III Corps

I will want to read both accounts, yes.

Remember, this was a unique event and crew. USAir's policy is that in an emergency the Capt runs the checklist and the F/O flies. BUT in this case, Skiles was just out of training on the 'bus and what had he been doing for the last six weeks? EMERGENCY checklists. So it was fitting and proper that Sully fly (and not follow policy because of unique circustances) and for Skiles to try to restart the engines. Sully has considerable time flying the 'bus and Skiles has considerable skills going through the emergency procedures. Seems the best use of abilities and training.

Also, remember this was the last leg of a 4 day trip. The crew had moved from a group of individuals to a team during that period. We know from studies that teams are often able to achieve results that groups of individuals can not or do not achieve. Would this event have had a different outcome on the first leg of day 1? What if Sully had chosen to run the checklist and have Skiles fly? What both were x months out of training and running through procedures on the ECAM? Would they have progressed as rapidly through the choices and decisions? While there can be no conclusive answers to these questions, they do illustrate how well this crew performed when faced with a very unusual challenge.

__________________
Simple solutions are seldom either.

Carl Spackler

OK fine...I stand corrected.

Carl

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I'm an airline pilot - so I got that goin for me....which is nice.

cal73

I'll buy it.

Paperback though.

USMCFLYR

I've been reading the book. Interesting.
When talking of his time as a USAF F-4 pilot, he referes to his backseaters as WSOs.
I thought F-4 backseaters in the F-4 (of all Services) were called RIOs.
I was not aware of the term WSOs until the emergence of F/A-18Ds and F-15Es.
Can some former AF, USN/USMC F-4 pilots chime in here and clarify?

USMCFLYR

UAL T38 Phlyer

The Air Force never called them RIOs. I believe the USN and USMC always did.

Early in Vietnam, the Air Force was putting two rated pilots in the Rhino. I believe (not positive) they called them PSOs.

Once Navigators were put in back, the GIBs (Guy In Back; term used in all models) have been called:

1. WSO, for F-4C, D, E, and F. Includes RF-4C. (Weapon Systems Operator)

2. EWO for F-4G (Electronic Warfare Officer)

3. For a short period, EWOs were called "Bears," but this was a legacy from the F-105G, and I never heard it used in the F-4G community. You'll see this in a lot of literature but it wasn't true for my experience, 1988-1996.

4. In-house Weasel-slang included "Weasologist."

USMCFLYR

Thanks UAL.
Clears that up right quick.
Also bring into question now the making of the term WSO that I had been told in the past - that the term WSO came from the backseater now having to handle more than JUST an air-to-air radar (the Radar Interept Officer - RIO) and had to handle the A/G rdr, the FLIR, other sensors, etc... and now recognized as a WEAPONS SYSTEM OPERATOR.
I knew of the many of the other terms for Navs and NFOs based off the platform - but I didn't know that AF F-4 (RIOs) were called WSOs.

USMCFLYR

FPG120

My good friend (a former F-4 jock) always refers to them as a GIB (Guy in Back) but when pressed on the subject says that the ''official'' term is WSO.

RIO is NAVY all the way.

I'm not an expert, just a parrot...

TonyWilliams

I read his book on a 12 hour leg. I enjoyed it.

FPG120

...oh and by the way I did thoroughly enjoy the book. I couldn't put it down. At one point I looked up from the book and realized that I had flown way past MSP and had to turn around, but that's another story...

And I thought he gave his F/O plenty of credit for the amazing job they did. As a team.

I was wary (and continue to be) of 5 minute incidents that are turned into 2 hour movies or 300 page books.

Sully's story is compelling and kept this jaded old skipper interested.

FlyingViking

That's cool as long as it wasn't on your laptop on a scheduled 10 hour leg..