After six months in office, Chesley Sullenberger (Sully), the pilot who famously landed an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River, voluntarily stepped down from his post as the U.S. ambassador for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

An unexpected withdrawal

On July 1st, 2022, Sullenberger, is scheduled to step down as ambassador for the United States in the International Civil Aviation Organization. Just this past December he was confirmed into his appointed role. He informed the public that relinquishing his role was difficult. However, no explanation has currently been given as to the reason for his voluntary resignation.

The U.S. state department reminded the world of how influential Sullenberger has been in promoting aviation safety around the world by saying,

"indisputable credibility on aviation safety and security matters reinforced American leadership on those issues and strengthened our nation’s partnerships across the globe."

In recent years, Sully has brought attention to various safety concerns across the industry.

Concerns raised

Sullenberger became famous when he miraculously landed an airliner on the Hudson River. But this was but a moment in a life of aviation. He dedicated much of his life not only to aviation but more specifically to aviation safety.

In 2019, Sullenberger went before congress and testified concerning the new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This testimony was in response to the two fatal 737 MAX crashes, at the time these were very recent. He shared his support for the idea that pilots of the 737 MAX needed to obtain additional experience flying the MAX in the simulator before the aircraft could be returned to service. He famously stated before congress,

"Our current system of aircraft design and certification has failed us,"

Following this encounter, U.S. Congress passed a new regulation regarding the certification of new aircraft. In May 2022, Sullenberger addressed the current push for the reduction of flight hours needed before pilots can be employed by an airline. This comes amidst a pilot shortage in the US which has caused many disruptions across the industry this year. He stated that this push was,

"trying to weaken critically important pilot experience standards that are needed to keep passengers and crews safe."

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A life of safety

The famous incident commonly referred to as the "Miracle on the Hudson" occurred over 13 years ago on January 15th, 2009. On this day Captain Sully and First Officer Jeffery Skiles managed to land a US Airways Airbus A320 on the Hudson River in New York. This occurred after dual bird strikes destroyed both engines. Miraculously, no lives were lost aboard this flight.

This single event was made possible by a lifetime of flying and safety training for both pilots. Since the event, Sully has continued to dedicate his professional life to making aviation as safe as possible. Throughout his career, Sully has consistently reminded the world of his commitment to the safety and well-being of all who fly.

The recent resignation announcement of Sullenberger came as a shock to many. This leaves the ICAO in need of a U.S. ambassador. Regardless of title, Sullenberger has proven his commitment to safety in all aspects of aviation throughout his career.

Do you have any ideas on how the aviation industry can increase safety standards? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Reuters