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Highly-regarded aviation safety author Macarthur ‘Mac’ Job died on Wednesday after battling cancer for a number of years, aged 88.
A contributor to Australian Aviation over many years, Mac was perhaps best known as the author of the world-renowned Air Crash and Air Disaster book series (published between 1991 and 2001). He began his writing career in the mid-1960s as editor of the then Department of Civil Aviation’s Aviation Safety Digest publication (which in 1972 was awarded the Flight Safety Foundation’s prestigious ‘Publication of the Year’ award), while from the late 1970s he was editor of Australian aviation industry magazine Aircraft (now Aviation Business). In more recent years Mac wrote a number of aviation titles and was a contributor to Aero Australia magazine.
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Mac was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2003 for “services to the promotion of aviation safety”. Other awards included a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the National Aviation Press Club (NAPC) in 2007, and in 1997 both the Aviation Safety Foundation of Australia’s ‘Aviation Safety Award‘ for “aviation safety excellence” in the ground support category and AOPA’s ‘Bill Adams Trophy’ for ”the most outstanding contribution to aviation by an AOPA member”.
Mac’s NAPC award citation highlighted: “one of the quiet achievers in journalism and a person who has dedicated his considerable writing and flying skills to furthering the cause of air safety”. It also noted that: “Mac’s ability to analyse and dissect accidents in language that pilots understand is a great gift. And Mac is no desk jockey either: his logbook includes hours flown for the Flying Doctor in South Australia and with the Missionary Fellowship in Papua New Guinea.”
adammudhen
says:That’s a real shame, I always enjoyed his work.
Blind Monkey
says:I flew with the Victorian Scout Air Activity Centre for many years. The first time I exercised the privileges of my then fresh CPL was with Mac as the pilot of the other duty aircraft on the day. Mac and I flew together regularly and remained in touch for many years after both of us ceased flying with SAAC.
He was a fountain of knowledge, a great practical pilot, experiences to fill a ‘Boys Own Annual’, a very difficult to replace aviation writer, but most of all a true gentleman.
Vale GM (Mac) Job
Doggo
says:Mac’s legacy can’t really be understated. RIP.
Biggles
says:On Wednesday I was flying light aircraft around in some marginal VFR conditions and thinking of his many safety articles on the subject and what not to do etc. Needless to say I arrived safely thanks to people like him. Great author and seemed like a great bloke.
tom dennis
says:We will probably never see an Aviation Safety Writer as good as Macarthur Job again. I know he was responsible for my 47 years of safe flying.
Phil Miller
says:I really enjoyed the Air Disasters series of books. I have all of them here. A great teacher of grave lesson.
Steve Riley
says:Sincerest condolences to Mac,s family and huge base of friends.
I never met him but have read reams of his work and I too have recalled his words of wisdom on many occasions whilst committing aviation.
The pilot fraternity salutes you sir, Thank you !
Respect.
Russell
says:Yes, he was great. My grandad had his books and I read them all. Particularly enjoyed “The Old and The Bold”. Great stories from early days of Australian aviation. So interesting.