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Jan 16, 2009 5:18 pm US/Mountain
AFA Praises Hero Pilot In NYC Hudson River Landing
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) ―
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Chesley B. Sullenberger III
CBS
The man who piloted 155 people to safety in a dramatic Hudson River crash is well known at his alma mater, the Air Force Academy.
In fact, the academy's superintendent was in the same 1973 graduating class as Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, the pilot of the US Airways jetliner that apparently collided with birds Thursday and crashed into the Hudson River in New York City.
Passengers say Sullenberger checked twice to make sure no one was left aboard before getting out of the Airbus A320 himself. No one was killed in the crash.
The Air Force Academy superintendent, Lt. Gen. John Regni, praised Sullenberger Friday.
"Well done, classmate!" Regni said in a statement.
"In addition to superb judgment under utmost pressure, by checking his aircraft twice to ensure there were no passengers left behind, he epitomized the 'Service Before Self' concept we strive to instill in our cadets," Regni said.
Academy officials say Sullenberger, 57, studied psychology at the Air Force Academy. When he was commissioned, Sullenberger was named best aviator in his class, winning an award called "Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship." He served in the Air Force until 1980, when he became a commercial pilot.
Sullenberger now lives in Danville, Calif. He has flown for US Airways for 29 years and runs a safety consulting firm.
His wife, Lorrie Sullenberger, told reporters that the family is a little taken aback by the attention but that her husband is "a pilot's pilot" who "loves the art of the airplane."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg planned to award the pilot the key to the city. President George Bush also issued a statement Friday praising Sullenberger's heroism.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
