Plane Down in Hudson River - NYC
You don't pay Captains to be the best pilot on the plane (indeed, after a recent type change, they may be the least experienced on type!) - you pay Captains to make decisions.
Losing both engines at low altitude, with two airports nearly within range, this Captain made possibly the biggest decision of his career to ditch in a river - and it paid off.
The FO may indeed have been brilliant - but the Captain gets the kudos IMHO.
I'm surprised by the number of comments from pilots that they expected a ditching to be nigh impossible - some even preferring certain destruction by attempting a landing on a highway!!
My initial jet type rating included watching the engineering videos of the ditching tests. Lots of large scale models gliding into water tanks, engines shearing off etc. It was always expected in that airline to be a survivable procedure. 
Losing both engines at low altitude, with two airports nearly within range, this Captain made possibly the biggest decision of his career to ditch in a river - and it paid off.
The FO may indeed have been brilliant - but the Captain gets the kudos IMHO.
I'm surprised by the number of comments from pilots that they expected a ditching to be nigh impossible - some even preferring certain destruction by attempting a landing on a highway!!
My initial jet type rating included watching the engineering videos of the ditching tests. Lots of large scale models gliding into water tanks, engines shearing off etc. It was always expected in that airline to be a survivable procedure.
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Superb airmanship, superb crew management, superb training, superb aircraft, superb passengers what more can I say. Well done to all concerned you are a credit to the beautiful industry that is 'aviation'.
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it is possible the engines continued to run...but at reduced thrust
I think the engines continued to turn and possibly produced some thrust, though insufficient to maintain level flight or better.
It is something to consider, as the plane appeared to be under control with hydraulic pressure to run the flight controls.
I do have to wonder if somehow the FADEC system tried to protect the engines a bit too much.
I remind people that in addition to all the problems, the plane landed with about a 10 knot tailwind.
It is something to consider, as the plane appeared to be under control with hydraulic pressure to run the flight controls.
I do have to wonder if somehow the FADEC system tried to protect the engines a bit too much.
I remind people that in addition to all the problems, the plane landed with about a 10 knot tailwind.
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The helicopter that hovered overhead for ages increasing the wind chill factor and whipped up spray and simulated Arctic Blast on passengers dressed in shirt sleeves was doing what? Could part of it have be done downwind?
Pleasure flight Jet Rangers at airshows drowning out the sounds of Merlins are another matter.
Pleasure flight Jet Rangers at airshows drowning out the sounds of Merlins are another matter.
Well done all round, not forgetting the boat crews.
One news report I heard this morning was that the lifejackets being worn were thrown to the pax by the ferryboat crews.
Not enough time for them to get the aircraft ones out?
"Feet Wet"
One news report I heard this morning was that the lifejackets being worn were thrown to the pax by the ferryboat crews.
Not enough time for them to get the aircraft ones out?
"Feet Wet"
One news report I heard this morning was that the lifejackets being worn were thrown to the pax by the ferryboat crews.
Not enough time for them to get the aircraft ones out?
Not enough time for them to get the aircraft ones out?
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Truly quality airmanship and decision making. Well done to all involved
What a contrast on last nights news. Main headline a true hero landing a passenger a/c in a river and all souls surviving. Next headline, moronic shelling of a UN food store.
What a contrast !!!!
What a contrast on last nights news. Main headline a true hero landing a passenger a/c in a river and all souls surviving. Next headline, moronic shelling of a UN food store.
What a contrast !!!!
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wow
Incredible piloting and superb rescue effort.
If this Capt was looking to retire on a high - now would be the ultimate timing. He's sure had his moment !
Tho i guess he still loves his flying.
If this Capt was looking to retire on a high - now would be the ultimate timing. He's sure had his moment !
Tho i guess he still loves his flying.
The FO must still be in the bar.
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i just cannot wait for Sully's account of the crash, especially given his experience on the safety panel of the Airline Pilots Association as well as his work for the NTSB on other crashes!
The man needs to retire and write a book! I'll buy it!
let's just hope somebody will show up who filmed the ditching itself
The man needs to retire and write a book! I'll buy it!
let's just hope somebody will show up who filmed the ditching itself
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Rightly so, the flight crew and rescue services are to be congratulated. But, like the B777 belly flop at Heathrow, the fuselage remained intact, the doors could be opened allowing the plane occupants to survive.
Well done Airbus for bulding a strong plane, and well done the regulators for setting robust crashworthiness and ditching requirements.
Well done Airbus for bulding a strong plane, and well done the regulators for setting robust crashworthiness and ditching requirements.
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Captain Sully, seaplane pilot extraordinaire!
To any of you that have ever flown a bonafide flying boat (Grumman Goose/Mallard, Lake Buccaneer/Renegade) you'll know what porposing is. For those unfamiliar with this phenomenon its the aircraft pitching up and down and getting into an ever worsening oscillation that you can't "chase" with elevator as every attempt to counteract it pretty much results in it getting worse. It can happen both on take off and landing but it's on landing that you can especially induce this problem with little warning or time to react. In a flying boat (floating hull aircraft) with power and the correct technique it's pretty easy to prevent or rectify it if it commences. On landing without power you have to get the attitude correct first time to prevent it from commencing as it's pretty hard to fix it once you're in it if you can't add power. That Capt Sully was able to put his A320 down in the right attitude with the nose high, a 10 knot downwind and have the presence of mind to prevent this sort of oscillation from commencing is a testament to his skill and advanced airmanship. And can you imagine how hard "keeping the wings level" was during the flare considering one or both engines were broken off by the impact and probably at different times during the sequence! I've seen nothing on his resume that would indicate he has seaplane ratings so perhaps this will be his first log book recordable "water landing" as a successfully self taught seaplane pilot!
Congratulations to Capt Sully, the FO, the other 3 crew members and the extraordinary efforts of the rescue boat crews. Great example of professionalism and keeping calm under pressure.
Rene
Congratulations to Capt Sully, the FO, the other 3 crew members and the extraordinary efforts of the rescue boat crews. Great example of professionalism and keeping calm under pressure.
Rene