Thursday, March 26, 2009

EAA AirVenture 2009: US Airways 1549 cockpit crew @ Oshkosh

For more information contact:
Dick Knapinski, Media and Public Relations
(920) 426-6523
dknapinski@eaa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAA AIRVENTURE 2009 WELCOMES US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1549 COCKPIT CREW TO OSHKOSH

Pilots Sullenberger and Skiles to share their story with fellow aviators

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (March 26, 2009) - The
cockpit crew from US Airways Flight 1549, involved in one of the most
riveting aviation events in recent years, will share their experiences
at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009, held at Wittman Regional Airport in
Oshkosh on July 27-August 2.

On January 15, 2009, the nation and world were captivated when
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles
successfully executed an emergency landing of an Airbus A320 airliner in
the Hudson River in New York City. The leadership and skills from all
the flight's personnel saved 155 people aboard the airplane that day.

"These two pilots have told their story to the world since the
remarkable events of January 15th, but at EAA AirVenture they'll have
the opportunity to talk in-person with fellow aviators on how their
training, planning and airmanship skills were tested," said Tom
Poberezny, EAA chairman and president, as well as AirVenture chairman.
"There is perhaps no place better than Oshkosh where an audience would understand the decision-making process that took place in the cockpit that day and learn the lessons from these two pilots' experiences. We eagerly look forward to welcoming them to 'aviation's family reunion' at Oshkosh this summer."

Sullenberger and Skiles will be featured in a Theater in the
Woods evening program hosted by longtime TV personality David Hartman on
Friday, July 31, and also at other venues during the week.

Capt. Sullenberger has nearly 20,000 flight hours logged, and
began his airline career with PSA Airlines in 1980. He also served in
the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of captain, and has been a flight
instructor, accident investigator and national technical-committee
member during his career.

Skiles has more than 20,000 flight hours and began his career
with US Airways in 1986. The Oregon, Wis., resident is also a regular
AirVenture attendee, as he began attending the EAA fly-in convention
with his parents - who are also pilots - when it was in Rockford, Ill.,
in the 1960s.

Additional details regarding the pair's EAA AirVenture
appearances will be announced as they are finalized.

EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is The World's Greatest Aviation
Celebration and EAA's yearly membership convention. Additional EAA
AirVenture information, including advance ticket purchase, is available
online at http://www.airventure.org/. EAA members receive lowest prices on
admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call
1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit http://www.eaa.org/.

1 comment:

rv9builder@gmail.com said...

This will be a great thing to experience and hear about. Did I mention that Sully is from Texas?
Smitty - FunPlacesToFly.com