Different issues -
1. It's not guaranteed that the Captain was in fact the pilot flying.
2. There are situations in which the Captain would allow the FO to keep the a/c. That is a decision left up to the Captain via his emergency authority. FO had 23 yrs experience with the airline. He had several years experience prior to getting hired at USAIR. Some(many) U.S. airlines have very, very experienced crews. Last FO I flew with had 31 yrs experience.
3. The report stated the engines fell off while the plane was in the river's current. It did not say the river's current caused the engines to detach.
4. "I doubt many pilots could do what the CA did". Next time you're in the sim do an idle power descent and then the same thing with dual engine failure. It's not a 'night and day' difference.
5. "Kudos to the crew for thinking outside the box". Please explain. You're at 3000', with built up areas around you, very congested highways, many twisty, narrow, and all having numerous overpasses, unable to reach any airport, and the only open space is a river of perhaps the marsh area just to the west. What was the 'out of the box' thinking?
6. Check out actual touchdown location vs. flying distance to Teterboro.
They'd have had to do a right 150 degree turn but the distance would have been very, very close. Factor in NW winds (increased distance down the Hudson, decreased distance towards Teterboro) and it's a risky decision. Quick decision had to be made, IMO he made the right choice.
Last edited by misd-agin; 17th Jan 2009 at 15:01.
Reason: 'masrh area' vs. 'river delta'