| Last Updated: Jan 17, 2009 - 1:49:15 AM |
DANVILLE/NEW YORK
—
The top story in many network news broadcasts and papers this week has involved the incredible emergency landing which took place this week in New York... in the Hudson River, to be specific. The pilot who orchestrated the jaw-dropping landing of Flight 1549 is Captain Chesley "Sulley" Sullenberger III. This captain is being credited with saving the lives of between 150 and 155 North Carolina-bound passengers on board the flight that took off from LaGuardia Airport during the late afternoon hours of Thursday, January 15. The landing was viewed widely as all the more impressive, as soon after passengers filed out of the floating plane and onto the wings, while straddling the nearly freezing river, some of the first responders were civilian water taxi drivers, soon joined by officials. Captain Sullenberger was the last to leave the plane, after all passengers were escorted off. Captain Sullenberger is a former US Air Force Captain, fighter pilot and has an IQ high enough to get membership in MENSA, the organization for those with genius-level IQs.
Though a final analysis by the National Transportation and Safety Board is still pending, it is widely believed that the airliner was brought down after a flock of geese was caught in the aircraft's engines, causing engine failure. Luckily for those souls on board, Sullenberger is a noted expert in emergency situations and a former investigator of complex arial situations. Sullenberger is clearly a man both interested in the physical and mental aspects of work, as illustrated by his long and decorated history both in the armed services (seven years) and his B.S. in Psychology, alongside his double Masters degrees, in Psychology and Public Administration. He is a pioneer in airplane safety and a true leader among his peers. Younger generations have latched onto his actions, quickly creating social networking groups to applaud him. On Facebook, there are 68 results for "Chesley Sullenberger," with group sizes ranging from 3 to 9,079 (and growing!) The largest group, titled "
Pilot of flight 1549, Chesley B. 'Sully' Sullenberger III,"
was formed by New Jersey resident Christopher Gines, who advocates the awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Captain Sullenberger and Captain Jeff Skiles, who was the co-pilot of Flight 1549.
Sullenberger's resume lists his former occupation as a fighter pilot and a captain in the United States Air Force, from 1973 to 1980, for just shy of seven years. According to his own description of this position, Sullenberger was a "USAF officer and fighter pilot on F-4 aircraft," who had "experience in Europe,
Asia and at Nellis AFB, Nevada, where [he] served as Blue Force Mission
Commander in Red Flag joint exercises." He was also "a member of a USAF aircraft
accident investigation board," and "served as a flight training officer and
unit deployment and war plans officer. Commended for writing wing after
action report."
Currently, he is the President and CEO of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., and a captain at USAirways, where he writes that he was "responsible for all aspects of safety and security pertaining to
flight, including planning, preparation and aircraft servicing. Leader
of crew and responsible for passengers and aircraft. Involved in
development and implementation of the first Crew Resource Management
(CRM) training course used at the airline. As a Check Airman, [he] was
responsible for the training and supervision of other airline pilots
transitioning to another aircraft type or upgrading to Captain. Served
as an Air Line Pilots Association Local Air Safety Chairman and
Accident Investigator and national technical committee member."
Chesley Sullenberger III. Photo courtesy of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc./AP. |
Oh, there's more.
Sullenberger, 57, aka the "Hero of the Hudson," also happens to be a Bay Area resident! This hero is a Danville citizen, to be exact. Though his masterful actions occurred on the East Coast, the Bay Area is where this former fighter pilot calls home, where he lives with wife Lorrie and two daughters. Captain Sullenberger's calm after the impromptu landing was also noted. He reportedly sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee after saving the lives of over 150 passengers. Sullenberger has taught near his home, at the University of Calfornia, Berkeley, where he has previously lectured at the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management.
The resourceful pilot was honored by many, including New York's Mayor Bloomberg, who presented Sullenberger with a ceremonial key to New York City, and by thousands of young Facebook fans, who quickly created groups honoring the quick-thinking pilot. Truly practicing what he preached, Captain Sullenberger is a modern hero.
© Copyright $article.date:format(yyyy)$
by San Francisco News
Top of Page
|
