US Airways Flight 1549

[MauiV]

I would guess that hitting the water at 180knots may have something to do with the engines not still being attached, but Im sure the conspiracy freaks will start having sightings of missels and slingshots and aliens blah blah blah. No doubt they will pin this on the controller for not isuing the right type of bird or the correct size and number in the bird advisory.

I remember several years ago the Air Force lost an E-3 at Elmendorf to gooses in the motors.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by MauiV

I would guess that hitting the water at 180knots may have something to do with the engines not still being attached, but Im sure the conspiracy freaks will start having sightings of missels and slingshots and aliens blah blah blah. No doubt they will pin this on the controller for not isuing the right type of bird or the correct size and number in the bird advisory.

I remember several years ago the Air Force lost an E-3 at Elmendorf to gooses in the motors.

24 deaths in that one.

[Ranger]

Originally Posted by submariner409

Putting an AirBus dead stick into the Hudson with no loss of life is flat miraculous. Testimony to the flight crew and airframe.

It truly was Sub. I was in an Airbus simulator a few years ago and after the actual "check" the pilot wanted to try something similar. These sims are extremely realistic. We took off out of SFO and cut both engines at about the same altitude he was at and the turn 180 and dead sticked it back in. I don't mind saying that I was a little puckered. It was a very rough "landing", but as the pilots looked at each other and said, "I think we would have survived that one".

I'm quite sure Sully will be rightfully honored and will likely be on the speech circuit. I know Capt Al Haynes of UAL 232 (Sioux City) was giving speeches for some time and may still be. For those who don't remember that one, he flew it in with no hydraulics, thus no rudder, ailerons or flaps. He wasn't quite as lucky as Sully, but many did survive which was a miracle in itself after seeing the "landing".

[C0RSA1R]

Originally Posted by Ranger

I'm quite sure Sully will be rightfully honored and will likely be on the speech circuit.

I hope this guy likes reporters, and has the sense to put on some shades when the photogs fire up their klieg lights. Can't make a landing like that one with burned-out retinas.

Incidentally, apparently this guy has held positions relating to flying safety all his life, both in the service and in commercial employ, and headed some airline safety commissions. According to Wikipedia:

In total, he has more than 40 years of flying experience, and since 2007[6] has led a safety consulting business he founded,[5] Safety Reliability Methods Inc.,[10]which provides "emergency management, safety strategies and performance monitoring to the aviation industry."[5] He has also been involved in a number of accident investigations by the USAF and the National Transportation Safety Board, served as an instructor, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) safety chairman, accident investigator, and national technical committee member.[10][13]. His safety work for the ALPA led to the development of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular.[11] He was also instrumental in developing and implementing the Crew Resource Management course that is used by his airline, and he has taught the course to hundreds of other airline members.[11]

Talk about the right person in the right place at the right time.

And yes, he already has his own Wikipedia page.

[Eld01]

That pilot is a HERO, to at least 155 people, plus their families. He amazed everyone else.

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

I was watching the news last night and they were talking about the plane itself. Apparently this model Airbus has a unique feature called a "Ditch button." When pressed it seals any holes that lead from the outside of the cabin to the inside, turning the plane into a boat. On the news they said as long as the rear doors are not opened the plane can float for more than 20 minutes, depending on the amount of damage caused by the landing.

[Nutz]

Here is the first remarkable video posted on youtube 10 mins ago!

[tman2093]

French made plane or not, the fact that we're (the human race) capable of building something strong enough to withstand an emergency landing like that is a true testament to how far we've come. Think about the earliest passenger planes, that'd likely have crumbled.

[Night Wolf]

Originally Posted by tman2093

French made plane or not, the fact that we're (the human race) capable of building something strong enough to withstand an emergency landing like that is a true testament to how far we've come. Think about the earliest passenger planes, that'd likely have crumbled.

Eh, we are not as all-knowing masterful beings as we'd like to think we are.... anyway, the DC-3 made in the 30's could take a whole lot more abuse then that Airbus ever could...

http://www.dc3history.org/stories_dc_3.htm

Theres lots more like that too.