The Ruptured Duck wrote on Jan 20^th, 2009 at 8:56pm:


???

Matt

When pilots are trained to fly an airbus they are told they don't need to know how the aircraft systems work, just how to operate them.  However they stress the fact that the pilots are still pilots, despite the "work tables" they've installed in the cockpit.  Promotes complacentcy

Video did show the right engine was stalling on take-off, but only after the same video showed a goose getting sucked into the same engine, which I would imagine may clog your intake of air just a tad.

Well if nothing else once they are finished with it. They should give it to the pilot. He can hang it on his office wall as a trophy. "I went hunting and all I got was this lousy feather and a wet pair of trousers" could be inscribed underneath.  

Craig. wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 7:09am:



Nice one Craig, but knowing the BBC accuracy at reporting it will probably turn out to be a bit of seaweed  

Matt

Gleaned from the interviews and press conferences.....


The huge total flight experience among the crew contributed to the successful outcome :

First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours and previously flew as Captain with US Airways.

Flight Attendant Sheila Dail joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.

Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.

Flight Attendant Donna Dent joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.

NTSB PRESS CONFERENCES:

Onboard was one lap child and one toddler.

Since the weight of the airplane full of water was approximately 1 million pounds, it needed to be lifted very gradually to let water drain from the aircraft.

Water depth at impact was 50-55 feet.

A correction to prior information, the right engine is still attached; still looking for the left engine.

ATC communications were read out loud: of particular interest to us was the crew stating, "Cactus 1549 hit birds - lost thrust both engines – turning back to LGA"

TEB airport was discussed, pilots stated, "...we can’t do it..."

Two Flight Attendants were interviewed. They reported hearing loud thuds/thumps and all engine noise ceased, aircraft sounded, "...like a library..."

Captain announced, "brace for impact;" F/A’s yelled, "Brace, Brace, Brace"

Left front slide required manual inflation.

Front exit door, 2’-3’ was above water line.

Although the rear emergency exit door was partially beneath the water. One of the passengers attempted to open it. An alert, experienced flight attendant prevented him from opening the door.

Captain returned to aircraft twice to check for passengers. Captain and each of the crew members were the last to leave the aircraft.

A later press conference :

3rd F/A has been released from hospital. Her account : "loud thunk, electrical smell." Tail section experienced a harder landing than further forward. 3rd F/A had no broken bones, but deep lacerations.

Captain, 3800 hrs in A-320

First Officer, 35 hours in an A-320

First Officer was initial PF

First Officer stated he saw birds 3-5000’ off to his right

Captain looked up & said the windscreen was filled w/big dark brown birds. Said his reaction was to duck

Captain smelled burning birds

Loss of thrust, Captain, “my aircraft”. First Officer, “your aircraft”. Captain lowered nose because speed had decreased

Captain said power loss was symmetrical

Captain took over as PF & called for the Dual Engine failure check list

Captain said initial plan was to return to LGA. He said he was too slow & too low, it was too populated. Teterboro was too far, populated and would be catastrophic if he didn’t make it. As stated in earlier brief, he stated, "going to be in the Hudson ".

Captain focused on flying
First Officer focused on checklist & re-starting the engines

This checklist was designed to run at FL350

Captain called for flaps 2

Captain made the “brace” call over the P/A

Captain said he had been trained to ditch near a vessel if able, so he tried to land close to a boat

The aircraft lost electrical once in the water

Captain called for Evacuation, F/A’s had already initiated it

Captain stated that, " he could not be more happy that he got everyone off ”

Questioning session :

First Officer saw the birds, noted to himself that they were flying in a line

Emergency Ditching P/B was not activated to shut down various systems. Because its activation was down the checklist on page 3 ; before striking the water they didn't have time to get to page 3.

First Officer, while low time in AB, but typed in other aircraft, glass cockpit, had been a Captain before, IOE was completed.

Captain estimated the aircraft struck the birds between 220 & 250kts

How did F/A get lacerations? Doesn't know. Initialy, she didn’t realize she was hurt. After she sending the passengers up the aisle, she felt the pain and noticed that she was bleeding.