The LCC Legacy
January 19, 2009 – 8:07 amFrom US Airway’s Jan. 16 press release on US Airways 1549:
US Airways (NYSE: LCC) has released the names of the crew onboard flight 1549.
Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger, III, age 58, joined US Airways (PSA Airlines) in 1980. He has a total of 19,663 flight hours.
First officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, age 49, joined US Airways (USAir) in 1986. He has a total of 15,643 flight hours.
Flight Attendant Sheila Dail, age 57, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1980 and has more than 28 years experience with the airline.
Flight Attendant Doreen Welsh, age 58, joined US Airways (Allegheny Airlines) in 1970 and has more than 38 years experience with the airline.
Flight Attendant Donna Dent, age 51, joined US Airways (Piedmont Airlines) in 1982 and has more than 26 years experience with the airline.
Notice anything? The average experience of the crew on this plane was over 28 years. It is hard to run a controlled experiment to see if experience aided in the successful resolution of this flight, but it likely played some part.
On another note, the list is a walking history of US Airway’s legacy. 1 PSA Airlines pilot. 2 Piedmont Airlines flight attendants. 1 Allegheny Airlines flight attendant. 1 USAir copilot. No crew members from the latest America West merger. As for the plane, it came over as part of US Airways.
