Chesley Sullenberger

(http://www.ibtimes.com/miracle-hudson-photos-fligh ())

"After logging more than twenty-thousand hours of flight time Sullenberger became internationally renowned on January 15, 2009, when he and his crew safely guided US Airways flight 1549 to an emergency landing in New York City's frigid Hudson River."(Gale Biography) Sullenberger's training and experience paid off when he became one of the greatest pilots because he skillfully landed a plane with 150 people on the Hudson River with no loss of life. Sullenberger was just an average guy when years of airline safety training finally paid off. He was born and raised in Denison, Texas. His childhood dream was to become a pilot one day. After high school Sullenberger attended the United States Air Force Academy. He later served as a fighter pilot for the Air force from 1975 to the 1980's. After flying commercially with US Airway he retired from piloting. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor and was identified as one of the top one hundred most influential heroes and icons of 2009. Sullenberger said that he is no hero because he was just performing his job.

Because of Sullenberger's skill and courageousness he was able to perform an emergency landing. Sullenberger's childhood dream was to become a pilot: "When I had turned 16 I went to my friends dad who was a flight instructor, I paid him to charter the plane and for his instruction."(Highest Duty) After he and his instructor felt he was ready Sullenberger was tested to get his private pilot license. His pilot's license gained him the ability to fly one passenger with him. Because Sullenberger early he quickly racked up hours which led to experience. Sullenberger knew that he wanted to be a pilot as a child so he set his sights on the Air Force Academy: "Upon graduation from the Academy, Sullenberger served as a fighter pilot for the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1980. He advanced to become a flight leader and a training officer, attaining the rank of captain." Since Sullenberger went to the Air Force Academy, and later served in the Air Force he collected thousands of hours in the air, providing him the necessary training to fly commercially. In his graduation year he received an award naming him outstanding cadet in airmanship. He also received his bachelor's degree, in physiology, two master degrees and an industrial psychology degree."(Highest Duty)

(http://brandmyhre.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-now-wate ())

On the morning of January 5, 2009 Sullenberger traveled to the airport preparing for flight 1549. Sullenberger followed his routine by meeting with his crew on the plane before boarding: "...engines went dead, and the passengers went silent as the cabin filled with a smoky haze and odor of the electrical burning. Preliminary evidence indicates that flight 1549 intersected with what the NTSB called "primary targets," almost certainly a flock of birds, possibly Canadian geese. As the plane lost altitude, Sullenberger quickly contacted LaGuardia Air traffic control, weighted his options."(Highest Duty) Three minutes after the plane lifted into the air, the aircraft struck a flock of geese sending the plane on a decent toward disaster. Sullenberger contacted the tower so he could decide where he could safely land the plane: ".he and his crew safely guided US Airways flight 1549 to an emergency landing in New York City's frigid Hudson River."(Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger) Sullenberger knew the he couldn't make it back to the airport safely so he decided in a last second effort to ditch the plane in the Hudson River. Sullenberger has realized the importance of safety and shares his knowledge by speaking at educational institutes.

(http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/pilot-cho ())

Sullenberger is a hero in the aviation industry because of his skill, and courageousness he successfully landed the Airbus on the Hudson. ". Boeing 377 Stratocruiser lost two engines were under strain, consuming large amounts of fuel. Captain Richard Ogg, Forty-two years old, knew he was too far into the trip to turn back to Hawaii. San Francisco was too far ahead. And so he opted for a water landing. He circled for several hours, burning off fuel and waiting, above a U.S. Coast Guard cutter that was in position to rescue passengers and crew. Just before eight A.M., the captain attempted his landing. The tail snapped off and the nose was shattered on impact, but all the passengers and crew were rescued." (Highest Duty) If Sullenberger hadn't carefully studied the water landing performed by Captain Ogg Sullenberger might not have been capable or have even known how to attempt a water landing. Thus causing deaths of hundreds of passengers. Sullenberger used his skills and his experience to safely land Flight 1549: "He brought the aircraft over the George Washington Bridge and down into the Hudson River where it hydroplaned to a stop." (Gale Biography) If Sullenberger made too much of a correction on his path down into the river he could have clipped his wing on the bridge. Sullenberger also knew that he had to keep the wings level and the nose of the plane pointed higher than the tail to make sure the plane wouldn't sink or turtle on impact. What makes Sullenberger a true hero is he was able to act quickly under pressure to land and evacuate the plane safely.