On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed one of the most remarkable emergency landings in aviation history when Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the surface of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. His cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an inspiration worldwide. To Sullenberger, a calm, steady pilot with forty years of flying experience who is also a safety consulting expert, the landing was not a miracle but rather the result of years of practice and training-wisdom he gained in the cockpit of U.S. Air Force jets and in his Texas boyhood.
Born to a World War II veteran and dentist father and an elementary school teacher mother, Sully fell in love with planes early. He learned to fly as an eager 16-year-old from a crop duster, an older neighbor in north Texas, who took off and landed his fragile plane on the grass field behind his house. While Sully′s father encouraged his interest in flying, he also imparted stern advice he′d learned from his Navy service during World War II: a commander is responsible for everyone in his care-and those words have shaped Sully′s life and work and continue to guide him today.
HIGHEST DUTY reveals the important lessons Sully learned through childhood, in his military service, and in his work as a commercial airline pilot. At heart, it is a story of hope and preparedness-that life′s challenges can be met if we′re ready for them-reminding us that, even in these days filled with war, tragedy, and economic uncertainty, there are values still worth fighting for.
A few weeks after the crash, Sully discovered that he′d lost a library book about professional ethics, Just Culture: Balancing Safety and Accountability, in the downed plane′s cargo hold. When he called the library to notify them, they waived the usual fees. Mayor Michael Bloomberg replaced the book when he gave Sully the Key to the City in a New York ceremony.
Albeit I'm no avid reader, I am definitely captivated by this book. I got it today and couldn't stop reading it. I'd read the last 150 pages as well should I not need to go to school tomorrow.
If it had been solely about the January 15th incident, it may have been boring, but it's quite more than that. I find myself in the character of Sully a lot. I want to be like him when I become a pilot. He talks about his family, his upbringing, his Air Force training and so forth. It is very well thought-out and very well written. Cheers, Captain Sully.
Wow..this book is not just a story. It is a lesson, many taught through a story of what life should be. Learning the basics. Basics of anything..playing checkers, music, cooking, math...technology, wall street. He didn't just "happen" to know what to do that day. He KNEW. I loved his statement, "I had made deposits across the years of experience and I hoped I had enough to draw on." He did. The book shows preparation. He wasn't a boy scout, but he was one, prepared. The book gave illustration, after illustration of life events, not only his, but now I am talking about specific incidents he had studied intently, reading. I never knew the downsizing and loss pilots were given. I knew beginning pilots made little but no idea senior officers made little more. We need to speak out to the airlines, politicians. They find money for everything else. Lives are involved. His concern about not being able to attract quality people should be a wake up call. This book should be a gift to new college graduates, high school seniors to read about life. The lessons. I expected it to be, his story, yet knowing he was to much a person not given to the accolades he has had. We need to realize he could fly and crash a plane. Maintenance, weather, there are other factors, if it were middle of the night, etc. he could not control but that does not make him less of a heoric person. His sharing facts everyone wasn't standing out there cool, calm and collected as some seemed to indicate. While no dramatic hysteria, there was fear, possibility for loss of life until rescue. His determination that he share any celebrations with the entire crew says a lot about him. I pre-ordered my copy the day I heard it was coming out. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The other book being released about this event, "Miracle on the Hudson", is good but basically individual stories you have heard all over the news already. You do have to admire his openness of conflicts, struggles. One of the people mentioned they were disappointed no mention of a Higher Power, etc. I know where they are coming from and the thought crossed my mind but in this particular book leaving that out, allows many more people opportunity to read and realize life happens. Someone asked him, "were you praying?" He said, "I am sure they were behind me, but I had a job to do and my concentration was to save lives and focus." I hope this book becomes a best seller. Great Christmas gift - business people; students; CEO's;
Captain Chesley Sullenberger thinks himself an average citizen just 'doing his job.' He couldn't be more wrong. In an age when most folks do just enough to 'get by' Sullenberger's personal standards of excellence set the bar for the rest of us--and resulted in saving 150+ lives on that fateful January day.
It was not surprising to learn of the people who touched his young life and instilled in him a quest for perfection. His years at the Air Force Academy honed his talent, but his personal desire to be the best put him in a class by himself.
Most of us would like to think that when we put ourselves in the hands of an airline crew that we are being taken care of by the likes of a Captain Sullenberger. And while I'm certain there are many excellent pilots flying today, I'm also certain that he is one of an elete few who cut no corners, take no chances and always remember the lives for which they are responsible daily.
Since this story broke I have been in awe of his humility. The comments he made after the incident on the Hudson were brief and humble. He never neglected to point out the team effort and took no credit for his own skill and experience. If ever there were a real American hero--here he is. His picture should be posted next to the word 'hero' in the dictionary.
This book helped me understand the whole man and beautifully illustrated that what happened on that fateful day was the culmination of a life well lived combined with extraordinary preparedness and depth of knowledge. Perhaps no other pilot had the combination of skill and experience to do the impossible. But that's what he did--winning him the respect of many of his own aviation idols.
If more folks took true pride in their performace--no matter their profession--imagine how great America could be again. I hope the days of our nation desiring to be great are not over. People like Chesley Sullenberger renew my faith that we can be a great country again, filled with people who excel and who care about their personal code of honor and about others. His story humbles us all.
