Senate Resolution No. 2584

BY: Senator HOYLMAN-SIGAL

HONORING Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully"
Sullenberger III and commemorating the fifteen-year
anniversary of the event known as the "Miracle on
the Hudson" in which he successfully landed US
Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, saving the
lives of 155 people

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
notable citizens of our State, who have taken extraordinary steps to
help and protect their fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend and honor Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III; and

WHEREAS, Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III graduated
from the United States Air Force Academy in 1973, receiving the
Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship award; and

WHEREAS, Sullenberger served a seven-year career in the United
States Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain, serving time at Air
Force Bases in Europe and North America, including as Blue Force mission
commander in Red Flag Exercises; and

WHEREAS, Sullenberger went on to a thirty-year career as an airline
pilot and instructor for US Airways, until his retirement from
commercial flying in March 2010, logging tens of thousands of hours of
flight time; and

WHEREAS, On January 15, 2009, he and his crew safely guided US
Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York's frigid
Hudson River, in the westside of Manhattan's 47th State Senate District,
during what has been called the "Miracle on the Hudson," when his Airbus
A320's two engines lost thrust following a bird strike; and

WHEREAS, All 155 people on board US Airways Flight 1549 survived the
emergency landing despite the extreme circumstances; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement from commercial flying in 2010,
Sullenberger went on to become an advocate for aviation safety and
proponent for youth engagement with flying serving as the co-chairman,
of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles youth
introduction-to-aviation program from 2009 to 2013; and

WHEREAS, In 2021, President Biden appointed Sullenberger to serve as
the U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a
U.N. Specialized Agency dedicated to solving aviation crises across the
globe; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III for his heroism
and the fifteen-year anniversary of the event known as the "Miracle on
the Hudson"; and be it further


RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III.