Capt Sullenberger gets hero’s welcome home (video)

Updates crew appearances/videos/posts (6-8)

June 8, 2009

Capt Sullenberger returned to his birthplace and childhood homr, Dension Texas, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day and to deliver the commencement speech at his high school alma mater, Denison High.

Curious factoid: Denison (pop 22K), which is located approx 70 miles north of Dallas happens to be the birthplace and childhood home of none other than the man we remember most on D-Day: General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Sullenberger was awarded the keys to the city and flags dlown over the Alamo

NewsDFW

• It’s wonderful to know somebody who did something so great is from here!

• He did something amazing for all of us – - saving all thise people

• SULLY: I’m just glad to be welcomed back.

• Captain Sullenberger not only landed the jet safely – but he also gave America and the world an example of professionalism and selflessness that has inspired millions,

Personal interview with Lori & Sully Sullenberger

UPDATED (4-18) Crew of Flight 1549 appearances

February 18, 2009

Hi Katie1994.

I found the interview you were looking for eleven pages into the drafts! Sorry but my fellow citizens have given up posting. It’s a really warm interview between just the two of them as a couple. Funny, because it’s on her turf. She is a well-known fitness expert and evidently has done many fitness segments on the show but this is first time for hubby.

They discuss their separate reactions, the moment they first saw each other when he returned home, how they’ve been coping together as a family, fan letters, the Inauguration.

There are also two photos of the Sullenberger family at the Inauguration Ball with the President and First Lady. They were also invited to the Vanity Fair after Oscars party.

I would not have put these two together in a room of strangers until they got close to each other - their body language would have given them away. I must say I was shocked when he gave her a big old hug and a kiss at his Welcome Home Celebration, especially the way he cupped her head. Quite at odds to his immediately proceeding few words and stiff presentation, which must have been the shock.

February 18th: “View From the Bay”

aviationwatcher33

Selected quotes

Q: Have things settled down? Is life back to normal yet?

SULLY: This is a new normal. We’re coping with it day by day. We are getting better at coping with our new reality. It’s been many good things, and some things are challenging. But it’s been life-changing event.

LORI: We were having two very different experiences….I felt like I was having this surreal experience.

SULLY: It was overwhelming.

How did he balance the landing, the press, the investigation and being apart from his family after the actual traumatic event?

SULLY: It was a lot to process. It required a lot of time to balance it. And we’re still trying to find the proper balance between family first and the needs of our profession second.

What was it like the first time they reunited?

SULLY: We’ve been through so much separately, and then we had to re-enter our new lives together. And it was challenging. At first, it felt a little bit awkward. It took a half a day or so for it to really sink in all the changes we [hesitates] had and where we’re going to go from here. But it felt great to be home.

Lori said for the first few days she was in shock - it didn’t seem real.

LORI: But the night I picked him up…and when I saw him, he looked so different, that is when the enormity of it hit me.I realized there had been a big tragedy for him that day.

Freeze her face there - she looks completely devastated. I imagine that for him it was a failure just to have an “blemish” on his record. The fact that he didn’t go his entire career taking off and landing safely on land and that he “ruined” a plane.

Are they still in shock?

They look at each other and say no. Sully mentions that “a month has passed” like that’s all it takes. Donna Dent at the Congressional hearing - a week after this interview was still in shock and Doreen Welsh looked like she might have been on medication.

SULLY: We’ve learned to deal with this - but it’s a steep learning curve.

I can’t get past the nagging thought that there is something more to the “this”. They find all the letters they have been getting “marvelous” including letters from widowed wives of pilots writing how it had helped them heal.

They discuss the Inauguration and how gracious POTUS was. Sullenberger told POTUS it was a privilege to meet him and POTUS said, no, the privilege is mine.

======

Hope that helps, Katie - even belatedly. At least you have some info on ATC Pat Harten now. [Here] Let us know how your project is coming and please stop worrying about folks using out posts without attribution. The info is here for folks to read. Whether they attribute it is a matter of their own personal integrity. Good Luck!

Make sure you check the update list for new posts.

Sullenberger family pix at "South Pacific"

February 10, 2009

The Sullenberger family at South Pacific. After the show he was given a shout out by the lead, Kelli O'Hara (below) under his own spotlight. As you can see, his wife Lori was a little taken with it all. Love the look of concern on hubby's face. Photos courtesy of JENNY ANDERSON at Broadway.com.

South Pacific stars Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot pose with the man New York Magazine dubbed "the Last Aviator."

Lori, Sully, Kate and Kelly Sullenberger

Sullenberger family hits Broadway: South Pacific

February 8, 2009

New York is sure extending their gratitude and showing what a great city it is. Captain Sullenberger, his wife Lori, and their two daughters were treated to a night on Broadway - fittingly - South Pacific. If you weren't aware, Sullenberger was top aviator in his class at the Air Force Academy and flew F-4 Phantom II fighter jets in Europe and the Pacific. He truly must have really been honored by their pick of Broadway shows. They weren't acknowledged until after the show but folks reportedly had noticed him during the intermission,

The lead (Nell Forbush) played by Kelli O'Hara addressed Capt Sullenberger, who was lit by a spotlight.

It could have been tragic, but it wasn't. It became a miracle. We've never been more honored than to perform for you, Captain.

Short and sweet. His wife, Lori, began to cry and when he hugged her the applause and cheers got louder. Wonder if their daughters were embarrassed. They then went backstage to meet the cast.

PIX

Source: WCBSTV

US AIR Flight 1549 Flight Crew - Skiles gave up his shirt

January 25, 2009

More info on the flight crew of 1549. It was no ordinary crew. It's hard to believe there's a more experienced group of 5 in a flight crew anywhere and yet all we hear about are drunken pilots and celebrities acting up on planes. The pilots have more than 50 years experience and the flight attendants 92. All on the same flight. How many times had they all flown together? There are so many curiosities to all this that hopefully will be answered Feb 8th on 60 Minutes with Katie Couric.

Piloting the plane of course was Captain Chelsey Sullenberger III, 58, Danville, CA, 19,663 flight hours. Unbelievable bio, USAIR 1549 pix, videos: (1-17) before, during, after, ferry rescue, wife and daughters, (1-19) flight sim, (1-22) doors open/passengers getting out, (1-23) pedestrians' live reaction to landing, welcome home plans and (1-24-09) Capt & Lori Sullenberger comments back home in Danville.

Jeffrey Skiles, 49, Oregon, Wisconsin, 15,643 flight hours. According to New York Post's PEDRO OLIVEIRA, JR & TOM NAMAKO, Skiles actually gave up his shirt to Bruce Leonard, who had the notion of swimming to shore. I don't think he's the one who went off the left wing into the water in the (1-17) video.

"I was obviously very cold, and one of the pilots turned to me and said, 'Please take off your wet shirt, and I'll give you my dry one,' " Leonard told ABC's "Good Morning America. "He literally gave me the shirt off his back to keep me warmer. I still have it. And I'm never going to give it up. They are heroes."

Skiles' wife on the incident:

The humble pilot barely made an issue of the shirt in one of two phone conversations with his wife. "He mentioned some fellow who didn't seem to have a shirt on," but that was all he said about the gracious act, according to his wife. He told her that he scoured the plane for life vests after he noticed some people didn't have them, she said. His legs went almost immediately numb in the frigid waters. Still, Skiles showed some humor when his wife asked how he was doing. "He said, 'I'm wet and I smell like the Hudson River."

MADISON WKOW TV 27:

GOV JIM DOYLE: Like everyone who saw this remarkable story unfold, I was deeply impressed with the decisive action of the pilots who were able to bring down a wounded plane and save all 155 people aboard. I am especially proud that one of the pilots, Jeffrey Skiles, lives with his family in Oregon, Wisconsin. On behalf of our state, I thank you for helping to save lives in a moment of crisis. Your heroism and the heroic actions of your fellow crew members have made all the difference in the world for your passengers and all their family members

From Madison WKOW27. DELORIS SKILES (mother) said of his son's invitation to the Inauguration:

It's a momentous occasion. He'll enjoy himself, and take his mind off the forced landing. He's very happy that he's going. I know my son, I know he's a very professional, responsible pilot.

I think that's clear. From NY Times' Lede blog RAY RIVERA & LIZ ROBBINS:

BARBARA SKILES (wife): Asked how she felt now, she said: "You know, on the one hand, what's the likelihood that anyone would ever be in two dramatic air accidents? It's almost like being struck by lightning. It's happened now, it's not likely to happen again. On the other hand, when it actually comes down to it, I'm not sure how I'm going to feel, and I'm not sure how he's going to feel about it."

Compiled from the Daily News' JONATHAN LEMIRE and STEPHANIE GASKEL.

Doreen Welsh, 58 (38 years experience), Ambridge, PA was in charge in the rear. A passenger forced the rear exit door open against the orders of Welsh but she was able to close it even as the frigid water rushed in. (Air 20 degrees/water 36 degrees.) She waded through chest high water, unaware she sustained a gash to her leg, and herded folks forward to get out on the wing. Brian Campbell, a passenger in the rear of the plane, said of Welsh:

Turn around, you've got to get out on the wing.

Upfront were Dent and Dail who got folks out on the wing and into rafts.

Donna Dent, 51 (26 years experience), Winston-Salem, NC. Dent's friend said she that she had been on a plane that's lost power in one engine but not two. Dent told her told:

I did what I was supposed to do. I just did my job.

Sheila Dail, 57 (28 years experience), Weaverville, NC - I haven't been able to find info.

National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman Kathryn (Kitty) Higgins during her press conference couldn't hide the pride in her voice.

This is a testament to experienced women doing their jobs.

Initial incident report.

Without all five working as a team it would not have worked. I imagine when they finally all got together a look was all that was needed. All of them have asked for the press to back off - not just Captain Sullenberger.

According to the US Airways Flight 1549 wiki entry:

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators awarded the entire crew of Flight 1549 a Masters Medal on January 22, 2009. The medal is awarded only rarely for outstanding aviation achievements. It is issued at the discretion of the Master of the Guild.

The reactions of all members of the crew, the split second decision making and the handling of this emergency and evacuation was `text book` and an example to us all. To have safely executed this emergency ditching and evacuation, with the loss of no lives, is a heroic and unique aviation achievement. It deserves the immediate recognition that has today been given by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.

jeff skiles co-pilot Flight 1549

(DAVID PAUL MORRIS/Getty)

Danville Welcome Home: Lori & Sully Sullenberger

"He's the man who makes my cup of tea every morning"

January 24, 2009

A nice hometown, respectful welcome for an unassuming man. He truly believes he was just doing his job and they were both happy to get home.

LORI SULLENBERGER: To say that we are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love and cards - there are no words that we can express to say to thank all of you....We were breathtaken when we walked around the corner and saw all of your faces.

...We love Danville!!

...People have said alot of things about my husband in the last couple of days, so my comments will be brief.

And this is where I cry.

I knew when I married Sully, the one thing for sure, was that he was the most honorable man I knew. I have always known him to be an exemplary pilot. I knew what the outcome would be that day, because I knew my husband.

But mostly, for me, he's the man that makes my cup of tea every morning.

I'd like you to meet my husband, Sully.

They gave each other a really nice hug and a kiss. That said more than any words - especially for a man of few words. I was surprised by the wholeheartedness of it - how he shared his love and respect for his wife with all of us. It was a truly intimate moment that for a controlled, contained man seemed to come easily and unselfconsciously. He is a very curious (in a good way) man. The crowd clapped and started the Sul-ly, Sul-ly chant and he laughed but he looked so uncomfortable they stopped to let him speak. Watch his left hand - he wipes his palm briefly on his suit coat and then fidgets. He can make a perfect landing on an icy river having lost both engines - but standing there makes him nervous.

CAPT SULLENBERGER: Lori and I are grateful for your incredible outpouring of support. It's great to be home in Danville with our neighbors and our friends.

Circumstance determined that it was this experienced crew that was scheduled to fly at that particular flight on that particular day.

But I know that I can speak for the entire crew when I tell you - we were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do.

Thank you.

Not even a word per passenger. Quite a humble man. How refreshing. It seems the rest of his crew is too.

I was watching CNN and after the Sullenbergers spoke - they cut back to the reporter who recapped Sully's 73 word speech. Meanwhile, the Mayor was presumably saying something about who they are and what they mean to the community.


markcurtismedia

this video for body language