Capt. Sullenberger Calls Library over lost Book; "I'm Sorry" - US Airways Flight 1549, Hudson Crash
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We need more people in the world like Capt. Sullenberger. The man called the library because he was not able to return the book that he checked out; he left it on the plane. If he was late in calling them, he probably feels bad about that too. There are some things that can never be taken away from you, they are yours to keep forever, but only if you choose to. Here are a few of them: honesty, morality, trustworthiness, kindness, civility. These things are part of your character; they make you who you are. As parents raise up more and more kids who lack these qualities, we will continue to need bigger and bigger government to take care of them. That is how it worked. Our Founding Fathers warned us about it, but we did not listen, now look at where we are today.
jbranstetter04
How Sullenberger Really Saved US Airways Flight 1549
When airplanes crash, its usually because a bunch of unexpected things go wrong all at once, or one after the other. Obviously something dramatic went wrong with US Airways Flight 1549, which lost power in both engines and crash-landed on the Hudson River on January 15. But a lot went right, too.
Capt. Chesley Sullenberger has earned plaudits for heroism, but that oversimplifies what it took to land the crippled Airbus A320 and get all 150 passengers off safely, before the plane sank. Here are some of the other factors that helped everybody aboard Flight 1549 survive:
Thorough training. Sullenberger may be a model aviator, but it wasnt heroism that brought Flight 1549 down safely. It was rigorous training thats inbred in the U.S. aviation system. Pilots have to fly for years before they can command an airliner, and even experienced pilots must routinely train in simulators and pass check rides at least once a year under the supervision of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. Pilots sometimes gripe about overzealous FAA inspectors, but the oversight contributes to a culture of accountability and fastidious attention to detail in the cockpit.
As captain, it was Sullenbergers job to figure out where to land the plane. No doubt he considered returning to New Yorks LaGuardia airport, where the plane had taken off from, or to another airport, before realizing that the Hudson was his best bet. Meanwhile, it would have been First Officer Skiless job to hurry through a set of checklists with procedures for restarting the engines. Pilots train for losing and restarting both engines on a two-engine jet but usually using high-altitude scenarios, when theres a lot more drift-down time than three minutes. Had both pilots fixated on restarting the engines, they could easily have waited too long to pick a place to land, and ended up careening through a populated area. Instead, Sullenberger abided by the basic rule of airplane emergencies: First, fly the airplane.
A textbook landing. It appears that Sullenberger landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson much as he would have landed on a runway but without engine power, and with far less margin for error. Its very important in a water landing to fly the aircraft onto the water as slow as possible, says Don Shepperd, a Vietnam-era fighter pilot and co-author (with the writer of this article), of Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The faster you hit, the more likely the plane will cartwheel or the fuselage will disintegrate. Too slow, however, and the plane could lose lift and stall, causing the nose to pitch down into the water uncontrolled. Once the decision was made to ditch, Shepperd says, it was a magnificent piece of aviation professionalism.
The water landing was obviously shocking to those on board - yet mild compared to what could have happened. I believed the impact would be violent but survivable, wrote one passenger, who happened to be a pilot for another airline. It was much milder than I had anticipated. If the jolt had been turbulence, I would have described it as moderate.
Tags: Captain Chesley Sullenberger Calls Library over lost Book Sorry US Airways Flight 1549 lands The Hudson River hero plane engine birds survivors rescue
Added: 3 years ago
From: jbranstetter04
Views: 16,634
["Pilot Sully Apologized Over Library Book" appears on screen, as Glenn Beck talks directly to the camera during the February 3rd (2009) edition of his "The One Thing" segment on FOX News]
GLENN BECK: Sully. Captain who flew that plane, an actual hero because he was actually able to land a plane safely on the Hudson River. Something nobody has ever done before, saving everybody on board. A couple of weeks after that miracle, while nobody was watching, Sully just quietly picks up the phone and calls the library to apologize that he can't return the book that he had checked out before the accident, because it's in the hold of the plane. Nobody would've said a word if he didn't return this book. I mean, I'm surprised the man even thought about his library book that was left on the plane. Nobody would even know that he lost his library book because nobody would've held a press conference about it! And he didn't hold a press conference to beat his chest about what a hero he is, "Look at who I am!" But Sully knows the things that matter the most are the things that you do when no one else is looking. The guy is still striving to be a better person and do the right thing! He doesn't need to read the book, because he's already living it! Oh, I forgot, I didn't tell you the name of the book. Well actually, I can't tell you the name because, even with the Patriot Act, the library won't tell us what book he's checked out. But we did find out the subject of the book: "professional ethics." He's the guy that we should have as our Treasury Secretary. This guy knows how to handle a crisis and act ethically when nobody else is watching all the other stuff you can learn, "Open up another book, get another one from Economics there in the library!" Maybe the standard of "WWJD" is just too high for America anymore because Jesus is perfect and you ain't watchin' the Jesus Show are ya? So I guess I ain't perfect either, none of us are! Everybody makes mistakes. Maybe today we should lower the standards just a little bit and wear a bracelet that says "WWSD." "What would Sully do?," and try for that ...
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From msn.com:
Fresno library to pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger: You're forgiven.
The US Airways pilot splash-landed his jetliner in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, and everyone on board escaped safely. But left in the cargo hold was a book Sullenberger had checked out from California State University, Fresno, through his local library near Danville.
Library officials say Sullenberger asked for an extension and waiver of overdue fees. The pilot and his spokeswoman didn't return messages seeking comment Monday.
The librarians say they were struck by Sullenberger's sense of responsibility and did him one better: They're waiving all fees, even lost book fees, and placing a template in the replacement book dedicating it to him.
The book's subject? Professional ethics.
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From csufresno.edu:
To do: Save 155 people, return library book
By Darrell Copeland III | February 03, 2009
Naturally, when the jetliner piloted by "Sully" Sullenberger performed an unexpected slip 'n slide into the Hudson River last month, library books were nowhere on the mind.
Well, I can't actually make that claim anymore and receive "duh" comments in agreement because, apparently, Mr. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, pilot of US Airways flight 1549, was in fact mindful of a possible overdue or replacement fee.
The story goes that Sully, which I will affectionately refer to him as, was interested in checking out a book at a library in his home town of Danville. But when the library of choice failed to come through with Sully's reading material, an interlibrary loan request with Fresno State's Henry Madden Library was arranged. To nobody's surprise, the people of the Henry Madden Library slipped into their phone booth and reappeared with the book, and, like the good people they are, didn't ever request a book to be named later in the deal.
So Sully packed his bags, book and all, and prepared for a routine flight that didn't originally include a pit stop in the Hudson River. Those plans changed when some rebel birds tried to squeeze through one of the jet's engines and instead found a surprise treat. On a side note, if anyone ever calls you a bird brain, don't take it as a compliment.
This forced Sully to perform a remarkable crash landing into the aforementioned Hudson River, which led to the rescue of all 155 people on board. As everyone else was in a frantic rush to get off the plane to safety, Sully stayed behind to check every inch of the plane—three times—to be sure nobody was left on board. This is where you begin to realize the kind of man we are talking about here. When the media clamored for his attention or a small snippet of a sound bite, Sully refused. He wanted no recognition for his bravery, his unprecedented achievement or his heroics.
But Chesley B. Sullenberger is nothing less than one of the most honorable, loyal, ethical and respected men we have in this country. It then comes as no surprise that the topic of choice for Sullenberger's book was, professional ethics.
As we come full circle, all you can do is crack one of those one-sided smiles and shake your head in amazement at what kind of story we are all witnesses to. Despite all the commotion and stress of the flight, media attention and dozens of other things on Sully's mind, he still had the presence of mind to make a phone call to the Henry Madden Library and explain his situation. I mean, good grief, when I get a paper cut I drop everything and curl into a ball, let alone make calls to negotiate financial matters.
But not Sully. He asked the library for a postponement or waive of his fee due to his circumstances, which was of course granted.
Allow dean of library services Peter McDonald to explain. "Here is a national hero you would think would have more important things to worry about," McDonald said in a press release. "The world now knows he contacted us almost immediately about the books he'd borrowed that were stuck in the hold of a downed plane. I'd trust my life to a man like Sullenberger. Of course we'll waive the fee."
Not only did McDonald waive the fee, but he plans to replace the book and add a bookplate to the inside cover dedicating the volume to Sullenberger.
What would be even better? How about inviting Sullenberger to the opening of the new Henry Madden Library to cut the ribbon with those over-sized giant scissors? And as I look at the calendar, I see there is a season-opener for the Fresno State baseball team the very next day, Feb. 20. First pitch, anyone?
It's a story that's nothing short of remarkable, and one we as Fresno State students should be proud our name is attached to.
I, for one, would be proud to go slip 'n sliding with Mr. Sullenberger anytime.
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