Latest news with #Sullenberger
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Calling all aspiring Air Traffic Controllers! Uncle Sam is hiring
CHARLOTTE () — It seems like a week doesn't go by without news of another close call at our nation's airports, which begs the question: Is worker fatigue from the air traffic controller shortage contributing to these near misses? The FAA is looking for applicants to ease the strain. The hiring window is now open. Do you have what it takes to be an air traffic controller? ATC specialists are an elite group of more than 14 thousand people working across the country to ensure the safety and flight efficiency of aircraft, pilots, and nearly 3 million daily passengers. FAA controllers work from hundreds of airport facilities, including towers and radar rooms, managing 50,000 flights a day. But the FAA needs 3,000 more controllers and is actively searching for the best and brightest. Officials say retirement, burnout rates, and applicants dropping out or flunking out of training are all contributors to the shortage. Captain Sullenberger of 'Miracle on the Hudson' addresses ATC shortage and Trump's comments on D.E.I. To get hiring numbers up to speed, the FAA has streamlined the hiring process by changing the previous 8-step process to 5 steps. This will accelerate the time to hire by shaving more than four months off the old process. Eligible candidates must submit an application through USA Jobs, take the air traffic control skills assessment, and pass medical and security clearances. If you pass all that, you will attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. It's a tough, nail-biting job requiring high skill and intense focus in high-energy environments. If you think it's too nerve-racking, maybe the money will sway you. Most controllers are making a six-figure salary within three years. The FAA has rigorous qualification requirements. Health conditions like hearing loss, heart disease, or certain mental disorders could disqualify you for employment. According to the FAA website, to be eligible, you must: Be a U.S. citizen Speak English fluently and clearly Be younger than 31 years old before the closing date of the application period Have either one year of full-time work experience or One year of higher education or a combination of both Pass physical and psychological exams Entry-level applicants must complete required training and spend several months at the FAA academy in Oklahoma City. Applicants are paid while in training. After graduating from the academy, they are placed in locations across the country to gain one to three years of on-the-job experience before becoming a certified professional controller. The job is full-time with some additional hours. Most facilities operate 24/7, 365 days a year, working days, evenings, night shifts, weekends, and holidays. With the shortage, many controllers are working 10-hour days, 6 days a week. The application window closes March 17. For more information or to apply, visit the FAA's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Captain Sullenberger of ‘Miracle on the Hudson' addresses ATC shortage and Trump's comments on D.E.I.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Last week's fatal mid-air crash over the Potomac River has prompted a lot of finger-pointing. The cause of the deadly collision of an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport is still unknown. A preliminary report as to what happened is expected within 30 days, with a final report as to why the accident happened could take over a year. In the meantime, authorities stress this is not a time for speculation. It's time to investigate. While at this time it is impossible to identify a cause or who is responsible for the crash, President Trump has placed blame, in part, on Federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hiring programs affecting pilots and air traffic controllers. While there is no clear evidence to back this up, there is evidence an air traffic control shortage is affecting airports nationwide, especially in the Northeast corridor. According to reports one air traffic controller was working both the helicopters and airplanes in the Reagan National Tower on the night of the crash, a job typically handled by two controllers. While this double duty is not ideal, it is normal due to the shortage, according to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. Whether this shortage contributed to the accident in any way is yet to be seen. Queen City News Chief Transportation Correspondent and professional pilot MayCay Beeler caught up with Captain C.B. 'Sully' Sullenberger, former U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, safety expert, and best known for his actions as Captain of US Airways Flight 1549: The Miracle on the Hudson. MayCay: Are you worried about the ATC shortage? Captain Sullenberger: Yes. We need to do a better job of providing the staffing in all positions that are needed. It's going to take time, going to take years. That's because although the FAA says hiring numbers reached their goal last year, and are on track for 2025, the time it takes to train and certify an Air Traffic Controller can take up to three years. In the meantime, many controllers are retiring early or taking mandatory retirement at age 56. Regarding DEI, Captain Sullenberger said: An airplane cannot know or care who the pilot is. What their skin tone is. What gender they are. All it can know is what control inputs are made. And we all need them to be the most skillful and appropriate ones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump crash rhetoric knocked by 'Miracle on Hudson' pilot
US pilot Sully Sullenberger, who famously landed a damaged plane on the Hudson river in New York in 2009, said he was "disgusted" but "not surprised" by President Donald Trump's point-scoring rhetoric surrounding this week's crash in Washington. Trump has launched a political offensive blaming diversity hires for the midair collision between an airliner and a military helicopter that plunged into the Potomac river killing 67 people. Republican Trump blamed his Democrat predecessors Barack Obama and Joe Biden for diversity policies that he said were responsible for the crash, though he provided no evidence. Asked by left-leaning MSNBC about his reaction to Trump's comments, Sullenberger responded on Thursday: "Not surprised, disgusted." Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger became a national hero after calmly piloting his US Airways airliner onto the water following a bird strike, in an episode remembered as the "Miracle on the Hudson." A 2016 film "Sully," starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood, additionally wowed audiences with its account of his emergency landing. Sullenberger urged a measured approach in investigating the crash, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) compiling a report. The NTSB "is the gold standard of the globe for accident investigation," Sullenberger said, reminding that it took 16 months for the final report when his own flight crashed. "We can have great confidence that the results will be found, they will be made public," he said. On Friday Trump posted new blame on his Truth Special platform, singling out the helicopter's supposed trajectory. "The Blackhawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot," Trump posted. "It was far above the 200 foot limit. That's not really too complicated to understand, is it???" bfm/bgs
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Captain Sully, hero of 'Miracle on the Hudson,' shares chilling theory on the DC plane crash
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the iconic pilot behind the "Miracle on the Hudson," has shared his chilling theory on the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C. The crash, which claimed the lives of all 67 people on board, occurred Wednesday night near Reagan National Airport. Sullenberger, who famously landed a plane in the Hudson River in 2009, spoke with The New York Times about the difficulties pilots face when flying at night, particularly over water. He speculated that the limited ground lighting over the water could have played a significant role in making the collision harder to avoid. 'There would have been fewer ground lights visible over the water than over land at night,' he explained, adding that 'this might have made it a little bit harder to see.' The 74-year-old aviation expert emphasized that 'Nighttime always makes things different about seeing other aircraft — basically all you can do is see the lights on them.' He elaborated on the challenge pilots face, saying, 'You have to try to figure out: Are they above you or below you? Or how far away? Or which direction are they headed? Everything is harder at night.' Sullenberger expressed his hope that the cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, and air traffic control data will help provide more answers. 'I'm just devastated by this. We have the obligation to learn from every failure and improve,' he said. He also discussed the potential role of Reagan National Airport's design in contributing to the incident. With its short runways and heavy traffic, Sullenberger noted that pilots need specific training to navigate the airport safely. 'It hasn't changed much since [the 1930s],' he said, referencing the airport's long history. 'Of course, we've added technology to it. But a lot of the technology is old.' Sully's insights also touched on the importance of maintaining rigorous safety protocols throughout an aviation career. He likened aviation safety to a row of dominoes: 'It's hard to have the diligence and the dedication to adhere to best practices on every minute of every hour of every day, every week, every month, every year for a decades-long aviation career. Any lapse could potentially be fatal, even though we have a lot of safety.' The collision, which involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers, highlights the risks of air travel and the ongoing importance of learning from tragedies. Rescue crews continue to recover bodies and debris from the Potomac River, with authorities hoping that the retrieved black boxes will shed light on what went wrong in the moments leading up to the disaster. Sullenberger's reflections serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in flying, especially at night, and the critical importance of vigilance, preparation, and technology in preventing accidents.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sully Sullenberger: ‘A lot' of the technology at Reagan National ‘is old'
Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger said that 'a lot' of the technology at Reagan Washington National Airport 'is old' after two aircraft collided near the airport in Arlington, Va., late Wednesday. According to a Virginia history-centric website, the late 1930s marked the start of National Airport's construction. The airport opened in the early 1940s. 'It hasn't changed much since then,' Sullenberger, a retired pilot and aviation expert, told The New York Times Wednesday. 'Of course, we've added technology to it. But a lot of the technology is old.' On Wednesday night, an Army helicopter and American Airlines flight collided midair near National Airport. Officials have said that they do not anticipate survivors of the Washington metro area crash, and at least 28 bodies had been recovered as of 8 a.m. local time. 'We've had to learn important lessons literally with blood too often, and we had finally gotten beyond that, to where we could learn from incidents, and not accidents,' Sullenburger said, according to the Times. President Trump said the crash 'should have been prevented.' 'The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,' the president posted on Truth Social. 'The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.' 'It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane,' he continued. 'This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!!' The Hill has reached out to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
