Will Retire After 30 Years With US Airways
Captain Chesley "Sully"
Sullenberger, who famously ditched a US Airways A320 in the Hudson
River over a year ago saving all aboard, says he's calling it a
career after 30 years with the airline.
Sullenberger, 59, was scheduled to fly his final flight to his
home airport, Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina,
Wednesday afternoon. An official ceremony will be held there with
other pilots and employees retiring from the airline.
Television station WNBC in New York reports that Sullenberger
said in a written statement “Though I am retiring, I will
continue to serve as the same kind of advocate I have always been
– not only for aviation safety, but for the airline piloting
profession. I will work to remind the entire industry – and
those who manage and regulate it – that we have a sacred duty
to our passengers to do the very best that we know how to
do.” But he also expressed some discontent with the airline
industry as it is today. “Each generation of pilots hopes
that they will leave their profession better off than they found
it. In spite of the best efforts of thousands of my colleagues,
that is not the case today," the pilot wrote.
Jeff Skiles, the First Officer who was with Sullenberger on the
now-famous Flight 1549, was scheduled to fly the final flight with
him on Wednesday. Sullenberger said he plans to stay active as an
advocate for improvements in airline regulations and policy
concerning fatigue and pilot qualifications, but that he also plans
to spend more time with his family.
Members of the US Airline Pilots
Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, joined
Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, III, Wednesday
to celebrate his retirement.
“Sully has always been a pilot’s pilot and a fine
example of a professional aviator. He has also done a remarkable
job of focusing the American public’s attention on the need
for well-trained and experienced pilots at the controls of
commercial aircraft,” said Mike Cleary, president of USAPA.
“Sully’s final flight reminds us all that another
veteran pilot is leaving the skies – and an experienced,
well-trained pilot is the single most important component of safety
on any aircraft. Congress, airline companies and the flying public
should demand that the next generation of expert aviators have
incentives to do the hard work to take the place of Sully and the
many others nearing retirement age – and not to further
tarnish this once-proud profession.”
“It was the investments made in years past that helped
attract the Captain Sullenbergers to the airline pilot
profession,” said Cleary. “We must now find the will to
once again invest in our pilot employees to encourage the best and
brightest to enter and remain in our profession. When things go
wrong, we want a Captain Sullenberger in the cockpit.”
Over his career, Captain Sullenberger worked for US Airways and
its predecessor airlines for 30 years. He served as a check
airman, helped create the Crew Resource Management (CRM) course
used throughout the industry, testified before Congress regarding
pilot safety, and is a sought-after speaker on the topics of
preparation, life-long education and constant preparedness.
President Cleary added, “Sully’s fellow pilots will
miss him, and we wish him godspeed during his well-deserved
retirement.”
Bolen Gives Congress a Rare Thumbs-Up
See All