US Airways Plane in the Hudson River (Anniversary)

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

Pilot's finally going to do an interview. Monday on the Today Show.
http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/us/2009/01/17/D95P79J80_plane_splashdown_pilot_interview/index.html

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

According to AP, they never got around to pushing the ditch switch.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

Then how did it stay afloat and not break up?
That's amazing.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/science_news/4300211.html

The plane was also filled with jet fuel, which is lighter (6.7 pounds per gallon vs 8 lb/gal) and more buoyant than water, which helped it stay afloat long enough to evacuate.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

That actually is a helluva writing job by Larry Neumeister and David Caruso (YEEEEEEEEAH!!!!! [/CSImiami]) of the AP, who did a pretty good job of putting the reader in 1549's cockpit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090118/ap_on_re_us/plane_splashdown_75

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

Also, the people WERE trying to open the back doors...they just couldn't.

No higher intelligence at work, unfortunately.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

I heard an "expert" on CNN say the reason it didn't break up is because of the landing itself. The pilot landed with the perfect speed and the "nose way up" so water didn't immediately get sucked into the engine intake. If the plane had been going too fast and the intakes more level with the water (or even pointed down) the water would have rushed in and jerked the plane to halt, likely breaking it in half.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

That was a fine piece of writing.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

Birds aren't migrating anymore.

Global warming, anyone?

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

From an NYT story today:

How the crew doesn't know -- from memory -- how to start the engines during an emergency is beyond me. This is exactly why these steps MUST be committed to long-term memory. I mean, they have to be muscle memory.

The story also mentioned hydraulic power being controlled by engine power. I don't see how that can be the case, because of situations like this. You want as many layers of protection built in as possible.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

Until watching the videos, I didn't realize how quickly the people started getting out onto the wings. Great job by all.

 

Re: US Airways Plane in the Hudson River

TBF,

I could be wrong, but I think they are supposed to go through checklists, even when they know the procedure by heart.