The scene below occurred on Jan. 15, 2009. Few can imagine, much less understand, the technical problems, and quick decisions, made by Captain Chesley Sullenberger when he realized his Airbus was doomed to crash-land in the Hudson River. We all must remember this event as one of the most note-worthy news items of that year.
Air traffic controllers seemed to urge him to attempt to make it to an airport after both engines ingested a flock of geese, but his instincts were spot-on: NO WAY! His huge plane was going down, no doubt about it. Here are my thoughts on how the urgency and solution of his plight must have gone. I've thought about this man's decisions that day all the way till now.
He lost power abruptly in both of his two engines. His altitude was not great. Please understand that these behemoth size aircraft cannot be guided by a man's physical strength alone. Every control surface of the aircraft which turns, rolls, pitches, yaws, this half-million pound hunk, experiences many thousands of pounds of force. So, his efforts at controlling those surfaces HAD to be augmented by POWERED DEVICES, but his power was OUT. He had to quickly employ emergency power resources, which today may be done automatically, this area beyond my current knowledge. Our pilots here will help me out, I hope.
In any event, between talking to traffic controllers and guiding the big plane, he set it down perfectly into the Hudson River, an effort that could well have broken the craft to pieces. Everyone escaped pretty well unscathed. Sullenberger walked the aisles of the half-sunken hulk twice, determining no others were left aboard, then crawled out himself.
How can a heroic individual of his caliber be adequately thanked? imp
Air traffic controllers seemed to urge him to attempt to make it to an airport after both engines ingested a flock of geese, but his instincts were spot-on: NO WAY! His huge plane was going down, no doubt about it. Here are my thoughts on how the urgency and solution of his plight must have gone. I've thought about this man's decisions that day all the way till now.
He lost power abruptly in both of his two engines. His altitude was not great. Please understand that these behemoth size aircraft cannot be guided by a man's physical strength alone. Every control surface of the aircraft which turns, rolls, pitches, yaws, this half-million pound hunk, experiences many thousands of pounds of force. So, his efforts at controlling those surfaces HAD to be augmented by POWERED DEVICES, but his power was OUT. He had to quickly employ emergency power resources, which today may be done automatically, this area beyond my current knowledge. Our pilots here will help me out, I hope.
In any event, between talking to traffic controllers and guiding the big plane, he set it down perfectly into the Hudson River, an effort that could well have broken the craft to pieces. Everyone escaped pretty well unscathed. Sullenberger walked the aisles of the half-sunken hulk twice, determining no others were left aboard, then crawled out himself.
How can a heroic individual of his caliber be adequately thanked? imp
