Capt. Sully Worried About Airline Industry

CBS Evening News: Flight 1549 Pilot Exclusively Tells Katie Couric His Fear About Future Pilots

(CBS)  The amazing story of US Airways Flight 1549 might have frequent fliers thinking more about something often taken for granted: the experience of the pilot. The captain of Flight 1549 told CBS News anchor Katie Couric that he's concerned the industry will soon have trouble attracting experienced pilots. The reason? Money.

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"One way of looking at this might be that, for 42 years, I've been making small regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training," said US Airways Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. "And on January 15, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."

Sullenberger is uncharacteristically worried. He's worried that when it comes to the bank of experience for airline pilots, there may someday be a significant shortage.

"I don't know a single professional pilot who would recommend that their children follow in their footsteps," he said.

There was a time when airline pilot was a coveted job - glamorous, respected, with plenty of benefits.

But now: "The airline employees have been hit by an economic tsunami. Pay cuts, loss of pensions, increased hours every day, days per week, days per month," Sullenberger said. "It's a heavy burden."

Last year alone, more than 6,000 commercial pilots were either furloughed or permanently laid off.

Couric said: "What effect do you think that is having on the industry itself and on the people's it's attracting?"

"I know some of our pilots, who have been laid off, have chosen not to return," Sullenberger said. "I can speak personally, for me and my family, that my decision to remain in this profession that I love has come at a cost to me and my family."

Sully says five years ago he and the rest of his fellow pilots at US Airways gave back almost $6.8 billion in pension, wages and other concessions, to keep the airline flying.

And while annual salaries can average anywhere from $37,000 for a first officer and well into the six figures for a captain, the shrinking workforce means pilots are often spread very thin.

As Capt. James Ray of the U.S. Airline Pilots Association said: "Twenty years ago, the average airline pilot would maybe work, oh, 70 to 80 hours, about three times a month. Now, that pilot's working 70 to 80 hours every week," he said.

"It started with deregulation in 1978. The onset of low-cost carriers really started to put stress on the system," said Peter Goelz, the former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Then you couple that with 9/11, the spike in fuel costs, you've really got the prescription for a very challenged industry."

The majority of pilots hired today are civilians coming out of flight school, who began their career at smaller airlines. And few have the military background Sullenberger had flying for the Air Force.

In 1992, roughly 90 percent of those hired by major carriers had flown for the military. By last year, fewer than 30 percent had.

"I think that there will always be people who want to do this," Sullenberger said. "It just may not be the same people who are doing it now."

"Are you concerned that that means if another situation like this one comes up in the future, you won't have as qualified a pilot flying the plane?" Couric asked.

"That just follows doesn't it?" Sullenberger said.

But despite the harsh economic realities, for the first time in jet aviation history, U.S. commercial carriers have gone two consecutive years without a crash fatality.

When contracted about Sullenberger's concerns, the Air Transport Association, which represents the principle U.S. carriers, had no comment.

The story of Flight 1549 has been a boost to the country. But it's also given those who work in the struggling industry a shot in the arm.

"Probably the most important words I've heard have been from my peers. That I have made them proud," Sullenberger said. "That they feel pride in themselves - a pride in their profession they hadn't felt for years. Sometimes decades. And they also tell me, especially ones at my airline who know me, that they were glad that I was the one flying that flight that day."

"Why does that make you feel so good?" Couric said.

"Their praise isn't given easily or readily," Sullenberger said.

But this pilot hopes his moment in the spotlight will remind the airlines - and those who fly - that attracting those with the right stuff may make all the difference.

[SuzannedeCornelia]

Capt Sully's mission is driven by his Dad's suicide. Mine by my brother's http://tinyurl.com/oe4ezq

[pppegatha]

Katie - thank you for your continued reseach into aviation today and since 9-11. We are an aviation family out of currency training secondary to layoffs. My husbaand flew commercial airline pre and post 9-11 then switch to corporate bussiness aviation in 2005. He has 22 years experience and a excellent safety record
It is very discouraging to hear Obama repeatedly and publicly denounce corporate flight. Now out of work we are spending our downpayment on living instead of a house. We need work and it is horrible to hear the presidents reaction to business travle and lack of attention to Sully's safety warnings. If you need a story - we have a group of pilots ready to give clear historical and imperical perspective.
Please continue reseach on transport sector and the economic/safety of the public.
Margaret in CA

[cjgray06]

Most of your comments on this story are missing the point. Has anyone ever flown a major airline - specifically the one Capt Sully works for and had a less than positive experience? Didn't you choose that airline for it's lowest fare? Did you get an non-stop flight or were you sent to one or more cities to make a connection - sometimes to a very large airport with a 20 minute connection? And what happened? Ooops - there was a crew delay or a maintenance delay and you missed your connection. Need to get to your final destination for an important meeting or event? Ummm, too bad. So sorry. You'll have to stay overnight and go tomorrow - completely missing your important meeting or your child's wedding, college graduation, your grandmother's funeral. Does the airline give a 'flying *&%$'? No - what they care about is that they got your money and legally they can keep it. They are simply required to get you on the next available flight- and most times won't utilize other airlines that they have to pay for in order to do it. But it wasn't thier fault - it was weather, Air Traffic Control, blah, blah, blah... How many times have you been on a flight where the Capt comes on the intercom and lets you know what the delay is - he was caught in traffic, the crew 'timed out' or there was a maintenance issue - yet when you get to your connecting city you find out you are on your own in making overnight arrangements and can't fly on another airline because the airline management decided to code it to weather or air traffic? What the message is - and you aren't hearing - is that the airline industry is concerned only with keeping stock holders happy and showing a profit and will stoop to nearly any trick to make that happen. They are greedy and ruthless. How do I know this? I have worked at the customer service level for 4 years at a major airport for the same airline Capt. Sully works for. Our union is as bad as the pilot's union(s) and the company is trampelling it's employees and beating them over the head with thier own contracts. No doubt having experienced pilots is the priority when flying 30,000 feet in the air for miles and miles. But the lack of customer service skills and the ability to serve you on the ground is disappearing as well as the company fires good people to cut costs. Safety and pilot experience aside - did you get competent customer service with a smile or at least some empathy? No - well blame the management. And don't even bother writing the company's 'Customer Relations'. That's a joke. There is a federal agency that the airline is accountable to - that is where your complaint should be made. With enough complaints and bad reporting - maybe the airline will be forced to give better service with the several hundred dollar ticket you just purchased. Maybe.

[smaypilot]

I''m so glad "Sully" is voicing his concern regarding the airlines and current status and treatment of airline pilots. Finally we have a spokesman for pilots that may actually be able to publicize these concerns. I was once an aspiring airline pilot and in my heart I''m still an aspiring airline pilot. I''m a flight instructor but only do it part time. My full time job is as a software engineer. I have over the years contemplated following my heart and pursuing an airline pilot job, but the pay cut would be so dramatic it''s hard to take the steps. When I tell people at my job that I''m a pilot and flight instructor they don''t understand why I''m not doing that as a living instead. I tell them because it''s actually quite hard to make a living as a new pilot! Even considering all of this I still dream of eventually getting a piloting job that makes a realistic living. So "Sully" keep it up. Keep letting the public know that pilots and crew are the last place we want to cut costs!

[smaypilot]

I''m so glad "Sully" is voicing his concern regarding the airlines and current status and treatment of airline pilots. Finally we have a spokesman for pilots that may actually be heard by the public. I have been an aspiring airline pilot for years. I''m a flight instructor but only do it part time. My full time job is as a software engineer. I have over the years contemplated following my heart and pursuing an airline pilot job, but the pay cut would be so dramatic it''s hard to take the steps. When I tell people at my job that I''m a pilot and flight instructor they don''t understand why I''m not doing that as a living instead. I tell them because it''s actually quite hard to make a living as a new pilot! Even considering all of this I still dream of eventually getting a piloting job that makes a realistic living. I guess unfortunately that''s getting harder and harder to find. So "Sully" keep it up. Keep letting the public know that the pilots and crew are the last place we want to cut costs!

[paasaero]

Finally, the press found something positive to report. This was truly a big event, but there are so many more smaller positive events that could make the news instead of all the killings and muggings.

[drw366]

How refreshing to finally see a dramatic event with an unambiguous, positive conclusion that one can genuinely feel good about. The very best of humanity was on display that cold afternoon. There were many quiet heroes, with Captain Sully being only the most prominent, and their collective legacy shall endure. His humility, dignity, grace and articulation was most refreshing, and speaks well of the profession.

[driveacessna]

It is an absolute travesty that the public think that commercial pilots are nothing more than bus drivers. Regrettably, as with most consumer decisions in America today, all they think about is lowest possible cost. Quality concerns go out the window. Lowest cost comes with a price. Lower wages. And that reduces the available talent pool. While flying a commercial airliner is specialized, most people capable of doing so are also capable of perfoming other executive management jobs. As they see airline working conditions degraded as far as they now are, they will, regrettably, choose desk bound jobs that allow them to see more of their families.

The airline managements also are to blame. I worked for a very short period for a "feeder" to major, and crew scheduling should have been taken out and shot. A typical schedule required a flight at 0600, one at 0800 then one at 1700 and one at 1900. All for 4 hrs of pay, as we were paid by the flight hour. Scheduling didn''t care we were on the job for 14 hrs, as the company''s cost was only 4 hrs. Until unions and managements get together and attempt to squeeze the maximum permitted flying hours into the minimum hours away from home, the pilot''s job, at least for the first few years, will continue to be close to minimum wage.

[zitazoie]

Dear Miss Couric. I do hope your done about obsessing about this story. It''s great this this Captain Sully was able to land the 1549 safely and save his and everyone on board, let''s now move on. God bless Capt Sully, but please enough.

[nspchuck]

Great Job, Capt. Sully! You are the best of the best! I''ve been a professional pilot for over 40 years in the corporate and instructional, not the airline end of the business. You, Sir, make me very proud of something I''ve always loved to do. It should be criminal what the airlines have done to their pilots and flight crews while their top execs raked in multi-millions in salaries and bonuses.

Katie did a terrific job on the interview, too. She asked brief, non-sensationalizing, appropriate and perceptive questions during the interview. Yet, she did not even once interrupt this great pilot as he told us what really happened. Kudos to you, Katie! That broken glass ceiling sure leaves splinters, doesn''t it, and hurts a little, too, I''m sure. You go girl!

[asdf09871]

sorry about the spam post, the publish button kept coming up as error...??

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.

[asdf09871]

Nice Job Capt. Sully. I would enjoy a trip in the flightdeck with you anytime.

CBS, please do some RESEARCH before you go spewing your "facts". Airline pilots, after more than $100,000 spent on training and school, will start their pay anywhere from $14,000-$24,000 annually for their first year depending on the airline. The lucky ones will get in the 30''s their second year. 80hrs/week and 4-6 days completely away from home boils down to LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE for the first 2-3 YEARS as a pilot.

Demand more from your airline: Pilots save lives everyday. If you fly, a pair of pilots will one day save your life without you ever knowing it, they will simply smile and thank you flying with them and go do it again without any kind of fanfare, only a pat on eachothers back.