Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A current Airbus Captain's explanation of the "Miracle on the Hudson"
Email | Feb ,17, 2009 | Unkown

Posted on 02/18/2009 8:45:28 AM PST by mick

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last
This email has been making the rounds in pilot circles. A friend of mine forwarded it to me. As a non-pilot, I find this account fascinating. Plus, it highlights the incredible complexity of these machines and the great skill required by pilots to control these airplanes. I thought I'd share it with my fellow Freepers because I know we have all been interested in this event and the heroism of the crew. God Bless You to all commercial pilots !!
1 posted on 02/18/2009 8:45:28 AM PST by mick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: mick

Awesome! Thanks for posting.

Airbus has been somewhat redeemed in my eyes. I personally have always enjoyed flying on Airbus, but one can’t ignore the shaky tail fin history of the aircraft, at least on older models.


2 posted on 02/18/2009 8:59:15 AM PST by Retired Greyhound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

My nephew pilots the same route (same carrier) in RJs


3 posted on 02/18/2009 9:02:56 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (FreepMail me if you want on the Bourbon ping list!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

4 posted on 02/18/2009 9:08:25 AM PST by the invisib1e hand (nnnnngggngngngngngnnnnnnnnnnnnnn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

For later read:


5 posted on 02/18/2009 9:09:36 AM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (Please God Save The United States From The Democrats, and Barack Hussein Obama. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

I would fly with Sully anywhere.

A.N.Y.W.H.E.R.E.


6 posted on 02/18/2009 9:12:18 AM PST by BuckeyeTexan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

Awesome indeed. Love the bit about the seatbelt warning being inserted in there.


7 posted on 02/18/2009 9:18:16 AM PST by NonValueAdded (May God save America from its government; this is no time for Obamateurs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

I always thought that, if required, I could land one of the big birds. Just reading this description, I now know that idea to be complete folly. I have a hard enough time juggling the constant demands for my attention in a 4-seat single engine plane under normal operating conditions, never mind what this flight crew did under such extreme conditions. I am even further in awe than I was before.


8 posted on 02/18/2009 9:18:39 AM PST by piperpilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

B4L8r


9 posted on 02/18/2009 9:25:48 AM PST by AFreeBird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick

I am a ‘private pilot’. I fly single engine, propeller-driven aircraft in ‘good’ (VFR) weather only, generally below 2500’. I fly for the fun of it and to help my father-in-law do aerial timber surveys and photography. Hard surface runways are optional but preferred for us.

With that up front ...

It’s nice that the aircraft designers did all this, but, to me NONE of that, except the ability to light the control panel, control the aircraft, and maintain comms had anything really to do with the safe landing. To me 99% of the reason that aircraft ditched safely was due to the skills and composure of the PF (pilot flying) or what we call the PIC (pilot in command).

The fact that the aircraft did not pitch/tumble or cartwheel or stop too abruptly was due to the way the aircraft entered the water. And the pilot did that, not Airbus, with the minimal assistance of the ‘green dot’ on the way in.

So yes, kudos to Airbus for strength and good systems. But grand huzzahs for the pilot and FO.

Just my opinion.


10 posted on 02/18/2009 9:33:38 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: piperpilot

I’m with you. I can screw up the landing sequence in a simple left-hand pattern in a Tri-Pacer, Champ, 172 ... doesn’t matter.

Since the fields I fly out of are generally rural, my minor-league screw-ups are inconsequential.

I know you and I could get a ‘heavy’ on the ground if we had to. It just may be WAY less than pretty ... oh, and give me 15,000 of runway ahead of me too! ... and 200’ on each side. (got any spare SAC bases I can try it on?)


11 posted on 02/18/2009 9:37:21 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: mick
2 - Switch GPWS (ground proximity warning systems) and EGPWS (enhanced GPWS) systems off so that the aircraft does not start shouting 'Too Low Gear' or 'Whoop Whoop Pull Up' at you when you are trying to concentrate on a tidy crash.

I've never seen those two words together before.

Only a Brit could come up with that.

12 posted on 02/18/2009 9:44:10 AM PST by Nighttime in America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mick
I would expect that the flightdeck would momentarily have gone dark with all the screens blank while the electrical system reconfigured itself onto battery power.

If it were me there'd be an additional step at this point involving a very quick trip to the rest room...

13 posted on 02/18/2009 9:58:06 AM PST by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blueflag

It would definitely not be pretty. I’m with you on the former SAC base runways. I used to do a lot of flying in New Hampshire and just loved the massive 12,000 ft. long, 300 ft. wide runway at the former Pease AFB. It fit my Piper Warrior II just fine.


14 posted on 02/18/2009 10:58:10 AM PST by piperpilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: mick
the flightdeck would momentarily have gone dark

Didn't this happen at 3:30 in the afternoon? There should've been plenty of daylight in the cockpit.

15 posted on 02/18/2009 12:11:59 PM PST by Nighttime in America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nighttime in America
"I would expect that the flightdeck would momentarily have gone dark with all the screens blank while the electrical system reconfigured itself onto battery power"

I think he meant the instrument panel.

16 posted on 02/18/2009 12:45:08 PM PST by mick (Banker Capitalism is NOT Free Enterprise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: mick

Okay, that makes sense.


17 posted on 02/18/2009 1:00:18 PM PST by Nighttime in America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: piperpilot

bump


18 posted on 02/18/2009 3:57:57 PM PST by DonaldC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: DonaldC

bump for the west coast


19 posted on 02/18/2009 8:11:18 PM PST by mick (Banker Capitalism is NOT Free Enterprise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: mick

Bump for later.


20 posted on 06/04/2009 9:57:08 PM PDT by Still Thinking (If ignorance is bliss, liberals must be ecstatic!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson