Thank Goodness There are Still People Like This

[puredrifting]

Very inspirational read about Captain Chesley Sullenberger here who just landed the jet into the Hudson River. I know a few people like this who are just "on it". They have it all together, are humble, accomplished, professional, modest and successful.

You can argue all day about whether or not he is a hero or was just doing his job but I am in awe of this guy, he definitely is someone that we can all aspire to be more like. For those of us who fly a lot, I know that everytime we are in a plane, we are just praying that the people in cockpit are like this guy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/17/nyregion/17pilot.html

Dan

[Capt Quirk]

You can argue all day about whether or not he is a hero or was just doing his job but I am in awe of this guy, he definitely is someone that we can all aspire to be more like. Keep in mind, he was trying to save his own Bacon too.

[HorseFilms]

I respect the hell out of this guy.:beer:

[puredrifting]

Keep in mind, he was trying to save his own Bacon too.

That's a given, not too many of us WANT to die but look at the guy's training, education and experience. I doubt that self-preservation was the first thing on his mind. If it was, he would have been the first one out of the cabin once they landed.

Did you ever see the Seinfeld where George is at his girlfriend's kids birthday party and a small fire starts in the kitchen? George knocks down his girlfriend's mother and all of the kids in his haste to escape the house because he was "clearing the way" for the rescuers. Hilarious.

Dan

[ugafan]

That's a given, not too many of us WANT to die but look at the guy's training, education and experience.
Dan

it's a beautiful thing when a lifetime of education, training, experience, and natural ability all come together for that one defining moment.

[ChipG]

That's a given, not too many of us WANT to die but look at the guy's training, education and experience. I doubt that self-preservation was the first thing on his mind. If it was, he would have been the first one out of the cabin once they landed.

Did you ever see the Seinfeld where George is at his girlfriend's kids birthday party and a small fire starts in the kitchen? George knocks down his girlfriend's mother and all of the kids in his haste to escape the house because he was "clearing the way" for the rescuers. Hilarious.

Dan

Dan,

Very few pilots are like Sully... I know, most my friends fly for airlines, ones a ceo of a major airline, former check airman (trained commercial pilots) most flew military fighter jets / heavy cargo in the gulf war and I can say they drink me under the table every time and are proud of it... Several like to jump up from thier bar stool's and stop the celieng fan with thier head for fun...

Hey, BTW what airline are you taking to Europe? I can probably get you free drinks.

[brianluce]

Dan,

Very few pilots are like Sully... .

Disagree. I've know a lot of pilots too. My uncle was a military jet jockey and flew for United after that. Most pilots I've known are exactly like Sully. They don't put buffoons in charge of 200 million dollar airplanes filled 500 people and loaded with 50,000 gallons of av fuel.

The thing that impresses me most about about Sully is he made two separate trips back inside the partly submerged cabin to check for passengers. TWO.

[ChipG]

I was kidding around for the most part, I like to say that when I know someone is going to go on a long flight overseas... :)

Sully is a stud! No doubt about it.

[Gord.T]

Most commercial pilots usually come from military backgrounds, is that right? So that's an attribute most of us wouldn't recognize under those extremes. That kind of training is probably what kept everyone alive.

[gco]

Disagree. I've know a lot of pilots too. My uncle was a military jet jockey and flew for United after that. Most pilots I've known are exactly like Sully. They don't put buffoons in charge of 200 million dollar airplanes filled 500 people and loaded with 50,000 gallons of av fuel.
The thing that impresses me most about about Sully is he made two separate trips back inside the partly submerged cabin to check for passengers. TWO.

Good points. Although the fact that he made TWO trips does not surprise me at all. It's a credit to his sense of responsibility, his professionalism and his training. I know a few people like this and there are many more out there. They are not braggarts in the slightest. They are just plain humble, low key yet very capable people. Contrast that with the Greek cruise liner that sank off the coast of Africa a few years back. You might remember seeing the videos of the passengers being air lifted as the bow went under. There weren't enough life boats left for the all of the passengers because the Captain and crew were the FIRST ones off the ship.

[brianluce]

Most commercial pilots usually come from military backgrounds, is that right? So that's an attribute most of us wouldn't recognize under those extremes. That kind of training is probably what kept everyone alive.

That used to be more true than it is now -- for several reasons, not the least of which being the military offers a lot of incentives now for pilots to re-enlist. It's so expensive (for us) to train those guys, makes sense to retain them instead of letting the airlines lure them away.

[davide]

I think it's cool that Puredrifting chose to make his original post at 7:47.

davide

[Jeff Anderson]

and that the two posts above me are at 707 and 727 (at least over here in central time...)

[puredrifting]

I think it's cool that Puredrifting chose to make his original post at 7:47.

davide

But it was an Airbus 320. If I would have been on the ball, I should have posted at 3:20 ;-)

Dan

[Jeff Anderson]

Dangit Dan get your shit together!

[Batutta]

Show your appreciation and become a fan--

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Captain-CB-Sully-Sullenberger/45557497235?ref=nf

[ChipG]

But it was an Airbus 320. If I would have been on the ball, I should have posted at 3:20 ;-)

Dan

It was an A320 so 3:20AM... You slackin' Dan :)

[Sad Max]

They don't put buffoons in charge of 200 million dollar airplanes filled 500 people and loaded with 50,000 gallons of av fuel.

Sometimes they do.

The result is frequently a crater.

[ChipG]

Brian,

I'm a pilot and know hundreds of commercial airline pilots, many from bars when I'm traveling, the main conversation in the pilot lounge at airports is always "where's the happening nightclub to go to tonight in this town?" You'd be surprised how many buffons are in charge of commercial aircraft loaded with a couple hundred people and fuel.

You'd also be surprised to know that over 80%+ of commercial pilots have fallen asleep in the cockpit while flying.

[Sad Max]

*shrug*

What's autopilot for?

[ChipG]

The only time a commercial pilot hand flies the plane is for the take off and landing, about 30 sec on take off and 5 min or so on the landing. Autopilot flies the plane the rest of the time, when the commercial airliner turns at altitute the pilot is not turning the yoke with his hands, he sets the heading bug on the compass (like setting a watch) and the auto pilot follows it. Autopilot is the best invention ever for hangovers.