Dramatic details released on plane crash into the Hudson

[deminks]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/18/news/plane.1-409908.php

NEW YORK: Just seconds after the first officer of US Airways Flight 1549, leaving La Guardia Airport in New York and bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, pointed the nose of his jet into the sky, he noticed birds on the right side - "in a perfect line formation."

The plane's captain, who had been busy watching the cockpit instruments, managing the radios and looking at charts, then looked up.

The windscreen, he told investigators, was filled with birds. The plane was going at least 250 miles an hour, or 400 kilometers per hour. The captain's first instinct, he said, was to duck.

(snip)

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.

(snip)

[lostnotforgotten]

1. The Flying Pilot Non Non-Flying Pilot Trade Flying Duties On Each Leg Of A Trip

It is normal for the first officer to be flying the plane.

[maseman]

2. The article makes it sound extremely startling that

the co-pilot (correctly called the First Officer) was at the controls on take-off. Quite frankly this is normal behavior. Here's why.

In this case it sounds like the FO had only minimal hours in an A320 aircraft. Obviously he has had much flight experience as a 23 year vet of US Airways. He had probably been flying either the 737 or 757 series or possibly regional jets much of that time. However when a pilot starts up in a new aircraft they usually pair them with a seasoned captain who basically "trains" them in type of aircraft.

Sometimes the First Officer is trained in that aircraft but many times will do the take-offs and landings to stay fresh. You wouldn't want something bad to happen to a captain like food poisoning, heart attack, etc. and have a First Officer who has landed in the last eight months.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. There is NOTHING "startling" about the !st officer being at the controls during takeoff...

I cringe when I read stories written like this - clearly, the author didn't bother to ask a pilot or expert whether or not it was truly "startling" for the 1st officer to be at the controls.:eyes:

[LisaL]

4. Yea, WTF is startling about that?

Sounds like both of them had a lot of experience. Once the plane got in trouble the guy with more experience took over.