Sully's next flight could be to the inauguration

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Daily News

AND NOW...he rescues the economy?

Not likely - but heroic US Airways Capt. Chesley Sullenberger may add Washington to his itinerary, attending the Tuesday inauguration of President Obama.

"We'd love to go," his wife, Lorrie, said yesterday on CBS' "The Early Show." "It's in the works, I believe."

The President-elect made a congratulatory phone call Friday to the fearless flier, the latest in a continuing string of tributes for Sullenberger.

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While meeting the new President would be thrilling, Lorrie Sullenberger said her two teen daughters had different motives for an inaugural trip. "Our daughters would love to go see the Jonas Brothers," she said.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/18/2009-01-18_sullys_next_flight_could_be_to_the_inaug-1.html

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If I was Obama I'd appoint Captain Sullenberger head of the FAA. Not just because of his heroic action in so skillfully ditching this airplane but if you read this guys background he has one helluva resume and would serve this nation well in keeping our airlines and airplanes safe in the air and on the ground.

[mucifer]

1. If Sully wants to be there Sully should be there.

[Maat]

2. And the co-pilot should go also!

Invite the flight attendants!

[RamboLiberal]

5. Agreed - the entire crew

Also the ferry captains and all others involved in the rescue. NY Times has some incredible footage up from the Coast Guard - one of their cameras caught the evacuation of the plane and the ferries moving in to the rescue. Impressive how quickly people got out of the plane and how quickly the first ferry pulled up.

[shireen]

11. absolutely, YES.

As much as i love that pilot, he could not have done it without his co-pilot, crew, and all the people -- ferry operators and first responders -- who rushed to their rescue. I love, and admire them all.

[DissedByBush]

21. The co-pilot handed it off

As soon as the birds hit he turned over control to the more experienced pilot and started running down the crash checklist. Only he forgot to hit the "ditch switch" that would have closed all the plane's external openings. He did his job, but it's not heroic. Same for the first responders, come on. You have a boat near there, you drive up and take on passengers. It's a good thing they did, but not a heroic thing. It didn't take exceptional skill or an exceptionally cool head in the face of danger.

But do bring in the stewardess who kept a passenger from opening one of the back doors.

[RamboLiberal]

22. Piloting those boats up to a plane in a strong river current

like the Hudson and holding it in position so your deck hands can get plane passengers on board without hitting the plane, running over any passengers or putting any in the river does take skill.

Stewardess??? Stuck in the 70's? Try Flight Attendant. Getting those passengers out in 90 seconds. Inflating one of the slides that didn't inflate when opened. Keeping a cool head - that took relying on training and guts.

As to the co-pilot - keeping the plane in the air and not stalling it when those engines shut down also took some skill before he handed off to the captain.

Heroism is keeping your cool under pressure when everyone else would be panicking and staining their shorts!

[DissedByBush]

34. They're ferry captains

They do that pretty much every day to dock. I used to ride a ferry every day across a strong river current. I know. He even had to keep the thrusters going as we got on and off because the docks stuck straight out into the current.

"Stewardess??? Stuck in the 70's? Try Flight Attendant."

I was never much for political correctness. Telling me how I should speak seems so authoritarian, so 1984.

"As to the co-pilot - keeping the plane in the air and not stalling it when those engines shut down"

He handed the controls over to the more experienced pilot who leveled the plane off safely. I give him credit for knowing his limits and immediately handing it off.


Everyone involved did a great job, for sure. But I am always hesitant to hand out "Hero" lest the title become diluted.

[RamboLiberal]

37. Ferry Captains - yeah so friggin' easy

just like truck drivers, and bus drivers, and pilots. Any of us desk jockeys tried those jobs we'd find out its not that easy.

[Ian David]

3. Is he bringing the giant talking testicle with legs?

[Goat or Panic]

4. What does Cheney have to do with it?

:)

[Bjorn Against]

26. Cheney isn't a testicle, he's a Dick.

[fla nocount]

6. Don't do this. We've had enough of this shit, n/t

[RamboLiberal]

7. What shit - bet none of the passengers on that jet call it shit

Helluva story. And I love it completely overshadowed Bush farewell address to the nation.

[stray cat]

9. Inviting people who are good role models to an inaguration

how is that bad? I only dislike it if a goof off is used for political purposes like Joe the Plumber.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. The US has needed a hero for a long time, Sully is long overdue

Its the year of the heroes!

[onehandle]

10. Great and smart people will be part of the American focus again.

The petty men of sub-intellect that called the shots over the last eight years are history.

[Politicalboi]

12. I agree that Sully

And his family and the co-pilot's family too, but who has to lose their seat for all the hero's of that day? I can see inviting other hero's and even the passengers to special events, but for the Inauguration there's proabaly not enough room for more people.

[MrsMatt]

18. These type of events always keep tickets back for last minute

important guests. I highly doubt anyone has lost their seat to the innaugration.

[BigBearJohn]

13. I think he would serve as a role model of how courageous Americans can be when faced with calamity

We rise to the occasion
and "get her done"

[Peregrine Took]

14. And don't forget Captain Vincent Lombardi of "The Thomas Jefferson" - the

first water taxi/ferry to rush to the rescue.

[Froward69]

15. Head of the FAA???

This I would agree with. not just AF-1 driver.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. That pilot does have an outstanding resume..

[MBS]

17. he really deserves this honor, that's for sure. n/t

[rug]

19. This is becoming Joe The Pilot.

[RamboLiberal]

24. No its not - at least he's a real pilot

and he's not off playing war correspondent. Geesh DU has more than its share of wet blankets.

[Patiod]

32. Haven't heard him spouting nonsense like Wertzelberger

Smart guy - keeping his politics out of it. Just enjoying his 15 minutes without being a jackass - nothing wrong with that.

[RamboLiberal]

33. Exactly - heck he hasn't even said anything publicly

Except for the little bit his wife said for him. Lauer was supposed to have him this morning but it was cancelled cause Sully respected the Airline Pilots Assn. not to speak on the accident yet.

[Cha]

20. Yeah, and Sully is Union..it's a

perfect metaphor for the miracle that is happening now.

[glinda]

23. Sully should have a job interview for something dealing with safety

[RamboLiberal]

25. Like I said - if I was Obama I'd consider this guy for the FAA

too many times in the past it was run by bureaucrats who thought first about the airlines and their business and not the flying public or the flight crews. It didn't get the nickname "tombstone agency" by erring on the side of safety.

[Endangered Specie]

27. I agree with that thought, whose gonna say NO to this guy?

Obama has been (rightly) hiring people with large brains to his administration, this guy's resume is very extensive.

Also, I believe he is Union.

[glinda]

29. I agree. FAA.

[Tiberius]

36. Actually I think he already has a job that deals with safety

IIRC, he runs a company that consults with other companies on safety matters.

[canetoad]

28. Mayor: Sullenberger family going to inauguration

DANVILLE, Calif. — US Airways pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger and his family are going to the presidential inauguration, the mayor of his California hometown said Sunday.

Mayor Newell Arnerich said the town of Danville is also planning a welcome home for the pilot who landed his crippled aircraft safely in the Hudson River last Thursday.

An aide to President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday evening that all five members of the Flight 1549 crew have been invited to the inauguration Tuesday. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because details were still being worked out.

The Danville mayor said Lorraine Sullenberger told city officials that the family would leave for the East Coast on Sunday. The pilot's wife and daughters haven't seen Sullenberger since he's been hailed as a hero for saving the lives of all 155 on board.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090118/plane-splashdown-pilot-s-family/

[lonestarnot]

30. Woodamnwhoo! Sully Splash! What a fitting reward.

There should be a post for you too! :applause:

[Patiod]

31. Was glad to see - ENTIRE FLIGHT CREW INVITED

All 5 of the flight crew were invited - pilot, co-pilot, and 3 FAs. I'm delighted to see this. Sullenberger landed the plane, but the rest of the crew obviously did their jobs well - got people out safely.

[neverforget]

35. It was a team effort.