Hudson Miracle Pilots to Reunite in N.Y.

The pilots who landed a US Airways jet safely in the Hudson River are reuniting in a cockpit for the first time for a flight out of New York.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and 1st Officer Jeffrey Skiles are slated to fly from LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday.

US Airways announced earlier that Sullenberger would return to the cockpit. He will make regular flights and supervise other pilots as part of the airline's safety management team.

Sullenberger ditched his Airbus A320 in the Hudson on Jan. 15 after a collision with geese killed power in both engines minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia for Charlotte. All 155 people on the plane survived.

Sullenberger, 58, has finished the training required to return to the cockpit and is eligible to fly, US Airways Group Inc. spokesman Jonathan Freed said Monday. The requirements for returning to the cockpit include ground school, simulator training, and flying with a captain from the training department, he said.

On Jan. 15 Sullenberger ditched the Airbus A320 in the Hudson after a collision with a flock of geese killed power in both engines minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia airport. All 155 people on the plane survived. Skiles said in March that he would return to the cockpit.

"60 Minutes:" Saving 155 Souls in Minutes

In a statement released by the airline, Sullenberger said the months since the Jan. 15 incident have been full, "and my family and I have had some unforgettable experiences. However, I have missed working with my colleagues at US Airways and I am eager to get back in the cockpit with my fellow pilots in the months ahead."

Sullenberger wrote about the landing in "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," with co-author Jeffrey Zaslow. The book is due out next month.

Sullenberger and Skiles have been lauded for their textbook response to the loss of power. Their plane was at just 2,800 feet, giving them just three and a half minutes to try to restart the engines or find an airport for a landing. He told the National Transportation Safety Board in June that he glided into the Hudson near Manhattan's ferry terminals to increase the chances of a rescue.