Today's Pilot is yesterday's news (merger with Pilot)

Then there’s always the advertisers. They are vital and it’s the business jet chaps that spend in this department so they expect coverage as well as a representative readership profile. I liked all the flying magazines and still do although I never read Loop. I read F1 magazine, not because I’m a formula one fan but because the magazine is fun and really interesting to read. Our flying mags are good but they are not that imaginative with their articles. I buy US Flying magazine on the strength of their columnists, specially Peter Garrison, Martha Lunken and Les Abend. Their photography is also improving.

…I reckon most of the readers of these publications are more interested in the grass roots type of flying than all your posh Biz Jets and flash gadgets.

Yes, you’d think that by the numbers alone. Last time I was out at the airport, there were more Cessnas than Lears. 😀
It’s not a case of the average guy not being interested in bizjets and glass panels that cost as much as my house, but he’s never going to own or fly (or even fly in) one, so why the total emphasis?
It’s like the average driver reading about F1 cars…but the auto market is so big, there can be publications tailored exclusively for the F1 market as well as the guy looking to buy a Forcus or Golf.

Being member-supported, perhaps the EAA can afford to specialize…aside from its basic magazine, it has divisions (with magazines) for antiquers, warbirds, and homebuilts.

That’s good news for your side of the pond then. I have noticed a tendancy for the ones over this side to head the same way, I reckon most of the readers of these publications are more interested in the grass roots type of flying than all your posh Biz Jets and flash gadgets.

Across the Atlantic, even the venerable Flying is having a bit of a hard time. Sold to new owners, it is on it’s third editor in about six months.

I sent a note to the latest editor, Robert Goyer, a Flying veteran with some suggestions to make it “fun” again instead of what it had become in recent years, a lot of bizjet and fancy avionics pieces aimed at the professional pilot market.

He responded with a personal note that addressed my concerns and suggestions. He wants to put some of the empahasis back to the average GA pilot that has been absent for several years.

Shame, it was a good read each time I bought it, although even when it was launched I wondered whether there was room for three news-stand GA flying magazines – four after Loop went high-street. Personally I prefer the mag with the F-word on the cover over Pilot, but it’s still sad to see the market halved in a month.

Andy

Thank you for the info, without a doubt I shall transfer my subscription as I enjoy both publications and end up buying Pilot as well as having TP drop through the letter box. Just hope they keep this forum running though, as it is my first (only) port of call when I am in need of information.

Any one know how this will affect those of us with subscriptions to Today’s Pilot which are not due for renewal yet?

Hi Mike,

You should be getting a letter through shortly. Basically, you will either be able to transfer your subscription to the new Pilot magazine (encorporating Today’s Pilot) or you can cancel your subscription and a pro-rata refund will be arranged for your remaining months.

regards, Updates.

Any one know how this will affect those of us with subscriptions to Today’s Pilot which are not due for renewal yet?

I believe in the merger process, the ‘Today’s’ part of the deceased’s title, will be added to the ‘Pilot’ part of the long-running and ongoing periodical, to form the bold new publication ‘Today’s Pilot’ 😉

I subscribe to FlyPast and buy AirForces Monthly, The Aeroplane and occasionally Airliner World and Today’s Pilot. I hope Dave Unwin takes his high standards of photography across to PILOT and that Phil Whiteman gets creative with his editorial direction.

I seem to be finding a different ‘Pilot’ magazine to the one you read. In my opinion it is a very dull affair and no serious competition for the other magazine on the bookstalls.

I sincerely hope a little of Today’s Pilot’s style and production values rub-off onto the Archant product and we get something more lively and interesting.

Moggy

It is notable that there has been a number of changes in the ‘Pilot’ editorial team in the last month. I like you, was finding some of the old content a little jaded. I now have higher hopes for the future!

A shame, really, as I quite liked reading Today’s Pilot from time to time.

It was also where I had my first piece of writing published – can’t believe that was nearly 8 years ago….!

I seem to be finding a different ‘Pilot’ magazine to the one you read. In my opinion it is a very dull affair and no serious competition for the other magazine on the bookstalls.

I sincerely hope a little of Today’s Pilot’s style and production values rub-off onto the Archant product and we get something more lively and interesting.

Moggy

I have been reading general aviation magazines on and off for the past year or so and have bought Today’s Pilot a couple of times. And although there was always plenty of content in each issue that appealed to me, Pilot magazine seemed to have the edge, so when deciding which one to subscribe to last month, it was an easy decision to make.

Whilst this merger means disappointment for readers of the Today’s Pilot (and possibly even Key Publishing themselves), it means that those who want to read about general aviation have one [hopefully] great magazine to look forward to each month, jam packed with lots of interesting articles and more.