Brass Balls...Someone buy this man a cold one!!

[BigTruck]

OK so we've all read the stories, saw it on the news, heard it on the radio, helluva day!

[Hagar]

I don't usually go along with this "hero pilot" nonsense but this an exception. A fantastic job. Well done indeed! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[expat]

I don't usually go along with this "hero pilot" nonsense but this an exception. A fantastic job. Well done indeed! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I do agree Hagar, this goes a bit beyond, "just doing his job".

Matt

[JBaymore]

And he managed to wrest control away from the Airbus computers to do it.  ;)

Yeah...... an amazing piece of flying.  Not too many people can say they've safely dead-stick piloted a commercial ATP aircraft into a controlled landing/crash from a very low altitude ....and walked away with all souls safe.

WOW.

best,

...................john

[BigTruck]

The plane didn't even break apart upon contact with the water...talk about skills!!!  (and of course the Brass again)

[expat]

[quote]And he managed to wrest control away from the Airbus computers to do it.

[beaky]

Not bad for an Air Force weenie, eh, BT?

Personally I think being dead is a requirement for real "hero" status, and I think he'd agree that he just did what you'd expect any professional pilot to do.

Besides, he's also glider-rated... that sort of situation is normal for a glider pilot.  ;)

But he's obviously a very good pilot and very good captain... I'd buy him a beer (and a top-shelf shot if he wanted one)!

Let's also raise a glass to the cabin crew- I noticed life jackets on most exiting pax, and the fact that nobody drowned or froze to death can be attributed to really excellent "flight attending". The rescue personnel did a great job, too, but the often-maligned "stews" had only a few minutes to prep everybody best they could, then had to maintain order while figuring out when and how to get everyone out. In a way, their job was harder and scarier than that of the flight crew... imagine having to deal with over 100 terrified pax in such a situation!!

And of course there's the water taxi and ferry skippers who decided without hesitation to divert to the site to render aid... no thought of their schedule or lwsuits, etc. Good to see the "mariner's code" in full effect.

[Hagar]

[quote]Besides, he's also glider-rated... that sort of situation is normal for a glider pilot.

[Mobius]

It was great to see everyone doing exactly what they should have, when they should have, and how they should have.  Amazing flying job, I'd be really interested to hear how he managed to land so smoothly without the engines catching the water and cartwheeling the aircraft.

Amazing work from all involved - except that stupid flock of geese, what were they thinking?

[beaky]

Very impressive indeed. From what I saw it looked coordinated. I was told that since 9/11 they practice regularly for such an eventuality.

They (obviously) have comms; probably a common freq for the river and maybe company freqs, as well... I doubt they were under one command or anything like that (although the NYPD and PAPD have patrol boats that may have acted as mobile commands), so it just took cool heads and common sense to not make things worse by converging willy-nilly on the aircraft.

I think that rather than get too close, they first tossed life jackets and life rings close by, then stood by to haul people aboard if necessary.

[Steve M]

Yet another news release, this includes the crew.
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Home/C ... &date=True

[a1]

Tip of the hat to you sir. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]


Amazing flying, putting the lives and welfare of his passengers ahead of his own. Great landing as well.

[lunitic_8]

[quote]The plane didn't even break apart upon contact with the water...talk about skills!!!

[skoker]

I salute thee

[lunitic_8]

COME HITHER SO I CAN GIVE YEE A HOTT COCO 8-)