Sully-a Hero?

Its been a long time since I provided any primary flight training. But as I recall, once it appears that the student will, in fact, stick with the training long enough to attempt solo flight and hopefully go on to obtain their private pilot certification, we start teaching them in earnest how to handle a power failure. Then, power failures remain an important part of our training for most of the rest of our flying careers.

Frank Bowlin

Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The author, a retired pilot, asserts that Captain Sully and First Officer Skiles' actions during the "Miracle on the Hudson" were not heroic, but rather a demonstration of standard pilot competence in handling a power failure.
Pilot training extensively covers power failure procedures from early stages, emphasizing maintaining best glide and identifying a suitable "soft spot" for an emergency landing.
Despite this training, the article notes that many pilots in NTSB-reviewed accidents fail to manage speed or choose the optimal landing site during power failures, leading to worse outcomes.
The key lesson from Flight 1549 is not hero worship, but the importance of not panicking and applying fundamental flight skills to manage the aircraft and aim for the safest possible landing, which can save lives.

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I am sick of hearing about Sully and being asked what I, a retired airline pilot, think. Now, the movie. Argh!

It’s been a long time since I provided any primary flight training. But as I recall, once it appears that the student will, in fact, stick with the training long enough to attempt solo flight and hopefully go on to obtain their private pilot certification, we start teaching them in earnest how to handle a power failure. Then, power failures remain an important part of our training for most of the rest of our flying careers.