US Airways pilot retiring after 30 years of flying

Pilot, Captain Chelsey Sullenberg is folding in his work and retiring after completing 30 years of flying. This 59 year old man is well known for his ‘Hudson River landing’.

All the 150 travelers on board the plane when it had to have an emergency landing survived. The plane engines were struck by birds forcing it to make an urgent landing. The plane had barely taken off from LaGuardia Airport (New York) and was headed to Charlotte (North Carolina).

After the feat of landing the plane in the Hudson River and saving the people aboard, Pilot Sullenberg released a book called ‘Brace for impact’. He became a member of the US Airways flight operation Safety management team last September. He has testified on Pilot safety and given speeches on the same.

Sullenberger operated his final flight to home base at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. He will be formally retiring at a private ceremony with fellow pilots and other US Airways staff. A spokesperson for US Airways Pilots Association, said that Sullenberger plans to spend more time with his family in retirement now.

One of the flight attendants who was also in the Hudson landing event, Doreen Welsh age 59, is also retiring. She joined the US Airways group back in the 1970’s.