A short time ago, US Airways officially identified members of the crew of Flight 1549, the A320 that ditched in New York's Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The water landing was successful, and all 155 on board were immediately evacuated and rescued. There were no fatalities or life-threatening injuries.They crew members of US Airways Flight 1549 were:
- Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III - Age 58, joined US Airways (PSA Airlines) in 1980. He has a total of 19,663 flights hours.
- First officer Jeffrey B. Skiles - Age 49, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours.
- Flight attendant, Shelia Dail - Age 57, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.
- Flight attendant, Doreen Welsh - Age 58, joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.
- Flight attendant, Donna Dent - Age 51, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.
I would like to add my own small voice to those congratulating the entire crew, and commending them for their exemplary professionalism. They have made all of us in the aviation community very proud indeed.
UPDATE Jan. 19, 2009: Joint Statement from the US Airline Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants Concerning the Crew of US Airways Flight 1549:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 19, 2009 – Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, First Officer Jeff Skiles and Flight Attendants Sheila Dail, Doreen Welsh and Donna Dent wish to offer their sincere thanks and appreciation for the overwhelming support, praise and well wishes they have received from the public around the world since the events of last Thursday.RELATED: Click here to view all posts about US Airways Flt 1549 on Aircrew Buzz.
The entire crew recognizes the media’s interest in speaking with them as soon as possible, and they are willing to share their experiences when the time is right. However, as the NTSB investigation is ongoing, they ask that the media respect their desire to refrain from participating in interviews until further notice.
We hear so much about the 50 and older crowd being edged out by the 30-somethings. The crew of Flight 1549 are living proof that experience counts. And 150 folks of all ages are alive today, thanks to the crew's cool competence under pressure. I've never been prouder to be among the fabulous fifties.
ReplyDeleteagree with 50 plus comment
ReplyDeleteAARP should be writing something on this one.
Experience is important
I agree with both of the above comments (and thank you for posting them).
ReplyDeleteClearly, this was one instance when experience really counted for a lot!
CBS, NBC, ABC CNN and other news stations are all praising the US Airways PILOT ---- and that's correct! But what about the other piloting crew members? And now!... what about the Flight Attendants?----these 3 ladies had to constantly have the people to be calm, orderly, follow instructions...over 150 people, in narrow aisles, acting quickly, "get out on the wings! get out on the wings!", --- the water is within inches, it's cold, on and on!!
ReplyDeleteTHESE are our heroes. But we are never hearing about THEM....WHY!
Paul, what you state is a sore point with virtually everyone in the aviation community.
ReplyDeleteNot to take anything at all away from the captain -- he apparently accomplished a fantastic piece of airmanship, and he was indeed the aircraft commander -- but yes, he was one of a crew of five. The first officer and the three flight attendants each had an important role in assuring that this accident did not end up a disaster, and I agree that they all deserve appropriate recognition.
Paul & B N Sullivan, I cannot agree more. It maybe public perception that flight attendants are just waiters or waitresses in the sky, but this incident proves they are not. They are trained for what recently happened and even though such an incident is rare, they have to be on call to act swiftly. Sadly, it is also their employers who treat them without recognition. Does the public know that some flight attendants work 15 hour days? I am not a flight attendant, but a business traveler and have heard so many stories of their plight, but they still have to be on guard and my hat goes off to all of them and hope one day, the public and their employers treat them with the respect for the role they play in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the flight attendants need more recognition for their efforts. The media is banging on and on about the heroic efforts of the pilots and how they saved 155 lives. Don't get me wrong, they deserve all the praise and recognition they are getting. But what people fail to realize is that without the quick thinking and evacuation initiated by the flight attendants, those 155 people would have "gone down with the ship."
ReplyDeleteHats off to the three ladies in the cabin. You've made me proud to call myself your fellow colleague!
but yes, he was one of a crew of five.
ReplyDeleteThe Captain is not -one- of a crew of -five-.
He is in Command of a crew of five.
There is a difference. Praising the Captain, IS praising the entire crew.
Sam
It was an excellent and truly commendable job by the entire crew. As a fellow flight attendant, I am so so so proud of the TEAM. Hats off to all of them!!! As to the public, may this incident shed some light on WHY a flight attendant is really onboard.
ReplyDeleteWay to go 1549 crew!
US F/A
As an employee of US Airways, I am extremely proud to work beside the crew of 1549! Your resilience to a terrifying situation has made you all a hero to your peers and the families you saved. God Bless you all.
ReplyDeleteAn Airbus A320 with just 3 cabin crew....everywhere in europe it is mandatory to have 4 on onboard....things turned out fine but i think safety is compromised with just 3!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job by the entire crew, to include all local's that assisted in both the rescue and aircraft recovery effort! JM
ReplyDeleteI think it is so amazing and such a blessing that the crew that was scheduled to that flight was so experienced. I believe that is what made the landing and subsequent evacuation successful. We should all be proud of the ENTIRE flight crew!!! They did an amazing job! Hopefully, the press will allow them privacy now to heal.
ReplyDeleteI understand that praises need to be made for the crew of US Airways but what about the outstanding job of the crew on the continental flight that went down in Denver. So much has been said of the US Airway Flight but nothing of The Continental Flight
ReplyDeleteto the anonymous person that posted that everywere in europe is mandatory that flying a A320 is mandatory to have 4 crew: Easy Jet flys with 3 crew as well, and they fly only in europe!
ReplyDeleteAs a former US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) flight attendant, I am very proud of the entire flight crew on Flight 1549. They did a truly remarkable job with having adverse conditions to contend with. Hopefully, the flying public will have a better understanding of what a flight attendant's job actually is. Obviously, they are very well trained professionals, this is evident by the job accomplished during this accident. Great job and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteMy inital thought is wow, what an awesome crew and pilot and let us not forget a fantasic airbus design! I live in the city and had a friend who was close enough to witness part of the crash. Truky amazing. I ran across a post on another site for the daily news and know that pilots are usually the ones who get the bad rap but does anyone know if this tidbit is credible????
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=47774
Jan M., I was worried about you. Glad to see you were not involved.
ReplyDeleteBud
I am a flight att. who works in Aerolineas Argentinas. The Company and our Union forces us to retired at 55 years old,they want younger people on board.
ReplyDeleteWe are being edge out by the 20s.
Experience is not important for them.
Congratulations for all the experienced crew members of the 1549 flight.!!!!!!!!!
I cannot recall the airline -
ReplyDeletebut I recall this most memorable pilot's intercom announcement to the passengers:
He introduced himself, co-pilot, and engineer -- then "your cabin crew today are (name, name, name).
They are here PRIMARILY FOR YOUR SAFETY. Additionally, they will do whatever they can for your comfort." WELL SAID.
First congratulations to each crew member for a wonderful job and executed exactly as we have all been trained to do. Now for the question about the number of cabin crew to complement the pax count onboard. There are 3 versions of the airbus version seats 156 pax version 2 seats 148 pax and 3 seats 194 pax, so this needs to be taken into account as to which version is flown by each individual airline.I hope this clears up this question.
ReplyDeleteJanie Edinger
former fight attendant
Delta Airlines and Northeast Airlines via the merger.