Why is "Sully" Sullenberger considered a hero?

[posty 2,822]

For doing his job?

 

I guess the MSM needs some news to talk about since Bush is out of office and the can't talk ill-will of their Messiah...

[Mungwater 601]

cause of his sweet pedo-stache?

[Franknbeans 46]

he saved these peoples lives. What was it, the first ever commercial airplane crash in water where no one died?

[parrot 790]

He's a hero for doing his job extraordinarily well under critical circumstances.

 

Under posty's rules I guess we can never have firemen, police officers, or soldiers who are heroes either, because they're just doing their jobs.

[cbfalcon 827]

Most pilots (or so I have heard) could have done that with ease considering the river was a calm body of water. The reason most water landings fail is choppy water/waves that jump up and clip a wing and whatnot.

 

He did his job. He's clutch. Not really a hero.

 

It's not as if he put his own life in danger to save others. It's not as if he attempted to land the plan whereas other pilots would have bailed out. He did what any pilot would do. Tried not to die.

 

That said, he doesn't seem to be whoring himself out so I'll give him the thumbs up.

 

He's a hero for doing his job extraordinarily well under critical circumstances.

 

Under posty's rules I guess we can never have firemen, police officers, or soldiers who are heroes either, because they're just doing their jobs.

 

They at least put themselves in the line of fire. They have a choice to not engage. Hell, they make that choice when they sign up.

 

A pilot on the other hand probably never expected to have to perform a crash landing. And when he had to perform it, it wasn't like he had a choice in what to do.

 

Not knocking the guy. Just not what I'd consider to be a hero.

[posty 2,822]

He did his job. He's clutch. Not really a hero.

 

It's not as if he put his own life in danger to save others. It's not as if he attempted to land the plan whereas other pilots would have bailed out. He did what any pilot would do. Tried not to die.

 

That said, he doesn't seem to be whoring himself out so I'll give him the thumbs up.

 

This I agree with... He was clutch under pressure and didn't fold...

 

Plus it is awesome that he is very modest and not looking to be in the limelight...

[KSB2424 3,174]

The guy deserves credit. He deserves recognition. But I do agree it is going a little overboard. Welcome to the world of over-exposure due to cable, internet, radio, blogs, message boards, camera phones, ect. ect.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Lets see...despite the talk, and extremely difficult landing to pull off...nobody dies or is very seriously injurred...the guy walks the plane 2 or 3 times after everyone is off before he leaves the plane.

 

Why would anyone complain about calling the guy a hero.

What a dooshy thread.

[parrot 790]

Most pilots (or so I have heard) could have done that with ease considering the river was a calm body of water. The reason most water landings fail is choppy water/waves that jump up and clip a wing and whatnot.

 

He did his job. He's clutch. Not really a hero.

 

It's not as if he put his own life in danger to save others. It's not as if he attempted to land the plan whereas other pilots would have bailed out. He did what any pilot would do. Tried not to die.

 

That said, he doesn't seem to be whoring himself out so I'll give him the thumbs up.

They at least put themselves in the line of fire. They have a choice to not engage. Hell, they make that choice when they sign up.

 

A pilot on the other hand probably never expected to have to perform a crash landing. And when he had to perform it, it wasn't like he had a choice in what to do.

 

Not knocking the guy. Just not what I'd consider to be a hero.

 

Matter of opinion I guess. In a world seemingly full of incompetence at every turn it's nice to see someone rise to the occasion, and I don't have a problem calling that guy a hero.

[wiffleball 4,797]

Lets see...despite the talk, and extremely difficult landing to pull off...nobody dies or is very seriously injurred...the guy walks the plane 2 or 3 times after everyone is off before he leaves the plane.

 

Why would anyone complain about calling the guy a hero.

What a dooshy thread.

 

 

 

Agree completely. Anybody who says "it's easy to do this type of landing" is an idiot. Here's what an actual pilot has to say about this:

 

Water landing is hard and unpredictable. When you hit water at a very high speed, you can break the aircraft up as if you were hitting land. But if you hit it right, the water slows you down quickly. The danger of fire is hugely reduced. If you get it right—like this guy did—the plane floats. A few years ago, there was a Boeing 767 that had been hijacked and was out of fuel. That plane hit the water, lost its tail and just ripped apart. Unfortunately, that's the more likely scenario for a water landing.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/179723

[cbfalcon 827]

Matter of opinion I guess. In a world seemingly full of incompetence at every turn it's nice to see someone rise to the occasion, and I don't have a problem calling that guy a hero.

 

Yeah. I also consider myself a hero. After all, I had a deadline to produce 31 training videos last quarter and I made said deadline.....I'm an american hero.

[GettnHuge 2]

coulda been a zero

[mighty_thor 115]

They just released the tape of the audio. The guy sounds so cool.

 

tower:cactus 1529 turn right 280 you can land on runway 1 at teterboro

Plane: we can't do it

Tower: Okay which runway would you like at teterboro

Plane: We are going to be in the hudson

 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/05/1549.voic...tape/index.html

[Brad GLuckman 519]

TO me a hero is someone who puts their life in danger to help others. Firefighters, Cops, Soldiers all are often called hero's when they go above and beyond and I agree with that.

 

Now this guy is great, he did a hell of a job, and I applaud him for not wanting the spotlight.

 

However, to me he is not a hero. He did what any pilot would do. He didn't really have a choice. The fact that he succeeded does not make him a hero.

[cbfalcon 827]

TO me a hero is someone who puts their life in danger to help others. Firefighters, Cops, Soldiers all are often called hero's when they go above and beyond and I agree with that.

 

Now this guy is great, he did a hell of a job, and I applaud him for not wanting the spotlight.

 

However, to me he is not a hero. He did what any pilot would do. He didn't really have a choice. The fact that he succeeded does not make him a hero.

 

 

He's clutch and pretty badass. But he didn't make any heroic choices.

[posty 2,822]

TO me a hero is someone who puts their life in danger to help others. Firefighters, Cops, Soldiers all are often called hero's when they go above and beyond and I agree with that.

 

Now this guy is great, he did a hell of a job, and I applaud him for not wanting the spotlight.

 

However, to me he is not a hero. He did what any pilot would do. He didn't really have a choice. The fact that he succeeded does not make him a hero.

 

[/thread]

[mighty_thor 115]

TO me a hero is someone who puts their life in danger to help others. Firefighters, Cops, Soldiers all are often called hero's when they go above and beyond and I agree with that.

 

Now this guy is great, he did a hell of a job, and I applaud him for not wanting the spotlight.

 

However, to me he is not a hero. He did what any pilot would do. He didn't really have a choice. The fact that he succeeded does not make him a hero.

 

i agree. that has always been my definition as well.

 

The sixth passenger on the Plane that crashed in the potomac who continually passed the rescue line to the other survivors was a real hero. He risked his life for the others and ended up drowning.

[BMoney 0]

This I agree with... He was clutch under pressure and didn't fold...

 

Plus it is awesome that he is very modest and not looking to be in the limelight...

 

 

sully>cory lidle

[NorthernVike 2,097]

They just released the tape of the audio. The guy sounds so cool.

 

tower:cactus 1529 turn right 280 you can land on runway 1 at teterboro

Plane: we can't do it

Tower: Okay which runway would you like at teterboro

Plane: We are going to be in the hudson

 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/05/1549.voic...tape/index.html

 

 

That was focking amazing

 

 

 

HERO!

[Voltaire 5,497]

Many lives would be lost if he hadn't maintained composure under stress. A hero much like Giants Fan.

[patweisers44 865]

sully>cory lidle

.....

[wiffleball 4,797]

sully>cory lidle

 

SO wrong.

 

 

[Terrapin Flyer 0]

This is actually a good question. We throw terms like hero around so arbitrarily that it kind of dilutes the impact of the word. Sully is a hell of a pilot and he acted in the best possible way given the circumstances and the choices at hand. He is clutch and is the man you want at the controls of your plane. But hero? I don't get it. Being a hero requires making some sacrifice for the befit of others. His ass was in the same fire as his passengers.

 

He should be praised and given his accolades but the fact that he too is alive is probably a bigger at-a-boy than he will get from anyone else. Great pilot and stand up guy to boot. Not a hero.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,633]

To all that say this man is not a hero.....You are funny. You sit behind a computer all day and contribute nothing in terms of what this man did. Very easy to feel small compared to him. This man lands a broken plane, and not only saves all on board, but prevents the plane from crashing into a heavily populated area. Imagine if the plane had crashed in the city and all had died on board and many more on the ground? What would we be saying? "Those poor people, they never had a chance!". But they did have a chance, because of him.

 

I have a friend who flew F-16's for the National Guard. He recently became a pilot for Southwest flying 737's. All of the pilots he has spoken with agree on one thing: What he did was close to impossible. Most pilots would have panicked for many reasons, but the bridge in front of where they landed, and not knowing the distance to it, was the difference maker in the outcome, good or bad. He figured right.

 

Also, jet simulators are already writing software to duplicate the conditions in which Sully and the crew landed this plane. Pilots my friend has spoken with can't wait to do it. But most have said they will probably fail and if they do do it right, it will because they know they would have enough distance between them and the bridge, making it a little easier to judge. Sully didn't have that information.

 

With all of the false heros people worship today, Sully is a hero today.

[Franknbeans 46]

To all that say this man is not a hero.....You are funny. You sit behind a computer all day and contribute nothing in terms of what this man did. Very easy to feel small compared to him. This man lands a broken plane, and not only saves all on board, but prevents the plane from crashing into a heavily populated area. Imagine if the plane had crashed in the city and all had died on board and many more on the ground? What would we be saying? "Those poor people, they never had a chance!". But they did have a chance, because of him.

 

I have a friend who flew F-16's for the National Guard. He recently became a pilot for Southwest flying 737's. All of the pilots he has spoken with agree on one thing: What he did was close to impossible. Most pilots would have panicked for many reasons, but the bridge in front of where they landed, and not knowing the distance to it, was the difference maker in the outcome, good or bad. He figured right.

 

Also, jet simulators are already writing software to duplicate the conditions in which Sully and the crew landed this plane. Pilots my friend has spoken with can't wait to do it. But most have said they will probably fail and if they do do it right, it will because they know they would have enough distance between them and the bridge, making it a little easier to judge. Sully didn't have that information.

 

With all of the false heros people worship today, Sully is a hero today.

[/thread]

[Sho Nuff 720]

To all that say this man is not a hero.....You are funny. You sit behind a computer all day and contribute nothing in terms of what this man did. Very easy to feel small compared to him. This man lands a broken plane, and not only saves all on board, but prevents the plane from crashing into a heavily populated area. Imagine if the plane had crashed in the city and all had died on board and many more on the ground? What would we be saying? "Those poor people, they never had a chance!". But they did have a chance, because of him.

 

I have a friend who flew F-16's for the National Guard. He recently became a pilot for Southwest flying 737's. All of the pilots he has spoken with agree on one thing: What he did was close to impossible. Most pilots would have panicked for many reasons, but the bridge in front of where they landed, and not knowing the distance to it, was the difference maker in the outcome, good or bad. He figured right.

 

Also, jet simulators are already writing software to duplicate the conditions in which Sully and the crew landed this plane. Pilots my friend has spoken with can't wait to do it. But most have said they will probably fail and if they do do it right, it will because they know they would have enough distance between them and the bridge, making it a little easier to judge. Sully didn't have that information.

 

With all of the false heros people worship today, Sully is a hero today.

 

Very well said.

Take that dooshes.

[posty 2,822]

To all that say this man is not a hero.....You are funny. You sit behind a computer all day and contribute nothing in terms of what this man did. Very easy to feel small compared to him. This man lands a broken plane, and not only saves all on board, but prevents the plane from crashing into a heavily populated area. Imagine if the plane had crashed in the city and all had died on board and many more on the ground? What would we be saying? "Those poor people, they never had a chance!". But they did have a chance, because of him.

 

Being calm and not choking under pressure and doing a job in landing a plane safely, albeit in a terrible situation, does not make someone a hero...

 

The people on United 93 that attacked the hijackers and risked everything, they are heroes...

 

Policemen, firemen, soldiers are heroes as they put their lives on the line to help others...

 

Where did Sully put his life on the line? He was in the same situation and he wanted to live as well and when things weren't working well, he found the best possible situation for survival and to save everyone on board... That isn't a hero, that is thinking quickly and reacting quickly and not choking under pressure... Remember, I am not dissing him, I just don't think he is a hero for doing what he did...

 

And if he is in fact a hero, why isn't the co-pilot being called a hero? He probably helped out as well, where is his accolades?

[Sho Nuff 720]

Being calm and not choking under pressure and doing a job in landing a plane safely, albeit in a terrible situation, does not make someone a hero...

 

The people on United 93 that attacked the hijackers and risked everything, they are heroes...

 

Policemen, firemen, soldiers are heroes as they put their lives on the line to help others...

 

Where did Sully put his life on the line? He was in the same situation and he wanted to live as well and when things weren't working well, he found the best possible situation for survival and to save everyone on board... That isn't a hero, that is thinking quickly and reacting quickly and not choking under pressure... Remember, I am not dissing him, I just don't think he is a hero for doing what he did...

 

And if he is in fact a hero, why isn't the co-pilot being called a hero? He probably helped out as well, where is his accolades?

 

Why are the people on United 93 heroes? What were they risking? They were going to die anyway?

 

Just because you don't define what he did as a hero, does not make him less of one. Just makes you a giant doosh.

[mighty_thor 115]

Being calm and not choking under pressure and doing a job in landing a plane safely, albeit in a terrible situation, does not make someone a hero...

 

The people on United 93 that attacked the hijackers and risked everything, they are heroes...

 

Policemen, firemen, soldiers are heroes as they put their lives on the line to help others...

 

Where did Sully put his life on the line? He was in the same situation and he wanted to live as well and when things weren't working well, he found the best possible situation for survival and to save everyone on board... That isn't a hero, that is thinking quickly and reacting quickly and not choking under pressure... Remember, I am not dissing him, I just don't think he is a hero for doing what he did...

 

And if he is in fact a hero, why isn't the co-pilot being called a hero? He probably helped out as well, where is his accolades?

 

How is Sully any different than the passengers on flight 93? The passengers knew they would die if they did nothing so they tried their best to save themselves and the other passengers by breaking into the cockpit.

 

Sully knew they would die if he didn't try something so he made a decision to land in the hudson that saved himslef and the passengers.

 

The people on Flight 93 had less chance for success but they were still trying to save themselves and the passengers as was Sully. Neither made a choice to risk their lives. In both cases their life was put in jeopardy unvoluntarily.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,633]

Being calm and not choking under pressure and doing a job in landing a plane safely, albeit in a terrible situation, does not make someone a hero...

 

The people on United 93 that attacked the hijackers and risked everything, they are heroes...

 

Policemen, firemen, soldiers are heroes as they put their lives on the line to help others...

 

Where did Sully put his life on the line? He was in the same situation and he wanted to live as well and when things weren't working well, he found the best possible situation for survival and to save everyone on board... That isn't a hero, that is thinking quickly and reacting quickly and not choking under pressure... Remember, I am not dissing him, I just don't think he is a hero for doing what he did...

 

And if he is in fact a hero, why isn't the co-pilot being called a hero? He probably helped out as well, where is his accolades?

 

 

First, he puts his life on the line everyday as most of us do. He did his job under extreme pressure and was trained to do so. But even with that training, thee odds of pulling off what he did was close to zero %. Let's say you work for a large company and saved your company from going under, saving thousands of jobs because of your decisions. Would that make you a hero? Would in my book.

 

Second, what about the families of all those on board? Dad's coming home because of this man, Sully. Your going to tell a family member you don't think Sully is any less of a hero than those on United 93? " Sorry, even though all of you came out of this alive, he's a great pilot at best, can't be a hero because all he did was not choke under pressure."

 

And third, do you think teachers are heros? I don't know of one who saved my life or put their life on the line for me. They just went to work everyday and did their job. And I can think of at least three that I would proudly call "HERO".

[KSB2424 3,174]

Without taking anything away from Sully whatsoever. I think the dude is badass. But put me in the camp that thinks the term HERO is way over-used and thus looses it's true meaning.

[pingpong 0]

His actions were truly heroic. The one thing I have not been able to resolve is why he could not have avoided a flock of geese the size of a 737. Based on the report of him looking up and hearing the thud, my suspicion is that both Sully and the co-pilot were flying purely by instruments...not uncommon in this day of so many gauges. IMO, had either pilot been actually looking out the window, they would not have had to land in the Hudson.

[cbfalcon 827]

His actions were truly heroic. The one thing I have not been able to resolve is why he could not have avoided a flock of geese the size of a 737. Based on the report of him looking up and hearing the thud, my suspicion is that both Sully and the co-pilot were flying purely by instruments...not uncommon in this day of so many gauges. IMO, had either pilot been actually looking out the window, they would not have had to land in the Hudson.

 

I give him a pass on that. Those aircraft aren't quite designed for evasive maneuvers like an F-14 should be. Plus, takeoff and landing are the 2 most dangerous times in a flight. Thus probably the most dangerous of all times to attempt Tom Maverick moves.

 

Not to mention, we have a deal with the birds. We don't alter our paths and they get out of the way. In turn, we rarely eat them. In this case, the birds didn't hold up their end of the deal.

[GettnHuge 2]

sully>cory lidle

 

hero for saving this thread

[corky 0]

he saved these peoples lives. What was it, the first ever commercial airplane crash in water where no one died?

and no one was seriously injured.

[wil_d_thril 0]

I'm saying he's a hero. The guy had to act under enormous pressure. Many pilots probably would have attempted to make it to the NJ airport, which likely would have been disastrous. He 1st made the right decision to land on the Hudson and then executed it perfectly under pressure no one on this board could possibly understand. He saved the lives of everyone on the plane. Who cares if he was also saving his own? He then was the last person off the plane after ensuring that everyone got off. To me, that's pretty heroic. If he were only concerned of his own ass, he'd been the 1st on the wing and into the first ferry that showed up.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

Lets see...despite the talk, and extremely difficult landing to pull off...nobody dies or is very seriously injurred...the guy walks the plane 2 or 3 times after everyone is off before he leaves the plane.

 

Why would anyone complain about calling the guy a hero.

What a dooshy thread.

 

It takes alot for me to agree with Slo Nuff, but on this I do.

 

Taking a focking jetliner down with no power and putting it down in a river like laying your head on a pillow deserves some props. Complaining about him getting props is lame.

[tikigods 76]

For doing his job?

 

I guess the MSM needs some news to talk about since Bush is out of office and the can't talk ill-will of their Messiah...

 

Wow. You're now trying to use Sullenberger, who saved all of those people's lives, to take a shot at Obama? Do you molest children too?

 

What a fvcking loser you're becoming Posty. It's rather sad to see you steeping to these levels.

[Foamfinger 0]

Wow. Just read this thread. The word hero may be casually thrown around, but far too infrequently is it applied to those who are deserving. Similarly, the perception by some that he's not a hero, but he's "clutch" boggles the mind. "Clutch" is driving your team down the field to win the game; hitting a winning three-pointer as time expires; driving in an RBI in the bottom of the ninth. None of that BS is heroic in any way. Landing a focking airliner in a river with no power and not losing a soul? That is considerably more than "clutch".

 

And no, you don't have to die to be a hero.

[BMoney 0]

hero for saving this thread

 

 

meh..its just my job...ive had a lot of training being around here all this time....

 

 

seriously though..he made it look so easy that people are thinking hes no hero..a hero saves lives..pure and simple..a lifeguard..even if he saves you from drowning and its simply his job..is still a hero...

 

there were so many people around and in danger...he didnt hit land...no buildings...he dropped it into the water....

 

a hero to me...

 

some may not agree..but i bet the next time your plane hits turbulance and starts shaking like michael j fox, youre gonna hope hes your pilot....