As a former TV news producer, I know how hard it is to find credible, experienced aviation commentators when a story breaks. A plane has crashed, or there’s a huge strike causing immense disruption, and your editor is yelling that they need someone air, now.
Who do you call? Pretty much everyone who currently works in aviation can’t talk to the media, so all current pilots, engineers and managers are out. Chances are, you’ll look through who your outlet has previously spoken to, and call them again. And that’s sometimes ok – but often, you’ll get someone who doesn’t actually have any particular knowledge about the incident (they have never flown that plane, for example, or are unfamiliar with the way the regulations work in that particular part of the world.)
And if you do book that person, I can guarantee that people who work in the industry will be yelling at the TV / tweeting their rage / emailing your boss to complain. #Avgeeks are a militant lot, and fair enough – this sort of thing makes them question whether news outlets really do practice due diligence when booking experts to talk about news stories.
So, as a former BBC Transport Producer and aviation specialist, I thought I’d use my particular area of knowledge to pull together a list of potential guests, and sources of guests, so that you can find the right person to talk to, quickly. Click on the names to be taken to Twitter handles.
Please note this is a work in progress, so I’m still awaiting some contact details. If you think I’ve missed somebody great off this list (and I’d LOVE to add some female experts in particular) please drop me a line.
Also, you might find this previous post handy – it includes lots of other tips for non-specialist journalists faced with reporting on aviation stories.
NB: If you want to speak to a current pilot / ATC professional for background, I have a number of them who are prepared to provide assistance, unofficially of course. Please contact me if you would like their details.
General contacts:
BALPA (The British Airline Pilots Association). BALPA have some recently retired pilots who act as spokespeople for them, as well as in-house BALPA experts. Give the PR reps a call (these mobile numbers work out of hours too) and they will find you someone. Charlotte Branson, Media and Communications Officer Tel: +44 (0)20 8476 4046 Mob: +44 (0) 7776 763 599 Email:charlottebranson@balpa.org or Nancy Jackson, Media and Communications Officer, Tel: +44 (0)20 8476 4024 Mobile: +44 (0)7889 087 943 Email: nancyjackson@balpa.org
The Royal Aeronautical Society, Dawn Nigli, Head of External Affairs. The Society puts forward experts to speak on a number of topics including aviation, space, defence, drones, Brexit, air safety. Direct: +44 (0)207 670 4362 Email: dawn.nigli@aerosociety.com, Web: www.aerosociety.com
Simon Calder: Aviation-specialist journalist, Independent and Evening Standard. Always reliable, relatable, speaks in language the layman understands. Particularly strong on issues that affect passengers directly. Email: s@hols.tv.
John Strickland: John has 36 years of experience in the air transport industry, holding senior positions with airlines including British Airways and KLMuk. He founded JLS Consulting in 2003 to provide strategic advisory services for the air transport industry. john@jlsconsultancy.com
Gideon Ewers: Managing Consultant at Montgomery Aviation Consulting. Gideon has more than 20 years of management experience primarily in the aviation and air transport industry. Email flygidz@gmail.com.
Alastair Rosenschein: Former British Airways 747 pilot, Operational and technical advisor on aircraft accidents and incidents.
Jon Ostrower: Editor-in-chief of The Air Current. ex-CNN, WSJ & Flightglobal. Jon@theaircurrent.com (phone number available from me on request.) Lives US West Coast. Areas of expertise are air safety, aircraft testing and development, aerospace manufacturing.
Mary Schiavo: US-based international Transportation Attorney, CNN On Air Analyst. Telephone: +1 843.216.9138 (office) or +1 843.834.2445 (mobile) mary@maryschiavo.com
Grant Brophy: Air Safety Investigator/Consultant. Member: Royal Aeronautical Society, ISASI, Flight Safety Foundation, & American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics. More than 25 years working in aviation safety and aircraft accident investigation, flight operations (B767-300ER, B777-200ER, B747-200, B747-400, DC10-10, DC10-30, MD10-30, and MD11F), and electronic engineering. Based USA west coast. Email grantbrophy859@gmail.com.
Suren Ratwatte: Ex-CEO Sri Lankan airlines, and also a pilot – has flown the B737, L1011, A300, A310, B777, A330, A340, A380, A320. surenratwatte@icloud.com
Chris Chalk: British Aviation Group vice-Chairman, Global Practice Leader for Aviation at Mott MacDonald. Mott MacDonald is one of the world’s most experienced aviation consultancies providing aviation advisory services to governments, civil aviation authorities, airport companies, equity investors and providers of debt finance.
Jim Termini: Former airline pilot (British Mediterranean) now aviation security consultant. He’s currently Director of International Business for Redline Assured Security. Get in touch via Redline +44 (0)1302 288360.
Graham Braithwaite: Head of Transport Systems and Professor of Safety and Accident Investigation at Cranfield University, UK. g.r.braithwaite@cranfield.ac.uk
Sally Gethin: UK-based aviation journalist. Specialist areas – inflight entertainment, connectivity, airports and the passenger experience. Contact sally@gethinsinflight.com https://www.gethinsinflight.com/about
Saj Ahmad: Chief Analyst at StrategicAero Research. UK based but with specialist knowledge of the GCC aviation market. Worked in the aviation industry for over 22 years, specialising in Airbus/Boeing product development alongside market research into large commercial engines. Contact saj.ahmad@strategicaeroresearch.com.
Chris Tarry: Runs his own aviation consultancy. After spending some 20 years as a top rated analyst in the City of London, Chris established himself as an independent aviation analyst and advisor in 2002. He has served as special advisor on aviation policy issues to the UK Government, to Parliamentary Committees and to the Civil Aviation Authority. Contact details here.
If it’s related to business / private jets, try:
Dave Edwards: Ex-MD of Gama Aviation plc for Middle East and Africa, Group General Manager of Gama worldwide, EVP at Qatar Airways covering Qatar Exec and Ground Services. UK, UAE and Qatar Accountable Manager and Compliance Manager for AOC and MRO Maintenance. Currently owns and invests in five aviation businesses. Also part time CEO of BACA – The Air Charter Association, the industry body for air charter. Private pilot. Contact de@windscap.com(phone number available from me on request.) Specialist areas are business aviation, illegal charters
If it’s Air Traffic Control related, try:
Paul Creighton: USA-based ATC specialist. Call re any topic involving incidents on tarmac, departing/landing aircraft, ATC procedures and safety, the politics around the FAA, how they fight to keep funding when govt wants to privatize. PaulCreighton44@gmail.com. Time zone – Central USA. Phone number available from me on request.
The Prospect ATCOS’ Branch is a trade union which comprises of over 2000 members across multiple ANSPs (Air Navigation Service Providers). All ATCOs’ Branch members are currently employed in the ATM industry. The ATCOs’ Branch ‘Chair’, also sits as the President of The Global Air Traffic Controllers Alliance. Contact comms@atcos.co.uk for access to spokespeople.
GATCO, the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers, is a professional organisation representing civil and military air traffic controllers and ATM personnel in the UK. GATCO is the UK member of IFATCA. Contact John Freeman, GATCO Comms, info@gatco.org
If it’s weather related, try:
Simon Proud: Aviation Safety Fellow at Oxford Uni, Meteorologist, Satellite data specialist. simon.proud@physics.ox.ac.uk
Victoria Scott 