Us Pilots Joe Lepore And Jan Paladino Home Safe

[CAL EWR B737]

US Pilots Joe Lepore and Jan Paladino Home Safe

Sorry for the late post. I have been away from a computer for some time.

Someone please find the link to the video news coverage of yesterdays historic event and post it as there was quite a bit of news media present.

On Saturday, December 9, 2006 I was honored to be invited by ExcelAire President Bob Sherry to join 200 family, friends and colleagues of Joe Lepore and Jan Paladino to meet Joe and Jan's aircraft upon arrival from Brazil in Islip New York.

It was a very emotional time and great celebration seeing these two heroes come back home! I was very honored to meet both Joe and Jan for the first time and was able to talk with them for quite a few minutes. I did my best to relay to the both of them the huge outpouring of support and assistance from their peers on this and other aviation forums. I told them we were all so proud of them and extremely happy for their safe return.

I have so much more to say on yesterdays event but unfortunately it will have to wait a day or so until I have time to gather my thoughts. Yesterday was a very emotional day and being away from home on a computer from kinko's I can't do this justice with only a few paragraphs.

To everyone on this forum who took the time to write your elected leaders and who kept Joe and Jan in you prayers and thoughts THANK YOU!

Fraternally,

Jayson Baron

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Sorry for the late post. I have been away from a computer for some time.

Someone please find the link to the video news coverage of yesterdays historic event and post it as there was quite a bit of news media present.

On Saturday, December 9, 2006 I was honored to be invited by ExcelAire President Bob Sherry to join 200 family, friends and colleagues of Joe Lepore and Jan Paladino to meet Joe and Jan's aircraft upon arrival from Brazil in Islip New York.

It was a very emotional time and great celebration seeing these two heroes come back home! I was very honored to meet both Joe and Jan for the first time and was able to talk with them for quite a few minutes. I did my best to relay to the both of them the huge outpouring of support and assistance from their peers on this and other aviation forums. I told them we were all so proud of them and extremely happy for their safe return.

I have so much more to say on yesterdays event but unfortunately it will have to wait a day or so until I have time to gather my thoughts. Yesterday was a very emotional day and being away from home on a computer from kinko's I can't do this justice with only a few paragraphs.

To everyone on this forum who took the time to write your elected leaders and who kept Joe and Jan in you prayers and thoughts THANK YOU!

Fraternally,

Jayson Baron

 

[G4G5]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liair1210,0,7647148.story?coll=ny-main-bigpix

 

[islandhoper]

Why heroes???

 

[flyboyike]

Why heroes???

They landed an airplane that was missing part of a wing and part of an elevator. OK, maybe not heroes, how about "good airmen"?

 

[industrystd]

I know one of the pilots, Jan he is a great guy. I went through training with him at eagle when I transfered from the ATR to the EMB. I know he is a great pilot and a even better person. Hope to buy him a beer when the dust settles.

 

[NYRANGERS]

Why heroes???

Sorry, you're a hero too, feel better.

In the eyes of many, they are heros.....just ask the pax on their airplane and hundreds of others that know the story.

NYR

 

[JT8D]

Why heroes???

Anybody who lists all the versions of the mighty Beech 1900 that they flew has to be a jerk...jerk.

Move to Brazil.

 

[WabiSabi]

Anybody who lists all the versions of the mighty Beech 1900 that they flew has to be a jerk...jerk.

Move to Brazil.

Anybody who deems them self to be the Grand Poobah of who is and isn't a jerk based on the aircraft variants they choose to list is a jerk, jerk. Move to the back of the plane.

 

[Brasgaucho]

Haynes and Fitch are heroes; extremely lucky, yes...

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Haynes and Fitch are heroes; extremely lucky, yes...

First, what's a heroe?

Second, what did they do to be bestowed with hero status? Landed a damaged plane? Wouldn't tens of thousands of pilots in previous wars be "heros" then... or is this like 9/11... where anyone unfortunate enough to be in one of the towers when they were attacked is somehow also a "hero"?

BBB

 

[JT8D]

Haynes and Fitch are heroes; extremely lucky, yes...

Getting into a mid-air , flying on 1 and three quarters wing and elevator, landing in the jungle and being sequestered to a hotel room in a third world country for nearly three months while a third world population rallied for their heads outside...and now facing 12 years in prison in that third world country...

That's what you call being lucky? In my world I would call that being cursed.

 

[Brasgaucho]

That's what you call being lucky? In my world I would call that being cursed.[/quote]

Surving a mid air crash when the other aircraft goes down killing 154 people isn't lucky but, curse?

 

[JT8D]

Surving a mid air crash when the other aircraft goes down killing 154 people isn't lucky but, curse?

Go back to studying your BE 1900 1st flight attendant/ First officer before start check.

 

[Brasgaucho]

Go back to studying your BE 1900 1st flight attendant/ First officer before start check.

Did I make you wet your diapers old man?

 

[BlueBusDriver]

Wheather you consider them hero's or not....let's just be glad that they are safely home, with their families.

BBD

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Getting into a mid-air , flying on 1 and three quarters wing and elevator, landing in the jungle and being sequestered to a hotel room in a third world country for nearly three months while a third world population rallied for their heads outside...and now facing 12 years in prison in that third world country...

Landing in the "jungle"? Are you sure? Last I read they landed at a military airfield... a far cry from "landing in the jungle".

As far as being "sequestered to a hotel room"... well, I'd guess the thousands of pilots/airmen shot down, captured, tortured, and held prisoner for YEARS in previous wars might take exception to what you consider "terrifying treatment" being sequestered in their hotel room.

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic to these fine gentlemen's very unfortunate situation, it's just that the term "hero" is thrown around so casually nowadays that it's lost its meaning.

I do wish them well and Brazil, their incompetent air traffic controllers and government can fornicate amongst themselves for eternity for all I care. :beer:

BBB

 

[JT8D]

As far as being "sequestered to a hotel room"... well, I'd guess the thousands of pilots/airmen shot down, captured, tortured, and held prisoner for YEARS in previous wars might take exception to what you consider "terrifying treatment" being sequestered in their hotel room.



BBB

Last I checked these guys aren't United States Soldiers fighting a sanctioned United States conflict...they are merely United States pilots trying to do a job. This situation should scare the CRAP out of every American pilot who flys our aluminum outside of The United States.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Last I checked these guys aren't United States Soldiers fighting a sanctioned United States conflict...they are merely United States pilots trying to do a job. This situation should scare the CRAP out of every American pilot who flys our aluminum outside of The United States.

So (according to your world)... if you fly a plush bizjet, are involved in a midair collision and held in a hotel room you are a hero. But, if you voluntarily or involuntarily serve your country and are shot down, captured, tortured and held as a POW for years you are not deserving of the same accolades you reap upon these guys? Puuuleeeze! :laugh:

BBB

 

[JT8D]

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