Sully to retire...

[DieselDragRacer]

...at age 59 too!

NEW YORK (AP) — Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a US Airways flight during its emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January of last year, is retiring Wednesday.


Sullenberger, 59, joined US Airways' predecessor airline in 1980.
Flight attendant Doreen Welsh, who was also on Flight 1549 when it landed in the Hudson, is also retiring. Welsh, 59, joined US Airways' predecessor airline in 1970.


All 150 passengers survived the emergency river landing in January 2009 when the plane's engines were struck by birds.

 

[LearLove]

He took the 70K offer along with 27 other guys (mostly 330 FO's over 60 from what I can tell) on the May bid. The 28 early outs and 3 more EVLA's saved the planned 39 (east) furloughs, for now.

 

[Superpilot92]

good for him!!

 

[COpilot]

Good for him... congrats

$70K, heck, I doubt that was what pushed him over the edge. Any guess as to what he has made outside of flying this last year? "4-5 Mil?"

 

[epic!]

probably got offered a sweet corporate gig

 

[densoo]

Who would stay if they had the cash to leave? Between his on-the-side safety consulting, his book, his cash out, and don't forget his PBGC "retirement," going through TSA security every couple of days just didn't seem so glamorous anymore.

A person that well thought of is a brand now. Any corporation that wants to portray an image of responsibility, courage, cool under stress, will hire him as a "consultant" just to associate their company with him. His pay will come out of the advertising account. Like a permanent billboard.

Nice to see a good guy win one.

To be able to say, "hey family, I'm home" and really mean it has got to be sweet.

 

[BigMotorToter]

I read somewhere he got $3 mil. for the book deal. I'd be out of here too! Good for him!

 

[ExAF]

I read somewhere he got $3 mil. for the book deal. I'd be out of here too! Good for him!

Just think, the 70K can help pay the tax on the 3 mil!

 

[captainjack]

Nice to see a good guy win one.

You really need to read his testimony in the Addington trial. He made up a story about his 5 year old asking him the meaning of the word integrity on a random day while driving to school.

Good guys have integrity, Sully does not.

 

[filejw]

You really need to read his testimony in the Addington trial. He made up a story about his 5 year old asking him the meaning of the word integrity on a random day while driving to school.

Good guys have integrity, Sully does not.

So you have insight to what he and his child said to each other.

 

[Fubijaakr]

I'm sure he'll do well on the rubber chicken circuit.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Time to enjoy the family and wife.

Enjoy retirement Sully.

 

[mamba20]

...at age 59 too!

NEW YORK (AP) — Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a US Airways flight during its emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January of last year, is retiring Wednesday.


Sullenberger, 59, joined US Airways' predecessor airline in 1980.
Flight attendant Doreen Welsh, who was also on Flight 1549 when it landed in the Hudson, is also retiring. Welsh, 59, joined US Airways' predecessor airline in 1970.


All 150 passengers survived the emergency river landing in January 2009 when the plane's engines were struck by birds.

Good, maybe he can take some of the others who are on borrowed time with him!

 

[no1pilot2000]

Whatever his reasons for retiring, I wish him the best. Thirty years as a airline pilot with the same airline, good for him.

 

[St. Nic]

The rats are leaving the sinking ship!

 

[densoo]

You really need to read his testimony in the Addington trial. He made up a story about his 5 year old asking him the meaning of the word integrity on a random day while driving to school.

Good guys have integrity, Sully does not.

I have never met the guy. He has a good rep publicly and he's helped the public image of the pilot profession thereby helping us all a little bit. I'm just thankful he isn't another bad news story that the press so often freakishly exagerates.

 

[densoo]

The rats are leaving the sinking ship!

If they find a rope. Not many do.

 

[johnsonrod]

Sounds like they're sending him down the river... On the speaking tour he will probably earn $50K per speaking engagement (on Fortune 500 management team retreats). No doubt he'll be driving a fat Mercedes in a few weeks.

 

[regionaltard]

Sounds like the Eastwipes will be looking for a new celebrity spokesmodel.

 

[get2flyin]

"Sulley" was (in my opinion) willing to lend his good name to an attempted hijacking of my career and that leaves a pretty unpleasant taste in my mouth...

However, 155 people walked away from what could have been another nail of the coffin of our industry thanks to him remaining calm and doing most of what he was trained to so. He earned that good name and he also used it to try and make some positive changes to the industry. Good for him making a few bucks on the deal and riding off into the sunset to spend time with the wife and that delightfully curious little daughter of his.