Is Qantas having more incidents or has there just been more reporting of it?

[gilly]

I've just heard about the latest incident where a Qantas 747 had to return to SYD (I think it was SYD) after there was smoke in the coughpit on a flight to Buenos Aires.
This and the recent run of incidents being reported across the media since the A380 engine failure a couple of weeks ago made me wonder if they really are having more problems lately or are we just hearing about it more.

I know for a fact there are normally plenty of small things that happen that don't make it onto the 6 o'clock news. You just have to browse the ATSB site for evidence of those.

Your opinions please.

 

[oz_mark]

If it had not been for the A380 incident, I doubt we would have heard of the others. I suspect they're just being reported more, but without access to the stats, can't be 100% sure.

 

[samh004]

I’d agree that things are being reported more. I think this latest incident would have been reported regardless, but other little bits between now and the A380/747 SIN issues mightn’t have been picked up.

 

[ozmille]

I must say I have never seen a national carrier being so slammed in the press anywhere before. It seems every little issue get's blown out of proportion and often misrepresented in the press (eg picture of QF30 with the whole in the fuselage after the QF6 incident)...

Mille

 

[Mal]

I must say I have never seen a national carrier being so slammed in the press anywhere before. It seems every little issue get's blown out of proportion and often misrepresented in the press (eg picture of QF30 with the whole in the fuselage after the QF6 incident)...

Actually, the UK press does slam BA quite well all the time ... so it isn't unprecedented.

However, Qantas does get special attention in Australia from the media. I blame AAP, News Ltd, Fairfax and Steve Purvinas (especially) for the attention it gets.

 

[maninblack]

Sorry but todays incident does not sound trivial, we await the official findings. QF74 was not trivial, QF32 not trivial, nor QF30.

 

[oz_mark]

Sorry but todays incident does not sound trivial, we await the official findings. QF74 was not trivial, QF32 not trivial, nor QF30.

No one said they were trivial - the question is whether there are more incidents or whether they are just being reported more.

 

[Mal]

From my perspective, that is their job - to report on the news, to analyse what it means, to cover angles.

Yes, it's their job to report on the news, not wild speculation on things that are not relevant. The misleading headlines, the scare mongering, the over-reporting of various events that aren't events and especially their denial of other major incidents (eg EK's MEL runway experience) is what I dislike.

There are reasons why News Ltd is known as NoNews around here.

 

[maninblack]

No one said they were trivial - the question is whether there are more incidents or whether they are just being reported more.

Hard to know the statistics but these incidents are significant and deserve the attention they are receiving. The fact that an engine failed on the flight bringing QF32 passengers and crew home did not help matters - I couldn't believe it :shock:

 

[oz_mark]

Mal, can I ask why you think that news organisations should come in for blame for reporting on the Qantas incidents, examining its track record, looking at the potential issues for reputation and revenue etc?

From my perspective, that is their job - to report on the news, to analyse what it means, to cover angles.

The problem is that they tend to pick and choose the angles they wish to report on, and don't always give a balanced view. How much analysis against other airlines have we seen - are they better or worse?

 

[nlagalle]

Mal, can I ask why you think that news organisations should come in for blame for reporting on the Qantas incidents, examining its track record, looking at the potential issues for reputation and revenue etc?

From my perspective, that is their job - to report on the news, to analyse what it means, to cover angles.

Qantas is not only a public company, it's our national airline and it's an Aussie icon. Beyond any obvious public safety issues, each of those three aspects makes it fair game to cover.

I too work for a news organisation, and what annoys me coming from an aviation background is the lack of knowledge in the reporting of these incidents. It's also the rush "to get it online" that attributes to this. the fact they also include biased information from our mate Steve, that has been proven to be factually incorrect, makes it even worse.

However what irks me is why wasn't this reported????

Incident: Lufthansa A321 near Dubrovnik on Nov 5th 2010, unruly bottle

:mrgreen:

 

[pauly7]

the denial of other major incidents (eg EK's MEL runway experience) is what I dislike.

There are reasons why News Ltd is known as NoNews .

I still can't believe the Emirates near miss barely got an inch on page 504!!

Also most of virgins incidents barely get a mention as well.

They just love to flog QF, JQ and Tiger for some reason. I'm honestly beginning to think they have shares in DJ

 

[mannej]

Geoffrey Thomas is someone who I consider to be very good at his job.

He seems to be able to write a balanced article where others do not attempt to.

Has anyone at any of these majors looked at The Aviation Herald just to see how many incidents there are daily around the world?

This may help set a bit of context

 

[drron]

Mal, can I ask why you think that news organisations should come in for blame for reporting on the Qantas incidents, examining its track record, looking at the potential issues for reputation and revenue etc?

From my perspective, that is their job - to report on the news, to analyse what it means, to cover angles.

Qantas is not only a public company, it's our national airline and it's an Aussie icon. Beyond any obvious public safety issues, each of those three aspects makes it fair game to cover.

Its a question of balance.Last week for example Rex had an engine failure at Wagga.On Friday 3 planes were stranded at Maroochydore waiting on engineers-2 JQ,1 DJ.Nothing reported even though these are Australian stories.The Rex incident is reported on Aviation Herald so any aviation reporter who does even the slightest amount of research should have picked up on it.
Yes the A380 story is a big story.however the real story from my point of view is the contrast in airlines responses-the same fault has been found on engines in the QF,LH and SQ fleets though only the QF fleet has been grounded for an extended period-why?Actually makes me believe flying QF is safer than flying SQ or LH.Not the impression you get from reading the Aussie media.
Then there is the linking of all incidents-sure the official reports are not available but it is drawing a wide bow to say all have at least a common component apart from the planes livery.I particularly am annoyed at the reports(on the ABC) that link the A380 and 747 engine incidents because the engines are from RR.They are different engines.The A380 incident is looking less and less likely to be the responsibility of QF.
Then there is the reporting of pax comments-OK does give a human side to the incidents but the prominence of some ludicrous comments is hardly serious journalism.
Sorry but my assessment of Australian journalism is still-Must do better.

 

[serfty]

Mal, can I ask why you think that news organisations should come in for blame for reporting on the Qantas incidents, examining its track record, looking at the potential issues for reputation and revenue etc?

From my perspective, that is their job - to report on the news, to analyse what it means, to cover angles.

Qantas is not only a public company, it's our national airline and it's an Aussie icon. Beyond any obvious public safety issues, each of those three aspects makes it fair game to cover.

To add to Mal's reply; there is a general theme of selective emphasis on QF issues. I believe this selective as there are generally many noteworthy issues that occur but get no mention. With the QF32 incident earlier this month there is now greater attention being paid.

Have a look at this list: The Aviation Herald

Going back a 6 weeks you would have found little or no mention of most of these; any happen within the next week or so we can expect a full page on most of the major players.

[EDIT]

Now I have posted that list, It'll probably appear on a newspaper near you soon enough. talis vita ... I leave the link there to illustrate my point.​

[/Edit]

 

[markis10]

It should be remembered that our media is mostly controlled by an organisation that at one stage owned an airline that was not exactly a fan of QF. While times have changed and airlines come and go, it would seem that there is a large amount of perceived bias still evident in their reporting, as reported numerous times here on AFF.

I dont think the quality of journalism in an aviation context can be defended in Australia, the real stories of public interest are either very slow to appear or dont appear at all, while the tabloid pieces complete with ludicrous illustrations are published on a daily basis. The ATSB incidents database makes for more interesting reading in terms of whats happening in Australia IMHO.

 

[oz_mark]

For those interested in the quality of reporting, have a look at the following:

On the left is the list of what went wrong (according to News), (12 November reports)
On the right is an 'unattributed list' of what went wrong posted on PPrune

news.com.au and pprune.org side-by-side. I think news.com.au ... on Twitpic

 

[medhead]

However what irks me is why wasn't this reported????

Incident: Lufthansa A321 near Dubrovnik on Nov 5th 2010, unruly bottle

:mrgreen:

It irks you? Just from the link I would suggest that you ask yourself how that incident is relevant to someone sitting in a mcmansion in western Sydney. That might provide an insight as to why it wasn't reported.

 

[mannej]

It irks you? Just from the link I would suggest that you ask yourself how that incident is relevant to someone sitting in a mcmansion in western Sydney. That might provide an insight as to why it wasn't reported.

I don't think there was any serious hint that this incident should have been reported

 

[Nigelinoz]

Perhaps they should all write stories like this..
Aviation: Qantas in trouble again but it's not the airline's fault / Aviation / Aviation, Shipping & Freight / Industries / The Chief Officers' Network - your business advantage - The Chief Offficers' Network

Aviation: Qantas in trouble again but it's not the airline's fault

AirTravelReports.Com
Tuesday 09 November 2010

For more than an hour last night, a storm raged over Sydney's airport. Unable to land safely, Qantas diverted three flights to Canberra. It was all very smooth and civilised. Passengers were fed and watered and left to watch the inflight entertainment; the planes were refuelled. The storm moved away; the aircraft prepared for take-off. First, one, then a second then .. well, there wouldn't be a story if it had all gone according to plan, would there? One has to feel sorry for Qantas who seem to be in a trough of bad news - even when the problems are not their fault.