[BITList] Become a good aviator >>> Flight 1549

[John Feltham]

This is taken from the PPRuNe Forum...



Originally Posted by Allied Pilots Association

The following is an exclusive account for our members from one of our  
pilots who was onboard US Airways Flight 1549 when the pilots made a  
successful emergency ditching into New York’s Hudson River. First  
Officer Susan O’Donnell is a LGA-based 767 pilot. She resides with her  
family in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Susan is a former Navy pilot,  
hired at AA in February 1990. She has flown the 727, F100, A300 and  
now the 767.

The following is her account of the flight, the rescue and recovery  
response, as well as the support she experienced afterward. This is  
intended to give each of you a unique insight into the event. We also  
hope that the crew’s tremendous effort to take care of each other and  
the nearly instantaneous support of USAPA and APA responders become  
“takeaways” for our pilots to use when faced with an emergency.

I was a jumpseat rider seated in First Class on Flight 1549 from LGA  
to CLT, which successfully ditched in the Hudson River. I’ve been  
asked to share a few of my experiences on that day. Although it was a  
stressful incident, the successful outcome and the assistance and  
support I received afterwards have been truly humbling and  
inspirational.

After introducing myself to and being welcomed aboard by Captain  
Sullenberger and FO Skiles, I was offered seat 3D, an aisle seat in  
the last row of First Class. I was in my uniform. Another jumpseat  
rider took a seat in row 6. These were the last empty seats on the  
airplane. I wasn’t paying much attention to the flight until, climbing  
out, there were several loud thumps occurring roughly simultaneously  
along both sides of the aircraft. “Bird strikes,” I thought. A few  
seconds later, there was a bit of smoke and the stench of burning bird  
that seemed to confirm my guess. There was a turn to the left, and I  
assumed we were returning to LGA.

The passengers were concerned but calm. I couldn’t see any part of the  
aircraft out the window from my aisle seat. Although I didn’t hear  
much that sounded encouraging from the engines, I expected we would  
have at least partial thrust with which to limp back to LGA.

We rolled out of the turn, and I could tell we were not maintaining  
altitude. Then we heard the PA: “This is the Captain. Brace for impact.”

Obviously we weren’t returning to LGA, and I could see enough out the  
window to realize we’d be landing in the river. The flight attendants  
began shouting their “brace” litanies and kept it up until touchdown.  
The descent seemed very controlled, and the sink rate reasonably low.  
I believed the impact would be violent but survivable, although I did  
consider the alternative. The passengers remained calm and almost  
completely quiet. As we approached the water, I braced by folding my  
arms against the seat back in front of me, then putting my head  
against my arms. There was a brief hard jolt, a rapid decel and we  
were stopped. It was much milder than I had anticipated. If the jolt  
had been turbulence, I would have described it as moderate. Thinking  
about it later on, I realized it was no worse than a carrier landing.

After landing, the attitude of the aircraft was slightly nose high,  
but not far off a normal parked attitude, and there was no obvious  
damage to the cabin or water intrusion where I was. No one was hurt or  
panicked. We all stood up. I could hear the doors open and the sound  
of slide inflation. There was a verbal command “Evacuate;” people were  
already moving towards the doors. I exited through the forward right  
door and entered the raft. The evacuation up front was orderly and  
swift, and we were not in the water long before being picked up by  
various boats, which were extremely quick to the scene. Many  
passengers were standing on the wing, going from feet dry to nearly  
waist deep as the rescue progressed. They were of course the first to  
be picked up by the arriving boats. I was picked up by a large ferry  
boat, climbing a ladder hanging from the bow. It didn’t take long to  
get all passengers into the boats and to the ferry terminals.

Once at the terminal, we were met by police, firemen, paramedics, FBI,  
Homeland Security, the Red Cross, Mayor Bloomberg, and more. Captain  
Sullenberger continued in a leadership role in the aftermath, talking  
with the passengers, assembling his crew and including myself and the  
other jumpseat rider as members of his crew. I was impressed to note  
that he had the aircraft logbook tucked under his arm. When the  
Captain asked me if I wanted to join the crew at the hotel, I told him  
I would really appreciate it as I had lost my wallet. He immediately  
pulled out his wallet and gave me $20. His concern for me when he had  
so much else to worry about was amazing.

The USAPA representative was on the scene very quickly, and again  
included the other jumpseat rider and myself with the rest of the  
crew. I didn’t see a flight attendant representative; USAPA took care  
of the FAs as well. The USAPA representative escorted the entire crew  
to the hospital (we rode in a NYFD fire truck), where we were joined  
by other USAPA reps and the USAPA lawyer, all of whom continued to  
consider me as one of the crew. At the hospital, I had finally called  
the APA “in case of accident” number on the back of my ID badge for  
APA. I had not initially thought of that as applying to my situation,  
as a jumpseater on another airline, but I called anyway. I spoke with  
APA LGA Vice Chairman Captain Glenn Schafer, who departed immediately  
to come assist me.

After a routine evaluation, they transported us by police car to a  
hotel, where rooms were waiting. The USAPA version of our Flight  
Assist was also there, and they spoke to me and offered me whatever  
assistance I needed, again as if I was one of their own. The USAPA  
reps also brought all of us some clothing and toiletries that they had  
purchased. Captain Schafer arrived at the hotel, bringing me some  
necessary items. He stayed overnight at the hotel, making flight  
arrangements for me to go home the next day and escorting me to the  
airport. Captain Mark Cronin from the AA NY Flight Office met me at  
the departure gate, again offering assistance and support.

I am grateful for the many calls of concern and offers of help I have  
received, from fellow pilots, union representatives and the company,  
and I am grateful for and proud of the response and assistance of both  
USAPA and APA. I would hope that our union would treat another  
airline’s crewmember as kindly as I was treated. USAirways has also  
been superb, treating me as if I was a paying passenger. I am also  
thankful for the professionalism and capabilities of Captain  
Sullenberger, FO Skiles and FAs Dent, Dail and Welsh. They certainly  
did our profession proud, and they saved my life.



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