Sully Sullenberger On His Passions, Regrets, And The American Dream

Known simply as "Sully", the captain of what has been dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson," Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III became a household name after he famously saved the lives of 155 people aboard U.S. Airways Flight 1549 by successfully ditching the airplane in the Hudson River after it was disabled by a flock of geese.

At age 60, he is now the author of Highest Duty, a memoir of his life and of the events surrounding Flight 1549, and was ranked second in TIME Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009. The aviation safety expert and accident investigator who also is the founder and chief executive officer of Safety Reliability Methods spoke with Huff/Post 50 about his biggest accomplishments and regrets.

What's the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you were growing up?
That I would be able to continue to grow so much and become, essentially, a late bloomer. Ironically, after four decades of lifelong learning, professionally and personally, I suddenly became an internationally-recognized public figure.

Now that you're over 50, what's the one rule you feel you can break with impunity?
Letting others define you.

What is the riskiest thing you've done in your life since you've turned 50?
I considered appearing on a reality television show – as if landing an airliner on a river wasn’t risky enough!

What ignites your creativity?
Going for a run. A change of scenery, especially outdoors, literally widens one’s perspective and frees the mind.

What social or political cause are you most passionate about?
That more of us could realize the promise of the American Dream. I have also been involved in issues of aviation safety for decades, and I now have a greater voice to be an advocate for things I’ve cared about my whole life.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
It’s not what happens to you, but what you do with it that defines your life.

What is your biggest regret?
Spending time on things that ultimately didn’t matter.

What is your biggest accomplishment?
Our daughters.

If you could say one thing to the next generation, what would it be?
Care a lot, and pay attention along the way.

If you could reincarnate as anyone or anything, what or who would it be?
An explorer - the first to reach the next frontier.

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Comments

[Dave Brough]

02:53 PM on 05/19/2012

What is Sully's biggest regret? "Spending time on things that ultimately didn’t matter". Dead on, like gawking "the beautiful view of the Hudson" instead of flying an airplane, like failing to return to LGA, which was deemed doable, like not declaring an emergency, or forgetting his plane's call sign, or not using the emergency frequency or squawk code, like saying he was going to do one thing, then do another (and not tell ATC boo), like taking over control of the airplane, when that's left to the less-experienced pilot, like trying to start an Auxiliary Power Unit when it started automatically, like tasking FO Skiles with a re-light procedure that could never happen, like NOT telling those in back that it was a WATER impact, like not deploying the aircraft's flaps, like not hitting the ditch switch, like turning downwind (and towards Manhattan and over the 600'-high Geo Washington Bridge) not upwind, like not using his cell to call 911 and advise what the heck was going on. But he did call his wife.
The man should be on trial for criminal negligence, not being hailed as a hero.

[Clarity22]

01:29 AM on 01/04/2012

He is amazing and an true inspiration. Being an aviation fan, I have the utmost respect for him and his profession!

[sueradu]

06:15 PM on 01/03/2012

The term hero is tossed around too often and needs to be reserved for those who respond in an emergency and save lives. The Air France flight that crashed departing Rio for Paris is a perfect example. There you had three licensed professional pilots who panicked and instead of correcting the attitude, stalled the plane and killed all 228 on board.

[mariapollack]

04:50 PM on 01/03/2012

it takes a pilot like Sully who is "at one with the aircraft" to do what he did..... there are many pilots who have the same training and are good; then there are those at-one with the aircraft! that's why he succeeded--he knew his airplane and how it was supposed to 'feel' = which is the 'attitude' of the airplane.

[bmitche]

03:28 PM on 01/03/2012

I WASN'T ON THAT FLIGHT, BUT I ALWAYS FEEL PROUD WHEN I HEAR YOUR NAME.

[happy ending]

02:42 PM on 01/03/2012

not only did this man save 155 lives, he saved all the lives of their family and friends from losing a loved one tragically... multiply 155 by at 20... he's touched over three thousand people personally that day... not to mention every one who watched his heroic landing. A TRUE HERO!!!

[shyguy151]

01:55 PM on 01/03/2012

He should be applauded. He did is down to earth and saved 155 people.

[jrp1947]

01:52 PM on 01/03/2012

He does what true Americans do. He walks to his own drumbeat and does not brag about it. This is a good old fashion solid man with good principles and the right moral attitude. he knows what is valuable in his life and what is not. He never defined himself as a hero and only thought he did his job successfully. If people are tired of hearing about him then those people have an issue with the media and not the man. Like any pilot who took his training to heart he fulfilled his obligation when the time came and that was to save his passengers. It was the media and the public who decided he had to be a hero not him. Just be grateful there are men like him walking among us today.

[Paul Co]

01:47 PM on 01/03/2012

Pilots like Sully, are few and far between? It takes a special kind of person to do it the right way. A monkey can fly an airplane when everything is going well. Its hours, days, and months of shear boredom, followed by seconds of shear terror. The difference is guys like Sully that handle emergencys with calm and training.

[Apple Baek]

01:39 PM on 01/03/2012

I Love This Guy!!!! He Is Absolutely Awesome & I Thank Him For His Service To The USA!!! Not To Mention That Incredible Landing On The Hudson!!!

[Marie Callahan]

01:24 PM on 01/03/2012

I am sick of hearing about this guy! He looks like Howdy-Doody with a mustache. There are a lot of good pilots out there who would have done the same thing he did. Emough already!

[lmyers211]

01:39 PM on 01/03/2012

Sick of hearing about one of the true heroes of the present generation? And what in the world do his looks have to do with anything? All the press the mainstream media gives to the likes of the Kardashians of the world, we need MORE of this kind of hero worship!!

[Apple Baek]

01:40 PM on 01/03/2012

Yeah, You Wishhhhhh....You Could Be This Guy!!! Come On Tell The Truth!!!!!!

[lfog]

01:17 PM on 01/03/2012

I feel Sully should be an inspiration to us all. We need heros like him-a man who saved many but didnt look at this as his greatest accomplishment but views his children as the greatest contribution to society. We spend so much time with reality shows about the Kardashians, Paris Hilton, and L. Lohan yet men and women whose lives reflect the morals and ethics that built this country are barely mentioned in any media.

[floydfreak]

01:08 PM on 01/03/2012

Sully = Grace Under Pressure

[rpd111]

12:59 PM on 01/03/2012

As a retired Military pilot who served in Vietnam and Desert Storm while also completing a full airline career, I can tell you "Sully" is what a hero looks and acts like. He defines the words honor and gentleman. He is not an actor or poser like John Wayne, he is the real thing. Nice job Sully, nice job.

[Meowlady2]

07:45 PM on 01/03/2012

I'm not sure why you'd bring John Wayne into it. He was an actor and I don't think he ever pretended to be anything else. They gave him a certain type of roll. He said the lines and went home.

[myangel06]

12:53 PM on 01/03/2012

what an inspiring man Sully is thank God for his quick thinking and passion the lives he saved that day is amazing and wonderful God amazes me with things I have gone through in the loss of my only child David. www.money-burge.com

http://blog.tonic.com/carmela-wiant-money-burge-next-of-kin-law-changing-lives/