buzzard767
golfaknifeaholic
In a time when this nation needs heroes along came Sulley and successfully ditched his AirBus. Quite frankly, other than being thrilled that no lives were lost, 95% of airline pilots could and would have done exactly what he did so I was not particularly impressed. However, Sulley gave the following speech to the US House of Representatives aviation committee and told them how he REALLY feels. IMHO his speech now gives him hero status. I hope Congress was listening for all of our sakes when we board a commercial airliner in the future.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER, III
CAPTAIN, US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1549
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AVIATION
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 24, 2009
Chairman Costello, Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Members Mica and Petri, and other
members of the committee, it is my great honor to appear before the Aviation
Subcommittee today.
I am proud of the fact that I have been involved in aviation for the last 42
years. During that time, I have served our country as a U. S. Air Force pilot,
served as an Air Line Pilots Association Local Air Safety Committee Chairman,
accident investigator and national technical committee member, amassed a total
flying time of almost 20,000 hours and flown approximately one million
passengers in my 29 years as a professional airline pilot.
I have served as a Check Airman and a Crew Resource Management course
developer and facilitator. I am also the founder of Safety Reliability Methods,
Inc.
Before I begin, I must first say that my heart goes out to all those affected by
the tragic loss of Continental Connection flight 3407. Words cannot express my
sadness and grief at the loss of 50 lives. The families of those no longer with
us are in my thoughts and in my heart.
The events of January 15, 2009 have been well-documented, and rather than recite
them now in great detail, I want only to reiterate to the subcommittee that the
successful outcome was achieved by the actions of many. Lives were saved due to
the combination of a very experienced, well-trained crew: First Officer Jeff
Skiles, and Flight Attendants Donna Dent, Doreen Welsh and Sheila Dail, all of
whom acted in a remarkable display of teamwork, along with expert air traffic
controllers, the orderly cooperation of our cool-headed passengers, and the
quick and determined actions of the professional and volunteer first responders
in New York City.
The events of January 15 serve as a reminder to us all of the daily devotion to
duty of the many thousands of aviation professionals who keep air travel safe,
and also as a reminder of what is really at stake. Like thousands of my fellow
professional airline pilots, I know that flying a large commercial airliner is a
tremendous responsibility.. We understand that our passengers put their lives in
our hands. We know that we must always be prepared. We must always anticipate.
We must always be vigilant. Expecting the unexpected and having an effective
plan for dealing with it must be in the very makeup of every professional
airline pilot.
I am not only proud of my crew, I am proud of my profession. Flying has been my
life-long passion. I count myself fortunate to have spent my life in the
profession I love, with colleagues whom I respect and admire. But, honorable
Representatives, while I love my profession, I do not like what has happened to
it. I would not be doing my duty if I did not report to you that I am deeply
worried about its future.
Americans have been experiencing huge economic difficulties in recent months –
but airline employees have been experiencing those challenges, and more, for the
last 8 years! We have been hit by an economic tsunami. September 11,
bankruptcies, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving
door management teams who have used airline employees as an ATM have left the
people who work for airlines in the United States with extreme economic
difficulties.
It is an incredible testament to the collective character, professionalism and
dedication of my colleagues in the industry that they are still able to function
at such a high level. It is my personal experience that my decision to remain in
the profession I love has come at a great financial cost to me and my family. My
pay has been cut 40%, my pension, like most airline pensions, has been
terminated and replaced by a PBGC guarantee worth only pennies on the dollar.
While airline pilots are by no means alone in our financial struggles – and I
want to acknowledge how difficult it is for everyone right now – it is important
to underscore that the terms of our employment have changed dramatically from
when I began my career, leading to an untenable financial situation for pilots
and their families. When my company offered pilots who had been laid off the
chance to return to work, 60% refused. Members, I attempt to speak accurately
and plainly, so please do not think I exaggerate when I say that I do not know a
single professional airline pilot who wants his or her children to follow in
their footsteps.
I am worried that the airline piloting profession will not be able to continue
to attract the best and the brightest. The current experience and skills of our
country’s professional airline pilots come from investments made years ago when
we were able to attract the ambitious, talented people who now frequently seek
lucrative professional careers. That past investment was an indispensable
element in our commercial aviation infrastructure, vital to safe air travel and
our country’s economy and security. If we do not sufficiently value the airline
piloting profession and future pilots are less experienced and less skilled, it
logically follows that we will see negative consequences to the flying public –
and to our country.
We face remarkable challenges in our industry. In order to ensure economic
security and an uncompromising approach to passenger safety, management must
work with labor to bargain in good faith. We must find collective solutions that
address the huge economic issues we face in recruiting and retaining the
experienced and highly skilled professionals that the industry requires and that
passenger safety demands. But further, we must develop and sustain an
environment in every airline and aviation organization – a culture that balances
the competing needs of accountability and learning.
We must create and maintain the trust that is the absolutely essential element
of a successful and sustainable safety reporting system to detect and correct
deficiencies before they lead to an accident. We must not let the economic and
financial pressures detract from a focus on constantly improving our safety
measures and engaging in ongoing and comprehensive training. In aviation,
the bottom line is that the single most important piece of safety equipment is
an experienced, well-trained pilot.
Despite the bad economic news we’ve experienced in recent times – despite the
many challenges we face as a country – I have faith in America, in our people,
in our promise. I have briefly touched upon some major problems in my industry
today – but I do not believe they are intractable, should we decide to work
collectively to solve them.
We all have roles to play in this effort. Despite the economic turbulence
hitting our industry, the airline companies must refocus their attention – and
their resources – on the recruitment and retention of highly experienced and
well-trained pilots, and make that a priority that is at least equal to their
financial bottom line. Jeff and I, and our fellow pilots will fly planes and
continue to upgrade our education and our training, while we attempt to provide
for our families.
Patrick and the other talented Air Traffic Controllers will
continue to guide us safely through the skies, our passengers will spend their
hard-earned money to pay for their travel, and our flight attendants, mechanics,
ground crews, and administrative personnel will deal with the thousands of
constant details and demands that keep our planes safely in the air.
You can help us, honorable Members of Congress, to work together across party
lines, and can demand – or legislate – that labor, management, safety experts,
educators, technical experts, and everyday Americans join together to find
solutions to these problems.
We all honor our responsibilities in good faith and with respect for one
another. We must keep the American commercial aviation industry safe and
affordable for passengers, and financially viable for those who work in the
industry day to day. And for those talented young men and women considering
what to do with their lives, we must restore the narrative of a compelling
career
path in aviation with sufficient economic resources to once again make this
vision a reality.
Thank you for your kind attention, and for the opportunity to share my
perspective with this Committee.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN CHESLEY B. SULLENBERGER, III
CAPTAIN, US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1549
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AVIATION
COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 24, 2009
Chairman Costello, Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Members Mica and Petri, and other
members of the committee, it is my great honor to appear before the Aviation
Subcommittee today.
I am proud of the fact that I have been involved in aviation for the last 42
years. During that time, I have served our country as a U. S. Air Force pilot,
served as an Air Line Pilots Association Local Air Safety Committee Chairman,
accident investigator and national technical committee member, amassed a total
flying time of almost 20,000 hours and flown approximately one million
passengers in my 29 years as a professional airline pilot.
I have served as a Check Airman and a Crew Resource Management course
developer and facilitator. I am also the founder of Safety Reliability Methods,
Inc.
Before I begin, I must first say that my heart goes out to all those affected by
the tragic loss of Continental Connection flight 3407. Words cannot express my
sadness and grief at the loss of 50 lives. The families of those no longer with
us are in my thoughts and in my heart.
The events of January 15, 2009 have been well-documented, and rather than recite
them now in great detail, I want only to reiterate to the subcommittee that the
successful outcome was achieved by the actions of many. Lives were saved due to
the combination of a very experienced, well-trained crew: First Officer Jeff
Skiles, and Flight Attendants Donna Dent, Doreen Welsh and Sheila Dail, all of
whom acted in a remarkable display of teamwork, along with expert air traffic
controllers, the orderly cooperation of our cool-headed passengers, and the
quick and determined actions of the professional and volunteer first responders
in New York City.
The events of January 15 serve as a reminder to us all of the daily devotion to
duty of the many thousands of aviation professionals who keep air travel safe,
and also as a reminder of what is really at stake. Like thousands of my fellow
professional airline pilots, I know that flying a large commercial airliner is a
tremendous responsibility.. We understand that our passengers put their lives in
our hands. We know that we must always be prepared. We must always anticipate.
We must always be vigilant. Expecting the unexpected and having an effective
plan for dealing with it must be in the very makeup of every professional
airline pilot.
I am not only proud of my crew, I am proud of my profession. Flying has been my
life-long passion. I count myself fortunate to have spent my life in the
profession I love, with colleagues whom I respect and admire. But, honorable
Representatives, while I love my profession, I do not like what has happened to
it. I would not be doing my duty if I did not report to you that I am deeply
worried about its future.
Americans have been experiencing huge economic difficulties in recent months –
but airline employees have been experiencing those challenges, and more, for the
last 8 years! We have been hit by an economic tsunami. September 11,
bankruptcies, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving
door management teams who have used airline employees as an ATM have left the
people who work for airlines in the United States with extreme economic
difficulties.
It is an incredible testament to the collective character, professionalism and
dedication of my colleagues in the industry that they are still able to function
at such a high level. It is my personal experience that my decision to remain in
the profession I love has come at a great financial cost to me and my family. My
pay has been cut 40%, my pension, like most airline pensions, has been
terminated and replaced by a PBGC guarantee worth only pennies on the dollar.
While airline pilots are by no means alone in our financial struggles – and I
want to acknowledge how difficult it is for everyone right now – it is important
to underscore that the terms of our employment have changed dramatically from
when I began my career, leading to an untenable financial situation for pilots
and their families. When my company offered pilots who had been laid off the
chance to return to work, 60% refused. Members, I attempt to speak accurately
and plainly, so please do not think I exaggerate when I say that I do not know a
single professional airline pilot who wants his or her children to follow in
their footsteps.
I am worried that the airline piloting profession will not be able to continue
to attract the best and the brightest. The current experience and skills of our
country’s professional airline pilots come from investments made years ago when
we were able to attract the ambitious, talented people who now frequently seek
lucrative professional careers. That past investment was an indispensable
element in our commercial aviation infrastructure, vital to safe air travel and
our country’s economy and security. If we do not sufficiently value the airline
piloting profession and future pilots are less experienced and less skilled, it
logically follows that we will see negative consequences to the flying public –
and to our country.
We face remarkable challenges in our industry. In order to ensure economic
security and an uncompromising approach to passenger safety, management must
work with labor to bargain in good faith. We must find collective solutions that
address the huge economic issues we face in recruiting and retaining the
experienced and highly skilled professionals that the industry requires and that
passenger safety demands. But further, we must develop and sustain an
environment in every airline and aviation organization – a culture that balances
the competing needs of accountability and learning.
We must create and maintain the trust that is the absolutely essential element
of a successful and sustainable safety reporting system to detect and correct
deficiencies before they lead to an accident. We must not let the economic and
financial pressures detract from a focus on constantly improving our safety
measures and engaging in ongoing and comprehensive training. In aviation,
the bottom line is that the single most important piece of safety equipment is
an experienced, well-trained pilot.
Despite the bad economic news we’ve experienced in recent times – despite the
many challenges we face as a country – I have faith in America, in our people,
in our promise. I have briefly touched upon some major problems in my industry
today – but I do not believe they are intractable, should we decide to work
collectively to solve them.
We all have roles to play in this effort. Despite the economic turbulence
hitting our industry, the airline companies must refocus their attention – and
their resources – on the recruitment and retention of highly experienced and
well-trained pilots, and make that a priority that is at least equal to their
financial bottom line. Jeff and I, and our fellow pilots will fly planes and
continue to upgrade our education and our training, while we attempt to provide
for our families.
Patrick and the other talented Air Traffic Controllers will
continue to guide us safely through the skies, our passengers will spend their
hard-earned money to pay for their travel, and our flight attendants, mechanics,
ground crews, and administrative personnel will deal with the thousands of
constant details and demands that keep our planes safely in the air.
You can help us, honorable Members of Congress, to work together across party
lines, and can demand – or legislate – that labor, management, safety experts,
educators, technical experts, and everyday Americans join together to find
solutions to these problems.
We all honor our responsibilities in good faith and with respect for one
another. We must keep the American commercial aviation industry safe and
affordable for passengers, and financially viable for those who work in the
industry day to day. And for those talented young men and women considering
what to do with their lives, we must restore the narrative of a compelling
career
path in aviation with sufficient economic resources to once again make this
vision a reality.
Thank you for your kind attention, and for the opportunity to share my
perspective with this Committee.
