The heroic actions taken by the US Airways Flight 1549 crew 15 years ago today continue to serve as a powerful reminder that having at least two fully qualified, highly trained, and well-rested pilots on the flight deck is an airliner’s most important safety feature.
On January 15, 2009, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and F/O Jeffrey Skiles, working together under extraordinary circumstances, saved the lives of the 155 passengers and crew as the world watched. It required the combination of every bit of expertise and experience that both Capt. Sullenberger and F/O Skiles earned in their years as airline pilots to perform the controlled emergency landing into the Hudson as safely as they did.
To be crystal clear: The presence of two pilots on the flight deck saved lives that cold January morning in 2009. There is no automated or remotely operated replacement for the collaboration, communication, and airplane feel made possible by having at least two pilots on the flight deck.
Despite the Flight 1549 experience—and all that was learned from the investigations into it—efforts are underway by some in the industry to reduce the number of pilots on the flight deck. Pilots around the world are fighting back, and we will collectively continue to underscore the importance of having at least two pilots on the flight deck, working together, just as Capt. Sullenberger and F/O Skiles did 15 years ago, to ensure the safety and security of passengers and cargo every day and night.