Sullenburger - "hero" response in 60 Minutes interview

[swordfish]

I don't know if this response was prepared, but it really seems to suit the guy, and the media frenzy surrounding the ditching of US Air 1549 in the Hudson:

Interviewer: You've been called a hero by a lot of people. How do you feel about that?

Sully: I don't feel comfortable embracing it, but I don't I don't want to deny it. I don't want to diminish their thankful feeling toward me by telling them that they're wrong. I'm beginning to understand why they might feel that way.

Interviewer: And why is that?

Sully: Something about this episode has captured people's imagination; I think they want good news. I think they want to feel helpful again. And if I can help in that way, I will.

[LOCBC]

I don't know if this response was prepared, but it really seems to suit the guy, and the media frenzy surrounding the ditching of US Air 1549 in the Hudson:

Interviewer: You've been called a hero by a lot of people. How do you feel about that?

Sully: I don't feel comfortable embracing it, but I don't I don't want to deny it. I don't want to diminish their thankful feeling toward me by telling them that they're wrong. I'm beginning to understand why they might feel that way.

Interviewer: And why is that?

Sully: Something about this episode has captured people's imagination; I think they want good news. I think they want to feel helpful again. And if I can help in that way, I will.

Same shit everyday................don't know when this will be over, wheather you open the tv or newspaper.

[yfly]

LOCBC, Let him enjoy his 15 minutes. He is humble enough to acknowledge that luck and lack of options played a big part in the outcome. His actions didn't diminish your hero status so let it go.

[Hedley]

I don't think this guy is particularly enjoying his 15 minutes
of fame. He is remarkably modest, considering all the media
smoke that's been blowing up his *ss. Fortunately he appears
to be old enough to recognize it for what it is.

Why the media is trumpeting this story, has nothing to do with him.

[Hoov]

I thought it was a good interview, he sets a good example as to what a professional is.

[LOCBC]

I don't think this guy is particularly enjoying his 15 minutes
of fame. He is remarkably modest, considering all the media
smoke that's been blowing up his *ss. Fortunately he appears
to be old enough to recognize it for what it is.

Why the media is trumpeting this story, has nothing to do with him.

I agree with you 100%

[Cat Driver]

The poor bastard is obviously uncomfortable being in the lime light.

Not only can he think in an emergency he blows the theory that all pilots are glory seekers right out of the water...so to speak.

[Four1oh]

Sheesh, if you don't want glory, why are you a pilot!? I mean, um, you might as well be a lawyer or something!

[yfly]

I don't think this guy is particularly enjoying his 15 minutes
of fame. He is remarkably modest, considering all the media
smoke that's been blowing up his *ss. Fortunately he appears
to be old enough to recognize it for what it is.

Why the media is trumpeting this story, has nothing to do with him.

I call it humble, you call it modest. Same thing. It is good to see. As to his enjoyment regarding the attention, he is the only person who knows. He has stated that he will look at all options that may come from it.

The media is trumpeting the story because it is still a good one at a time when good stories are in short supply. "Hero's" don't come along everyday so the publics facination with them needs to be fed. That's just how media works. They wouldn't dedicate 45 minutes of prime time air on a dog of a story. I would argue the "trumpeting" has everything to do with him. He isn't in control of the media but he is a story that sells.

[slowstream]

Personally, I like the guy and could image a much worse outcome and even more people who would have had their head swollen beyond room size, give the guy a break, he seems like a honest and caring human doing the best he can.

The real annoyance here is (as always to me), the lack of skills, lack of intelligence and lack of morals media which is only slightly higher than that of lawyers who can and usually do screw all the information! Before anyone starts, yes I despise the media, sad, because they do have a important role in our society, just wish they did a great deal better.

[swordfish]

4-1-o declared:

Sheesh, if you don't want glory, why are you a pilot!? I mean, um, you might as well be a lawyer or something!

well, hell, man it's the money, and the prestige, and the uniform, and the easy work, and all the infrastructure support we get, and travelling in the crew van directly to the plane, and the free passes and travel benefits, and the pension plan, and staying at the nicest hotels, and reduced rate accommodation and car-rentals when you're on holidays, and the 11/19 schedule...

oooops! sorry that was Cathay pilots....

That should read: it's handbombing 3000 lbs of groceries and building materials in a T-O; working 12-15 hours a day - and half of them at night - on a 14/3 schedule; pumping gas out of drums at -30 with a rotary pump; flying with a dinosaur panel in front of you; having to placate customers, ops, and admin simultaneously; managing niggly snags from 1 end of the day to the other; the paperwork, the jump-suit; the training bond, sleeping in the transient centre at Repulse Bay...

Oh, and not to forget: THE LOVE OF FLYING!

[flyinthebug]

Swordfish.. That was freaking hilarious! and soooooooooooo TRUE!

Oh and I think "Sully" was humble and showed a great deal of class. Let him have his 15 mins!

Dont forget his wife is some sort of TV exercise "guru" on ABC and she is very comfortable infront of the camera.. Im sure she gave him some pointers.. Much like Michelle O gives her ol man lol.

Fly safe all.
Cheers.

[scrambled_legs]

Great interview of a classy man and crew. I wonder how much work FO Gyles managed to do in the cockpit after the incident? From the interview it sounds like the FO just saw the birds hit and the Captain took control did everything else from that point on, radios, flying, restart, etc. It would be interesting to hear the play by play of the CVR.

[TG]

I wonder how much work FO Gyles managed to do in the cockpit after the incident?

Mr Gyles went very...very busy running the check list and trying to restart the engines.

[Canoehead]

Just watched the 60 Minutes episode online. I think it was a pretty well put together interview. Sully is obviously a amazing skipper, and his crew was there to back him up. It would be interesting to hear more from the F/O's perspective too, although in this case, CBS knows that 'Sully' is bringing in the ratings, and not his partner. Remember, this program is about the shock & awe factor, and maximizing the viewers. To get the real story from these guys, you'd need to sit down with them and have a few beers. That would be something.

Is he a hero? Sure he is, but it's circumstantial. His number one priority that afternoon was to get home and see his wife and daughters. Lucky for the folks on board, he was one determined man.

[hazatude]

The poor bastard is obviously uncomfortable being in the lime light.

Not only can he think in an emergency he blows the theory that all pilots are glory seekers right out of the water...so to speak.

Mr. Driver,

Please admit that if that were you, you would be waist deep in pussy saying, "yes ladies...that was me that landed that plane. Now let's get jiggy."

[Cat Driver]

Mr. Driver,

Please admit that if that were you, you would be waist deep in pussy saying, "yes ladies...that was me that landed that plane. Now let's get jiggy.

One should never pass up freebies.

A true artist does not get caught.

[Invertago]

Right now the media is painting him all pretty, the media wants to keep milking the story, so I'm sure they have some reporters out looking to get dirt on the guy so they can twist the story and get more ratings. Good news only sells so far, if you can make a guy fall, you get more news and a longer story that sells more. Sullenburger probably just wants to get on with life, if he wanted the spotlight he would have chosen an acting career or something.

[CanadianEh]

I watched it. Sullenberger was definitely well spoken when answering question.

[scrambled_legs]

I wonder how much work FO Gyles managed to do in the cockpit after the incident?

Mr Gyles went very...very busy running the check list and trying to restart the engines.

That's what I would have thought too, but if you watch the interview the Captain says he took control, talked to ATC, turned the ignition on, and started the APU with no mention of his FO.

He was at 3,000' when he lost the engines. What would that give him, 3 minutes to splashdown? Maybe he was so familiar with the plane that he did everything off of memory before the checklist even came out.

[jeta1]

If you recall Capt Piche from the Air Transat duel-engine flamout and landing in the Azores, he was also hailed as a hero for the deadstick landing on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean... that was - in itself - awesome too... but he didn't want any of the limelight... turned out he had a shady past and in fact he misdiagnosed the fuel malfunction and he could have made it with one engine still running. Of course easy for us to say this years after the fact.

Sullenburger, Piche and the one who landed that DC-10 - forget his name - all of whom brought a crippled plane and people walked away - deserve our hats off - no matter the circumstances. That is what pilots are trained for - handling emergencies. Any trained monkey can operate an aircraft NORMALLY. The money and respect is earned when things are abnormal. You cant get any better PR for pilots than the miracle in the Hudson.

[C-FKLY]

I find it funny how nobody in the media even seems to acknowledge that there was a first officer, or flight attendants on board who were just as necessary as the captain in saving all 155 on this flight. Meanwhile Sullenberger has gone on to become a household name.

And if anyone, like myself, missed the 60 minutes interview, it can be found right here.

[B-rad]

Thanks for the link.

Apparently he did say Mayday Mayday Mayday, as he states in the interview.

[sky's the limit]

Yes,

It is interesting that the F/O is nowhere to be found in any of this, was he busy with the Sports section or something? I mean really, this is a two-crew cockpit, that RELIES on two people, even/especially in situations like this. Short of the Super Bowl appearance, I can't recall seeing the F/O at all.

Wonder if Branson offered him a "lifetime" job at double the highest pay too? Somehow doubt it.

stl

[B-rad]

Of course Branson wouldn't offer the same job to the F/O. Branson is a business man and Sully is just a great marketing option. I'm sure Branson isn't interested in him for his flying skills.

The F/O doesn't get the same credit because even tho it is a two crew job, the part that made the difference was a one man job. The F/O can take care of flipping the switches and working with him but Sully was in control. He's the one that safely landed the plane and deserves the credit he gets. Did the F/O do something unique that deserves to be awarded for?