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Hero jet pilot avoids spotlight for good reason [Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger]
The London Guardian / The Associated Press ^ | January 17, 2009 | Verena Dobnik, Adam Goldman and David B. Caruso

Posted on 01/17/2009 2:05:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

They are already talking about building a statue of Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger. Lucrative book and movie deals could follow.

But even though the death-defying pilot of Flight 1549 is being celebrated as a hero, he still faces an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board that will critique his every action.

That is one of the reasons, union officials say, why he has stayed quiet as his star has risen.

"Until the NTSB says, 'He's a hero,' he's under investigation," said James Ray, a spokesman for the US Airline Pilots Association, which represents crews at US Airways. "The NTSB usually discourages people from calling anyone a hero until facts are in."

Although the NTSB has made no suggestion that Sullenberger deserves anything but praise for his handling of the accident, a complicated investigation still needs to proceed.

Sullenberger and his first officer, Jeff Skiles, were interviewed Saturday by the NTSB.

Sullenberger was seen entering a conference room of a lower Manhattan hotel, surrounded by federal investigators. The silver-haired pilot was wearing a white shirt and slacks and seemed composed. When a reporter approached him for comment, one of the officials responded: "No chance."

The pilots have already given several briefings to a union investigation team, to US Airways officials and to their own lawyers, Ray said. Pilots also routinely have a lawyer accompany them to their NTSB briefing.

He said the process was not an exercise in finger-pointing, but noted that the analysis can be rigorous, and that investigators make every effort to uncover instances of human error or mechanical failure.

But one thing is clear: Sullenberger is a publicist's dream.

"He's down in history now. And if he's handled well, with modesty and intelligence, he will remain a U.S. icon," said prominent New York City publicist Howard Rubenstein.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aerospace; bhoinauguration; bush; flight1549; miracleonthehudson; obama; obamainauguration; sullenberger
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Give the brave man some peace while he deals with the crash investigation!
1 posted on 01/17/2009 2:05:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Bird Ingestion

The birds did it man!!

2 posted on 01/17/2009 2:07:11 PM PST by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals Crazy!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"He's down in history now. And if he's handled well, with modesty and intelligence, he will remain a U.S. icon," said prominent New York City publicist Howard Rubenstein.

Unless, of course, he declares himself to be a Republican...

at which time the Democratic Party 'attack machine' will go into overdrive to discredit him, and find any and all dirt and smut that might exist.

3 posted on 01/17/2009 2:09:06 PM PST by stockstrader
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To: stockstrader

Chesley the pilot. Joe the Plumber.


4 posted on 01/17/2009 2:10:37 PM PST by MaxMax (I'll welcome death when God calls me. Until then, the fight is on)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

i cant wait for his interviews with the media. i cannot imagine the wars to talk to him first. unfortunately it will probably be the today show or god forbid larry king. i would have preferred fox news.


5 posted on 01/17/2009 2:11:29 PM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Unless he was impaired I see no reason why Sully would be found anything but a hero.


6 posted on 01/17/2009 2:11:35 PM PST by LiberConservative
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Goose on the wing

John Valentine was on the plane... he would like to give the NTSB investigators a little information!

7 posted on 01/17/2009 2:12:12 PM PST by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals Crazy!)
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To: thefactor

He was interviewed by Cavuto yesterday.


8 posted on 01/17/2009 2:12:37 PM PST by GVnana ("I once dressed as Tina Fey for Halloween." - Sarah Palin)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Sullenberger doesn’t appear to be the type of person who needs a “handler”. He is quite capable on his own.


9 posted on 01/17/2009 2:12:49 PM PST by Helen
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To: GVnana

the pilot? u sure?


10 posted on 01/17/2009 2:13:44 PM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: MaxMax
If he ever admits to having voted for McCain/Palin---

the Democratic Party/MSM will spare no effort to find anything to discredit him.

11 posted on 01/17/2009 2:14:51 PM PST by stockstrader
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To: stockstrader
Unless, of course, he declares himself to be a Republican... at which time the Democratic Party 'attack machine' will go into overdrive to discredit him, and find any and all dirt and smut that might exist.

Absoulutely! He's a white guy. Beat him like a damn dog.

12 posted on 01/17/2009 2:18:28 PM PST by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I wish the media would leave the man alone. Modest men do not like being singled out and recognized. For that alone, the man should be admired.


13 posted on 01/17/2009 2:18:49 PM PST by Desdemona (Tolerance of grave evil is NOT a Christian virtue (I choose virtue. Values change too often).)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He has to be a Republican otherwise (if he was a democRAT) he would have bailed out and let the plane crash into the city buildings killing all on board and probably thousands on the ground.


14 posted on 01/17/2009 2:19:26 PM PST by Evil Slayer (Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m waiting to see the first jerks face(s) who brings a law suite aginst the airline and the man who saved his/her sorry but.


15 posted on 01/17/2009 2:19:59 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The tree of liberty is getting mighty dry)
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To: All
Movie deals? It could be too late the Obamgasmic Hollywood / networks employees have their version almost in the can.

Headline?

Obama gets word of pending tragedy, acts quickly; not like Bush's Katrina
Network movie to air next week, "Miracle on the Hudson."
President-elect Obama positioned rescue boats, assured pilot and passengers.

Hollywood. New movie to be lead in to prime time show featuring President Obama's day-to-day accomplishments, Reality West Wing . . . .

16 posted on 01/17/2009 2:21:37 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As with any true American hero here comes the MSM to destroy that person in 3...2...1...


17 posted on 01/17/2009 2:22:02 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition Is Sad, Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: missnry

If I had not just seen that episode of Twilight Zone, I would have no clue about that picture.


18 posted on 01/17/2009 2:22:53 PM PST by BRL
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Until the NTSB says, 'He's a hero,' he's under investigation,"

Translation - You're not free until the government tells you that you are.

19 posted on 01/17/2009 2:22:57 PM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They’ve recovered the engine(s), it shoud be fairly easy to find a 9 pound goose in one or both of them, which should absolve the pilot


20 posted on 01/17/2009 2:25:39 PM PST by Graybeard58
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