Captain Sullenberger & crew testifies on Capitol Hill 2.24.09 & expresses his concerns

Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington February 24, 2009.

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF SULLENBERGER'S CONCERNS

SULLENBERGER: While I love my profession, I do not like what has happened to it. I would not be doing my duty if I did not report to you that I'm deeply troubled about its future. Americans have been experiencing huge economic difficulties in recent months, but airline employees have been experiencing those challenges and more for eight years. We've been hit by an economic tsunami. September 11th, bankrupcties, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving-door management teams who have used airlines employees as an ATM have left the people who work for the airlines in the United States with extreme economic difficulties. It is an incredible testament to the collective character, professionalism and dedication of my colleagues in the industry that they are still able to function at such a high level.

It is my personal experience that my decision to remain in the profession I love has come at a great financial cost to me and to my family. My pay has been cut 40 percent. My pension, like most airline pensions, has been terminated and replaced by a PBGC guarantee worth only pennies to the dollar. While airline pilots are by no means alone in our financial struggles -- I want to acknowledge how difficult it is for everyone right now -- it is important to underscore that the terms of our employment have changed dramatically from when I began my career, leading to an untenable financial situation for pilots and their families. When my company offered pilots who had been laid off the chance to return to work, 60 percent refused. Members, I attempt to speak accurately and plainly, so please do not think I exaggerate when I say that I do not know a single professional airline pilot who wants his or her children to follow in their footsteps.

I am worried that the airline piloting profession will not be able to continue to attract the best and the brightest. The current experience and skills of our country's professional airline pilots come from investments made years ago, when we were able to attract the ambitious, talented people who now frequently seek professional careers elsewhere. That past investment was an indispensable element in our commercial aviation infrastructure, vital to safe air travel and our country's economy and security. If we do not sufficiently value the airline piloting profession and future pilots are less experienced and less skilled, it logically follows that we will see negative consequences to the flying public and to our country.

We face remarkable challenges in our industry. In order to ensure economic security and an uncompromising approach to passenger safety, management must work with labor to bargain in good faith, we must find collective solutions that address the huge economic issues we face in recruiting and retaining the experienced and highly skilled professionals that the industry requires and that passenger safety demands. But, further, we must develop and sustain an environment in every airline and aviation organanization, a culture that balances the competing needs of accountability and learning. We must create and maintain the trust that is the absolutely essential element of a successful and sustainable safety reporting system ;to detect and correct deficiencies before they lead to an accident. We must not let the economic and financial pressures detract from a focus on constantly improving our safety measures and engaging in ongoing and comprehensive training. In aviation, the bottom line is that the single most important piece of safety equipment is an experienced, well-trained pilot .

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[readi343]

Sully is doing an amazing thing for the American public by fighting to keep highly skilled labor in the cockpits of the future.

Our children, grandchildren etc.. may owe their safety in the skies in part due to his efforts on this subject.

The way things are now, airline managers are trying to hire the cheapest pilots, with the most minimal training cost possible.

[daytonaflyer]

This is too true! Most Americans don't realize that many airline pilots are paid less than fast food workers. Some of the co-pilots qualify for food stamps. The pilots of big airlines had their salaries cut 50-70% since 2001, many of the best are switching to other careers. Airline pilots are highly skilled labor who pay upwards of $150,000 for their training plus college. I've flown pro for 6 years, my current airplane holds 155 people and for the first time ever, I'll earn +$40,000/yr.

[murray2612]

@greasemo12 Yep, I listened to it, what's your point? My guess is he wasn't paid anything.

[match20045]

If flying is so safe, how come they call it "Terminal" at the airports ? The safest fliying possible is not to fly. I am in the mountains with my sheeps, up and down everyday to my safe place, I dont go 10 kms above the ground at 1000 kms an hour, that is not what man has been made for.

[greasemo12]

How many millions of dollars did the pilots union pay Mr. Sullenberger to read that speach? Come on, listen to it. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a hero and a damn good polot, but really... listen to that speach.

[MyCucuzza]

I do admire Sully's and his team's work in 1549 case. It is sad, however, he exploits the moment in the subcommitee for labor politics. It is easy to make solemn statements on safety and professionalism, and blame "revolving" airline management for holding purse strings. If customers don't pay more, where to dig the money for pilots' and others' salaries? I seldom hear new ideas, just problems and demands. We have to find deeper reasons. First should unhealthy structures be torn down.

[ChannelingusIV]

I have the solution. You know how they have deer whistles for cars? ..........Goose whistles for planes!! Yes that should do it.

[Iamnottheyeti]

@xjcrossx you really think some flimsy piece of chicken wire is going to stop a bird.. you have to remember planes travel in excess of 150 knots when landing and taking off ( most risky period for bird strikes) chicken wire is not gona stop a 1 pound bird going 150 knots :) anything more thicker then chickenwire will be desruptive to the critical airflow that is needed to keep a turbine engine running. some of the best paid minds work in aircraft industry. believe me they have thought about it

[CaptianSullyFan]

2:29 - Captian Sully, "In aviation, the bottom line, is that the single most important piece of safety equipment, is an experienced, well trained pilot."

[xjcrossx]

Why can't they just put some chicken wire or something over the engine's outer edge to prevent birds from getting into that actual engine casing? The birds would die, but engines would remain running. ALSO.Why can't they put some camera's outside the airplane to give the pilots a view of what they can't see from inside the cockpit..many instances have been reported of a pilot not realizing which engine is on fire, or not running properly causing catostrophic accidents in which many people died