Let's not forget about the First Officer on the US Airways flight

[maseman]

I hear words like "miracle" and every story talks up the Captain. As a pilot I can tell you it takes two to tango especially in a jet the size of an A320.

While the Captain might have been at the controls the First Officer (right seat pilot) was vital in helping the captain. Why? Many reasons.

1. The radios are usually operated and controled by the First Officer. After loosing the engines the captain was most likely on the flight controls while the FO was dialing in LGA and talking to the controllers about options.

2. The MOST IMPORTANT thing yesterday for these two pilots was to maintain a glide speed which is the minimum speed an airplane can travel with little or no engines without the plane going into a stall. Once a plane stalls, especially a large jet, one wing will dip and it will essentially drop like a rock. If that plane had gone into a stall those people would have never made it. The FO will call out airspeeds to the pilot in order to keep him "gliding" at the proper airspeed without stalling.

3. Flaps/other controls. I assume they did use flaps so they could glide at a lower airspeed before ditching. Once flaps are deployed the airspeeds change. The FO would have most likely been operating the flaps and re-adjusting the airspeeds to call out.

4. Visuals The FO would have been assisting the pilot in decisions such as to try to fly to Teterboro or to ditch the plane in the best location.

Essentially both of these guys are heros. I'd like to leanr more about the FO because he deserves as much recognition as the Captain.

[stray cat]

1. The entire team needs to be commended including stewards or stewardeses

Getting a 150 people safetly off a plane in about 90 seconds is truly amazing.

[meegbear]

3. Hear! Hear!

The entire crew should be at the White House Jan 21, getting the honors they deserve!

[conscious evolution]

2. I agree.

Both pilots did an outstanding job.
Good flight deck management and crew coordination was essential in pulling this off.No way one pilot could have done this alone.

Don' forget the flight attendants.They earned their pay also with how they handled the evacuation of the aircraft.

[KharmaTrain]

4. A Lot Of Skill And Luck...

Thank goodness the weather was clear...unlike the plane that went down in the Potomac in '82 in a blinding snowstorm. And off all places to ditch...I joke that they nearly landed the plane right at Port Clinton and the major ferry terminals. It's sure handy when you have boats that can handle 100 plus people just minutes away...compared to row boats.

I definitely give credit for all on the crew for not just knowing what to do in this situation, but keeping their cool. This incident happened so fast, cool heads saved lives.

[Belial]

5. That was pretty awesome..

Everyone coming together so quickly to make those rescues.. every now and then its nice to win one.

[cpamomfromtexas]

6. Does anyone know who the FO was?

I grew up with one and another I know was my flight instructor, would like to hear his name if anyone knows it.

[tabatha]

8. Jeff Skiles

[havocmom]

10. Thank you! Now if we can get the names of whole crew & all the rescuers...

They are proof that skill and dedication is more helpful than Mission Accomplished banners and contrived photo ops!

[Virginia Dare]

7. Nerves of steel...

How they got that plane on the water without cartwheeling is amazing. I'm sure they both were thinking that as they landed.

[Born_A_Truman]

9. Absolutely!

I also saw on CNN last night that the plane was equipped with a "ditch switch" which seals the underbelly of the airplane.

[maseman]

11. Yes

Many Airbus have these "ditch-switchs" which are made to help the aircraft potentially float awhile if it lands in water. Essentially there are various "holes" if you will for ventilation, air intakes for various equipment, etc. This "ditch-switch" seals these intakes to help keep some of the water out long enough to hopefully get people to safety. I cannot see why these pilots would not have hit the switch on this scenario.

[trof]

12. You bet. Copilots are unsung heroes.

[ZoltarSpeaks]

13. Jeffrey Skiles was my flight instructor at Madison, WI.

I did a double take when I heard the name and sure enough, it was the same person. I received all of my private pilot training from Jeff while I was going to the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was around 1979 and he was one of the instructors at Frickleton Aviation (the now-defunct school to which one of the articles refers).

We went on a few flights outside of the training program as well, to ferry planes and fly out to dinner a couple of times. His father was a professor at the School of Engineering. He was a nice person and a good instructor.

He made my day one time when I made him fairly sick doing spin training (I was hot to get into aerobatics and he wasn't real fond of them). I had to fly him back to the FBO with his head hanging pretty low, and of course I never let him forget that.

He has obviously done well for himself and I am proud to have known him. Congratulations to both pilots on this extraordinary feat.