What pilots can learn from Captain Sullenberger about aircraft and aviation
It was recently announced that “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III will be CBS News’ new aviation and safety correspondent. With Captain Sullenberger back in the spotlight, here’s a look back at that remarkable landing and what pilots can learn from the Captain. Sullenberger on airplanes and aviation.
American Aviation Heroes
On January 15, 2009, Capt. Sullenberger took off from LaGuardia Airport for Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on US Airways Flight 1549. About six minutes after takeoff, a flock of Canada Geese destroyed both engines of the Airbus 320-214.
What happened next made the Captain. Sullenberger, co-pilot Jeff Skiles and the flight attendants, American heroes, as the cabin filled with acrid smoke and the smell of jet fuel, Sullenberger rebuffed traffic control’s suggestion that he try to land 10 miles away in Teterboro, New Sweater. Instead, he made the split-second decision to land Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. The quick thinking and calm approach of Sullenberger and the crew saved the lives of all 155 people on board, with the entire crew receiving the Master’s Medal from the Air Pilots and Navigators Guild.
What pilots and aircraft personnel can learn
What can pilots and aviation professionals learn from Sullenberger and the crew of US Airways Flight 1549?
deliberate calm. Contrary to popular belief, people like Sullenberger don’t just stay calm while other weaker people succumb to panic. Fear and panic are automatic responses of the brain in dire and dangerous circumstances.
What made Sullenberger truly heroic was his ability to overcome his fear, to override it with rational thought. Being able to think, “Keep calm, keep calm, you’ve got a plane to land,” and then actually do it. Neuroscientists call this metacognition. Pilots call it “deliberate calm,” the ability to self-correct in stressful circumstances.
Embrace the flight simulator. Flight simulators are an incredible tool for teaching pilots and aircraft personnel to remain calm and focused in difficult situations. First, simulators can teach technical skills, such as how to land a plane that has lost power in the water. But just as importantly, a simulator can train people on how to overcome their fear so they can think clearly in the midst of chaos.
Preparation and more preparation. Sullenberger has said that he “had done a good job of preparing for what might come.” That’s an understatement, considering he’s logged more than 20,000 flight hours throughout his career, from Air Force fighter pilot to commercial airline pilot. It takes years of training and discipline to be as prepared as you were that day Flight 1549’s engines went out. The lesson for all pilots and aviation professionals is, as the Boy Scout mantra goes, be prepared. Train, learn, log hours, stay alert to be ready for whatever comes your way.