The delicious irony of sub'n picture editors

Don't you just love it? The article headline reads: 'High-flying SA asked to help Africa with (air) safety record.' This fits rather well with my recent rationale for the SA deputy president flying on a private aircraft to the UAE. OK - forget that. Here's South Africa being touted as the 'coach' on African air safety. The sub-headline reads: 'SAA (South African Airways - our national carrier) has also been asked by international body to help continent's airlines put in place safety audits.'

The killer app? The picture: It's of a troubled SAA subsidiary aircraft, with firemen hosing it down. The craft has clearly lost a nosewheel, landing gear or it's run off the end of the runway. The tail livery and the 'ican' letters visible on the front clearly ID it as a South African Airlink aircraft. Not sure of the geographical location, but it's in close proximity to some houses.

The second item reads: 'Engine failure grounds SAA aircraft'. This snippet tells of an intended flight from Accra to Johannesburg being postoned until a new engine could be fitted. The shipping out of this engine (reported in later media the same day) seriously inconvenienced passengers scheduled to leave JHB on the aircraft that had to piggy-back the new engine to Ghana. Is there something we should know about SAA's maintenance or safety?

The true point of the posting though is that methinks sub-editors and picture editors seldom read the articles in question. Or if they do, the intention of the content is lost on them. Or they simply attended the Monty Python Flying Circus School of Journalism. Whichever, it makes for fun reading and must keep the PR 'reputation management' people on their toes!

Both items appeared in Johannesburg news media 25th January 2006.

Comments

[anon]

A reported that makes comments on aircraft incidents without knowledge of the facts places his comments on all other subjects as irrelevent. As clearly his or her knowledge on these subjects also has to be questioned !!!

1)The aircraft was in Durban.
2)Any Photographer will tell you that a camera zoom lens will make distant images appear closer. The "houses" are km's away !!

3)There are more errors, but I fail to see why I should do your research for you.

DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE COMMENTING

Have you heard the statement, "Nobody will know how stupid or clever you are unless you talk"
.

Good luck with improving your integriy.