US Air-landing in the Hudson

[Jimbuna]

Got this from another forum but it shows a pretty good reconstruction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tE_5eiYn0D0#t=109

[soopaman2]

I read Captain Sullenbergers book, and heard the ATC tapes a few times.

One thing Sully always expressed was that he was doing his job, even after he got fame, he never really wanted it.

You can internets up some other plane crashes of pilots being just as cool as him in the face of death, and from reading his book, that is the point he is making.

I say this as a local, so here comes a small geography lesson.

The hudson river separates NY and NJ, this area is up there as one of the most densely populated regions in the world (people per square mile)

It happened after take off, over a heavy air corridor (3 very close major international airports, (Newark Liberty, Laguardia, and JFK)

He knew the plane was going down, and risked the river rather than a NYC/ NJ suburb. He denied Tetorboro, and said twice in quite possibly the coolest tone ever, "we are going in the river"

Luckily, the hudson is rich with boats, which made this a happy story, rather than a tragic one.

That and Captain Chesly "Sully" Sullenbergers cool reaction, and excellent judgment.

(kind of ironic he remarked on the view of the hudson that day, as he ascended.)

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by soopaman2

Luckily, the hudson is rich with boats, which made this a happy story, rather than a tragic one.

Lucky the pilot was knowledgeable and skilled to land the aircraft in one piece so passengers could utilize the boats.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by soopaman2

I read Captain Sullenbergers book, and heard the ATC tapes a few times.

One thing Sully always expressed was that he was doing his job, even after he got fame, he never really wanted it.

You can internets up some other plane crashes of pilots being just as cool as him in the face of death, and from reading his book, that is the point he is making.

I say this as a local, so here comes a small geography lesson.

The hudson river separates NY and NJ, this area is up there as one of the most densely populated regions in the world (people per square mile)

It happened after take off, over a heavy air corridor (3 very close major international airports, (Newark Liberty, Laguardia, and JFK)

He knew the plane was going down, and risked the river rather than a NYC/ NJ suburb. He denied Tetorboro, and said twice in quite possibly the coolest tone ever, "we are going in the river"

Luckily, the hudson is rich with boats, which made this a happy story, rather than a tragic one.

That and Captain Chesly "Sully" Sullenbergers cool reaction, and excellent judgment.

(kind of ironic he remarked on the view of the hudson that day, as he ascended.)

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Lucky the pilot was knowledgeable and skilled to land the aircraft in one piece so passengers could utilize the boats.

Rgr that.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by soopaman2

He knew the plane was going down, and risked the river rather than a NYC/ NJ suburb. He denied Tetorboro, and said twice in quite possibly the coolest tone ever, "we are going in the river"

I think any commercial pilot would choose the river. A low-speed water landing is a brighter prospect than one into populated terrain.

A major factor that was underplayed in this case was simply luck. Had engine power been lost 30 seconds earlier or later there may not have been the chance to navigate towards the water.

Had this happened in Denver, or Omaha, or Frankfurt, the story could have a very different ending - with each actor performing just as well.

This was no miracle - it was the result of many factors doing exactly what they were supposed to do. The pilot, the airframe, the aircraft designers, the flight attendants, controllers and emergency responders.

Listen to the voices on the tape, there's absolutely no panic or alarm. Not between the captain and ground or even between the KLGA and KTEB controllers.

When something like this happens, training takes over. You don't experience the full immediacy until later, and that's what is supposed to happen.