
got right were that I was unhurt and the glider was undamaged! They never
spoke to me, only a couple of witnesses and the police who had checked
that I was OK.

What can you do?

Derek Copeland

At 15:01 17 June 2009, bildan wrote:
>On Jun 17, 8:26=A0am, "David Starer" wrote:
>> "Jos=E9 Jim=E9nez" wrote in message
>>
>> ...
>>
>>
>>
>> > David Starer wrote:
>>
>> >> In many other European countries gliding is part of the fabric of
>> >> everyday life and I would expect reporting there to be better
>informed
>> >> and as a result, much more balanced and accurate.
>>
>> >
>> >> A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe
outlanding
>=
>in
>> >> a field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was
in
>> >> progress. Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in
>the
>> >> usual sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death Plunge"
>kind=
> of
>> >> language.
>>
>> > Unfortuately, this is the norm rather than the exception even in
>German=
>y.
>> > For the very least it's titled as an "emergency landing".
>>
>> At least that's a "landing" of some sort; here it's usually
reported as
>a
>> "crash", even when it's blindingly obvious there wasn't one!
>
>The only bright spot is that these local rags are rapidly dying for
>lack of advertising revenue. The screaming headlines and lurid
>stories are a desperate attempt to hang on to readers for their
>advertisers as long as possible. Real "news" vanished from their
>pages long ago - pretty much everyone knows that.
>
>The Internet with it's unlimited choice has won. For newspapers, the
>'light at the end of the tunnel' is the headlight on a train named
>Google.
>
>I still relish the look on the face of a newspaper marketing guy who
>knocked on my door with an unfortunate lad in tow trying to get me to
>take the local paper for "free" when I told him, "No, I don't want
to
>pay the refuse collector to haul it away." If you can't sell
"free",
>you're toast.
>

[Peter Wyld[_2_]]

"brave pilot narrowly avoids school" etc. Well, of course s/he would,
school buildings are very hard and they will hurt. School playing fields
are much more accommodating (with or without soft squishy
schoolchildren).

At 17:00 17 June 2009, Del C wrote:
>Some years ago I made the front page of the Leicester Mercury when I made
a
>field landing during a Hus Bos Comp.
>
>Allegedly I was 'desperately seeking somewhere to land', 'swooped low
>over a farmhouse', and then 'crashed into a field where some local
>schoolchildren had been playing only the previous day'.
>
>Actually it was an out and return task, I had identified the field as
>being suitable when I got a bit low on the way out, some 30 minutes
before
>I actually landed in it, and did a very copybook circuit and landing. It
>was a nice big field with no obstructions on the approach, stubble
>surface, and no animals or children!
>
>They also got my name and the make of my glider wrong. The only facts
they
>got right were that I was unhurt and the glider was undamaged! They
never
>spoke to me, only a couple of witnesses and the police who had checked
>that I was OK.
>
>What can you do?
>
>Derek Copeland
>
>At 15:01 17 June 2009, bildan wrote:
>>On Jun 17, 8:26=A0am, "David Starer" wrote:
>>> "Jos=E9 Jim=E9nez" wrote in message
>>>
>>> ...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> > David Starer wrote:
>>>
>>> >> In many other European countries gliding is part of the fabric of
>>> >> everyday life and I would expect reporting there to be better
>>informed
>>> >> and as a result, much more balanced and accurate.
>>>
>>> >
>>> >> A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe
>outlanding
>>=
>>in
>>> >> a field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was
>in
>>> >> progress. Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in
>>the
>>> >> usual sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death
Plunge"
>>kind=
>> of
>>> >> language.
>>>
>>> > Unfortuately, this is the norm rather than the exception even in
>>German=
>>y.
>>> > For the very least it's titled as an "emergency landing".
>>>
>>> At least that's a "landing" of some sort; here it's usually
>reported as
>>a
>>> "crash", even when it's blindingly obvious there wasn't one!
>>
>>The only bright spot is that these local rags are rapidly dying for
>>lack of advertising revenue. The screaming headlines and lurid
>>stories are a desperate attempt to hang on to readers for their
>>advertisers as long as possible. Real "news" vanished from their
>>pages long ago - pretty much everyone knows that.
>>
>>The Internet with it's unlimited choice has won. For newspapers, the
>>'light at the end of the tunnel' is the headlight on a train named
>>Google.
>>
>>I still relish the look on the face of a newspaper marketing guy who
>>knocked on my door with an unfortunate lad in tow trying to get me to
>>take the local paper for "free" when I told him, "No, I don't want
>to
>>pay the refuse collector to haul it away." If you can't sell
>"free",
>>you're toast.
>>
>

[Jim White[_3_]]

I would avoid playing fields if possible. They often have been 'levelled'
leaving large steps between levels. I know to my cost!

Jim




At 22:00 17 June 2009, Peter Wyld wrote:
>"brave pilot narrowly avoids school" etc. Well, of course s/he would,
>school buildings are very hard and they will hurt. School playing fields
>are much more accommodating (with or without soft squishy
>schoolchildren).
>

[Ian]

On 17 June, 14:46, "David Starer" > wrote:
> If we
> insisted on balanced, accurate, and informed reporting maybe we could start
> preventing this kind of ignorant rubbish from appearing in print, along with
> the damage it does to our sport.

There isn't the slightest chance of anybody being able to insist of
"balanced, accurate and informed reporting". Insist to whom? Under
threat of what penalty?

Ian

[Ian]

On 17 June, 18:00, Del C > wrote:

> They also got my name and the make of my glider wrong. The only facts they
> got right were that I was unhurt and the glider was undamaged! They never
> spoke to me, only a couple of witnesses and the police who had checked
> that I was OK.
>
> What can you do?

Phone the reporter and invite him/her for a flight?

Ian

[Del C[_2_]]

I did send an email to the editor of this paper complaining about this
article. I got a reply back from him in which he was very apologetic and
explained that he was a glider pilot himself.

He was on leave that week and the article was passed by a sub editor. He
would have squashed it if he had been there. I believe that a retraction
was published a couple of weeks later on an inside page, but the damage
had already been done by then.

I wasn't in a position to offer the journalist a flight, because I was
doing a comp a long way from home and only had a single seat glider.

I suppose that from a journalistic point of view, 'glider lands safely in
large empty field' (not a school playing field btw) is not very
newsworthy. A bit like the famous (London) Times headline 'Small
earthquake in Peru, not many killed'!

Derek Copeland


At 09:06 18 June 2009, Ian wrote:
>On 17 June, 18:00, Del C wrote:
>
>> They also got my name and the make of my glider wrong. The only facts
>they
>> got right were that I was unhurt and the glider was undamaged! They
>never
>> spoke to me, only a couple of witnesses and the police who had checked
>> that I was OK.
>>
>> What can you do?
>
>Phone the reporter and invite him/her for a flight?
>
>Ian
>

[David Starer[_2_]]

In the UK we have a body called the Press Complaints Commission. The PCC's
function is to adjudicate when someone who considers that a newspaper has
broken the Editors' Code of Practice makes a complaint against that
newspaper. This is an extract from the code that covers the kind of poor
reporting that leads to the kind of rubbish some local papers tend to print
about gliding:

i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or
distorted information, including pictures.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once
recognised must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and - where
appropriate - an apology published.

iii) The Press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between
comment, conjecture and fact.

Raising a complaint with the PCC against a newspaper is simple and
inexpensive; it can consist of as little as a phone call. If the PCC finds
that a newspaper has indeed broken the code, it will instruct the newpaper
to issue an apology and a correction to the original article. While this is
all a voluntary system for newspapers, it does provide a means of putting
pressure on journalists and editors to get their facts right.

Maybe we as glider pilots should be a little more willing to make that phone
call?

"Ian" > wrote in message
...
> On 17 June, 14:46, "David Starer" > wrote:
>> If we
>> insisted on balanced, accurate, and informed reporting maybe we could
>> start
>> preventing this kind of ignorant rubbish from appearing in print, along
>> with
>> the damage it does to our sport.
>
> There isn't the slightest chance of anybody being able to insist of
> "balanced, accurate and informed reporting". Insist to whom? Under
> threat of what penalty?
>
> Ian
>

[Alistair Wright]

>>> A member of my club recently made a perfectly normal, safe outlanding in
>>> a field in Lincolnshire near to a field where a cricket match was in
>>> progress. Unfortunately the local rag found out and reported it in the
>>> usual sensationalised "Glider Pilot in Shock Horror Death Plunge" kind
>>> of language.
>>
>> Unfortunately, this is the norm rather than the exception even in
>> Germany. For the very least it's titled as an "emergency landing".
>
> At least that's a "landing" of some sort; here it's usually reported as a
> "crash", even when it's blindingly obvious there wasn't one!

Even more alarming is the case where you make a perfectly good landing in a
field and by the time you have got out of the cockpit to seek a phone (in
the days before mobiles), an ambulance, a fire engine, and a police car meet
you at the gate. This happened to me twice! I never made it to the news
sheets.

Alistair Wright