My old man, a 33 year airline veteran, thinks the job Al Haynes did was probably the greatest feat of airman-ship quite possibly in the history of aviation.
He also happens to live in NYC right where the US Airways touched down and essentially credits the pilots with good, basic airman-ship. Nothing more, nothing less. Landing in the Hudson was the only option.
I would agree with your Dad.
IMO, a hero is a guy who does something he's not trained to do, isn't expected to do, and doesn't have to do, at the risk of his life when doing nothing at all would have meant no risk to him at all, even to his reputation.
On the other hand, I do love to see a consummate professional at work, and that's what we saw here. That pilot may not be a hero in the strict sense of the word, but he sure as hell deserves a fat pay raise.
- Tom
