US Airways Flight 1549 has been labeled by the media as the "Miracle on the Hudson." You probably remember Flight 1549 as the airplane that suffered a double bird strike, only minutes after it took off from LaGuardia Airport, in January of this year. Canadian geese were responsible for damaging both engines, which caused the plane to lose power and plummet from the skies. The pilot, Captain C. B. “Sully” Sullenberger, along with his crew, was able to gently bring the plane under control and splash-land in the middle of the Hudson River.
This feat of heroism becomes even more amazing when you learn more about the details. The Airbus A320 is not designed to glide, yet Captain Sullenberger was able to glide the plane to a safe landing instead of crashing into the Hudson. Fortunately for everyone involved, Captain Sullenberger happens to be certified as a glider pilot.
The most important aspect of ditching an airplane is to slow it down as much as possible before the impact of landing, without causing the plane to fall out of the sky. Another key factor is keeping the wings level and the nose slightly raised so that the bottom of the plane skims the water surface. Even with these steps performed as perfectly as is humanly possible, Flight 1549 most likely touched down at speeds ranging between 115 and 140 miles per hour. This was all accomplished while the pilot concentrated on avoiding the nearby George Washington Bridge, as well as various ferries, tourist boats, and cruise ships on the waters of the Hudson.
In addition to the amazing job done by the crew to bring the plane in safely, the passengers themselves were at least partially responsible for exiting the plane calmly and safely. The story of Flight 1549 is certainly a reminder of how important it really is to pay attention to the in-flight safety presentations which are usually ignored. Most importantly, it is a testament to the ability of a true hero respond under tremendous pressure.
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