Doc Searls Weblog

9 responses to “In the likely event of a water landing”

1. 

   Andrew Leyden

   January 19, 2009 at 12:49 am

   Good section in Popular Mechanics about the whole ditching process and whatnot.

   http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/science_news/4300211.html

   Reply
2. 

   Jodi with Atlanta Homes Sale

   January 19, 2009 at 2:50 am

   As the spouse of an airline pilot it bothers me that the first officer didn’t get more mention. He very well may have even been the one to perform the landing…

   Reply
3. 

   Doc Searls

   January 19, 2009 at 7:43 am

   Jodi, the story linked above says this:

   The account offered Saturday night by the U.S. safety agency – based on interviews conducted with the plane’s crew – had numerous startling elements, not the least of which was the fact that Sullenberger, who has been hailed by the mayor of New York and President George W. Bush for his skill and bravery, was not at the controls at takeoff.

   Instead, the plane’s first officer, 49-year-old Jeffrey Skiles, was in control. A 23-year veteran of the airline, he had just 35 hours of flying time in an Airbus A320. But as soon as the plane encountered the birds, at about 3,000 feet, or 900 meters, and the engines quit nearly simultaneously, Sullenberger, 58, took over.

   With little thrust, and with airspeed falling sharply, Sullenberger lowered the nose to keep his plane from falling out of the sky. And he set his co-pilot to work at moving through a three-page checklist of procedures for restarting both engines.

   It goes on from there. But you’re right that the first officer got scant mention at first. At least he’s getting more now.

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4. 

   Jodi with Atlanta Homes Sale

   January 21, 2009 at 8:16 pm

   Thanks for filling in the blanks there! Even though the first officer has 23 years with the airline only 35 hours in an Airbus A320 makes him pretty green to that airplane. That coupled with the fact that the captain has had experience in gliders would make sense that the captain should take control.

   Reply
5. 

   T. Lee

   January 22, 2009 at 1:29 pm

   That crash was no accident… http://s687.photobucket.com/albums/vv240/goosama/

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6. 

   Steve Skra

   February 3, 2009 at 5:26 pm

   I had no idea about the issue with the first officer. interesting.

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7. 

   Steve – Business Broker

   February 23, 2009 at 11:43 pm

   Conspiracy theory or not, it raises questions.

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8. 

   Jodi with Atlanta Homes Sale

   February 27, 2009 at 11:17 pm

   Its unfortunate that the latest accident in Buffalo could not have had a similar happy ending. In the end it most likely will be pilot error from what the NTSB has been saying.

   Reply
9. 

   Kelly – Helping People in Chexsystems

   November 11, 2009 at 5:52 pm

   Has any new information come out of this story in the past 8 months, or is it pretty much getting swept under the rug?

   Reply