HOLY !@#$ Best Pilots Ever-US Airways ditches in Hudson Riv

MIKE JG · Post by **MIKE JG** » 15 Jan 2009, 21:53

These guys get free beer and dinner for the rest of their lives!!!

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?secti ... id=6606410

reconmercs · Post by **reconmercs** » 15 Jan 2009, 22:38

no kidding, definately could've turned out alot worse, kudos to the crew

rcrc · Post by **rcrc** » 15 Jan 2009, 23:35

The pilots and crew...they are truly heroes! All that training actually works!

mr.bean · Post by **mr.bean** » 16 Jan 2009, 01:48

Kudos to the crew, pilot, and the fast response of the USCG, emergency personnel, and everyone else involved in the rescue.

MIKE JG · Post by **MIKE JG** » 16 Jan 2009, 05:20

Ironic as it may be, you couldn't have a better pilot at the controls for this situation. Here is his company's website with a bio about him. He's a very accomplished individual.

Hero

Also I believe I heard that he is a CFI-G, certified glider instructor. That experience alone would make a huge difference.

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 16 Jan 2009, 11:39

A profile of the hero

57 years old; nicely done

MIKE JG · Post by **MIKE JG** » 16 Jan 2009, 15:33

One thing that crossed my mind at some point yesterday when I was watching the news coverage of all this was that the plane I used to fly, the EMB-145, and many other passenger aircraft around the world, do not have inflatable life rafts or escape slides like the Boeing's or Airbus aircraft.

At least here in the U.S. the aircraft is either certified for extended flight over water operations, in which case it must have life rafts on board, or it is not, like the EMB-145 and most other RJ's that then must stay within 50 miles of any shoreline.

Had an RJ gone down in the Hudson, the passengers only hope for floatation would have been their seat cushions or life vests. And there would have only been 4 total exits to choose from vs. the 6 in the case of the Airbus.

A lot of things could have gone much much worse yesterday. I personally never thought any airliner could be successfully ditched in the water without major injuries or loss of life. We've always had the procedures in our manuals but they've always been someone's "best guess" at what you should do in the event of a ditching.

Now maybe we'll have some hard evidence of what works and what doesn't work. The Airbus 320 actually has a "ditching" button that when pressed, closes all the outflow valves and any other source of air to the cabin thereby making it water tight.

I'm still amazed that this actually occurred and that everyone walked away.