"Sully" Sullenberger New Job: Pilot Who Glided Plane Into Hudson River Gets New Job (VIDEO)

(AP) -- The airline captain who glided his US Airways jet safely into New York's Hudson River will return to the cockpit soon, the airline said on Monday.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger will pilot regular flights as well as joining the airline's flight operations safety management team. The airline said it was still working out the details of his return to flight duties.

Sullenberger, 58, has finished the training required to return to the cockpit and is eligible to fly, said US Airways Group Inc. spokesman Jonathan Freed. The requirements for returning to the cockpit include ground school, simulator training, and flying with a captain from the training department, he said.

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On Jan. 15 Sullenberger ditched the Airbus A320 in the Hudson after a collision with a flock of geese killed power in both engines minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia airport. All 155 people on the plane survived. First Officer Jeffrey Skiles said in March that he would return to the cockpit.

In a statement released by the airline, Sullenberger said the months since the Jan. 15 incident have been full, "and my family and I have had some unforgettable experiences. However, I have missed working with my colleagues at US Airways and I am eager to get back in the cockpit with my fellow pilots in the months ahead."

Sullenberger wrote about the landing in "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," with co-author Jeffrey Zaslow. The book is due out next month.

Sullenberger and Skiles have been lauded for their textbook response to the loss of power. Their plane was at just 2,800 feet, giving them just three and a half minutes to try to restart the engines or find an airport for a landing. He told the National Transportation Safety Board in June that he glided into the Hudson near Manhattan's ferry terminals to increase the chances of a rescue.

Comments

[Ping]

He has the "Right Stuff".

[AirViceMarshalPark]

Too bad that he faces mandatory retirement from regular flying duty in less than 2 years. At age 60, an airline pilot can no longer fly passenger carrying flights, by Federal law.

Right up there with New Coke as a dumb idea. Give me a greyhair in the cockpit any day over a couple of 22 year olds with less than 2000 hours total for the both of them.

[BunnyMama]

Why does he look so much older than 58 - is this evidence of occupational exposure to radiation and UV light?

[proshot22]

Where's all the naked PETA chicks.. Sully flew into the birds. The flocks had the right of way.

[inonoatama]

What I think is particularly impressive about this heroic, inspiring, and marvelous feat accomplished by Captain Sullenberger is that the heroic was accomplished without a focus on performing "heroics." What made the heroic possible was training, professionalism, focus, best practices, doing the job step-by-step and according to reason. Most of all, this was an advertisement for the power of EXPERIENCE. In a world where youthful energy is lionized and the knowledge and savvy of a 58-year old, gray-haired pro tends to get devalued, this story provides a lesson that should be heeded far and wide.

Thank you, Captain Sullenberger.

[JohnDrake6]

I couldn't agree more.

While waiting a flight recently I was horrified when I realized who my pilots would be: two young men in their early to mid 20's by all appearances --both overweight and wearing ill-fitting shirts that were not quite fully tucked into their pants. If they had been working for at a fastfood restaurant they would have gotten a talking to from their manager. They looked inexperienced, lost and uncomfortable just walking through the terminal!

I suspect that if something catastrophic had befallen that flight I would have been SOL and SOS.

[jws2346]

I also wish you the best of luck. Not really being an avid water sports advocate I would feel confident hearing your voice over the aircrafts PA. Thanks Capt Sully

[Friend-O]

Wishing you the best Captain!

[dreamwillneverdie]

He needs re-training to return to cockpit? How about if he retrains all the other pilots?

[TazoWolf]

Agreed!

[anelder]

Too true, this seems strange. Maybe a time off to regroup but retrain??

[Bulbul]

No mention if he gets a significant or even any king of raise , ot back to his meager salary ?

[FeloniusMonk]

This is USAirways, you got to be kidding. Suprised they didn't bill him for the airplane. No good deed goes unpunished.

[truthSerum888]

Out of all the controversial icons in the media landscape today including presidents, congress, actors, and athletes, I don't think anyone can deny that Captain Sullenberger is the real deal. God Bless you and all the pilots who weren't as fortunate.

[badger2196]

Not to detract form the great job that Sully did, but this headline is basically incorrect. He is not getting a new job, just going back to his old one. Come on HP - get it right!

[Bulbul]

Exactly, sounds to me he was back doing the same. With the headline, I thought he was going to fly the POTUS.

[CessnaDriver]

He is getting a new job-in addition to line flying he is being appointed to the "airline's flight operations safety management team" according to the article.

While this may only amount to a "title bump" without increased renumeration, it is a promotion and an honor that he quite well earned.

Good to see a competent person get ahead.

[Gover]

This guy should get a lifetime "Get Out of Training Free" card.

Pretty sure when you've landed a jumbo-jet on water with both engines out you've reached the limits of what the simulator can teach you.

[MajorKong]

Send your suggestion to faa.gov

It's not the airline that determines when you go to training. It's a federal regulation.

[plugnpillai]

Not a jumbo-jet, but I think I can second your motion.

[Alexei Kruglikov]

rubbish and unprofessional comment!

training is always required to refresh skills especially after lengthly break.

i bet Sully would be 1st to point it out to you.

[talkingdog]

Thank you for straightening that out,.....can you get me a beer?

[muffler]

He going to be teaching current pilots on safety and emergencies. This is a perfect us of his skills and experience.

[PhantomBeast]

Sully is a good man and he did a good job of saving ALL those lives.

[northstar11]

with a little help from mother nature who put the river within reach

[WaitingforJanuary]

I think Sully would have preffered an empty field.

[RegularEinstein]

If I were the US Airways board of directors I would make Sully the CEO of this company ASAP. He would do a much better job than Doug (Drunk) Parker. Plus US Airways wouldn't have to worry about DUIs or making embarrassing decisions, like charging captive passengers 5 dollars for a cup of water!

[bygollymissmolly]

I'm confused. Why would a pilot who did such a masterful job of landing a plane and not losing even one life be required to "retrain". He should be teaching other pilots, not being required to retrain.

[ultracrepidarian]

Exactly.

[JackND]

My first thought as well...

[MajorKong]

We're all required to retrain. No exceptions. Ever. It's the law.

I'm sure if he wanted to be a training instructor for US Airways he would be a shoo in. However, he may not want to do that since it might involve relocating.

Instructing isn't always a good deal, since you can end up doing simulator checks from midnight to 4 AM. We only have so many simulators so we run them around the clock.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

i thought that also