Bill Text: NJ ACR145 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Declares support for displaying Hudson River crash aircraft at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-09-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism and the Arts Committee [ACR145 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-ACR145-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 145
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 20, 2010
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Declares support for displaying Hudson River crash aircraft at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution declaring that the Legislature of the State of New Jersey supports displaying at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum the US Airways aircraft that ditched in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.
Whereas, On January 15, 2009, US Airways flight 1549 from New York LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport safely ditched into the Hudson River after a flock of birds flew into the aircraft's engines, rendering them useless; and
Whereas, The US Airways flight crew, led by Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, executed from an altitude of only 3,000 feet and in a time frame of only thee and a half minutes an emergency landing procedure designed for descents from 35,000 feet; and
Whereas, In deciding on his landing strategy, Captain Sullenberger quickly determined that attempting to land at local airports would place additional lives at risk and instead set the plane down in the Hudson River clear of any obstructions and close to nearby ferry terminals to ensure that passengers could be rescued quickly; and
Whereas, Captain Sullenberger expertly piloted the aircraft into the Hudson River, landing at the necessary speed and angle to prevent the aircraft from being torn apart or somersaulting into the air upon impact; and
Whereas, Captain Sullenberger and his flight crew's heroic efforts saved the lives of all 150 passengers aboard the aircraft; and
Whereas, Captain Sullenberger has received substantial praise, especially from within the aviation community, for his skilled landing of a damaged aircraft under difficult circumstances; and
Whereas, The US Airways flight 1549 aircraft has been endowed with significant historical and educational value because of the exceptional piloting of Captain Sullenberger and the resulting national attention from the crash; and
Whereas, The US Airways flight 1549 aircraft was considered damaged beyond repair and turned over to the airline's insurer, Chartis Insurance Company, which currently has custody and control over the aircraft; and
Whereas, The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum has requested that Chartis Insurance Company donate the aircraft so that it can be properly preserved and displayed by the museum; and
Whereas, The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is a valued community resource dedicated to honoring the history of the naval base, our military pilots, and the science of aviation; and
Whereas, The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is willing to transport the aircraft to the museum's facility and is committed to displaying it as tribute to the skill of Captain Sullenberger, a veteran of the United States Air Force, and to the technological advancements made in aviation safety; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey supports displaying at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum the US Airways aircraft that ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Governor, every member of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives elected from this State, the New Jersey Historic Trust, and the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum.
STATEMENT
This resolution declares that the Legislature of the State of New Jersey supports displaying at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum the US Airways aircraft that ditched in the Hudson River.
On January 15, 2009, the heroic efforts of US Airways Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, a veteran of the United States Air Force, and his crew saved the lives of 155 Americans by safely landing a damaged aircraft into the Hudson River. A minute and a half into the flight, when the aircraft had ascended to just over 3,000 feet, both of the aircraft's engines were disabled by an impact with a flock of birds. Captain Sullenberger then executed emergency landing procedures designed to be used by an aircraft at an altitude of 35,000 feet. In the truncated time frame of fewer than three and a half minutes, he determined that an attempt to land at any of the regional airports would place additional lives at risk and instead elected the Hudson River as the ideal site to set the aircraft down. Captain Sullenberger then ditched the aircraft clear of any obstructions and close to nearby ferry terminals so that passengers could be rescued quickly enough to avoid drowning or freezing in the 36-degree Hudson River waters. He also expertly piloted the engineless aircraft at the proper speed and angle so that it was not torn apart or sent somersaulting into the air upon impact.
In fact, Captain Sullenberger's efforts were so exemplary that he received significant praise, especially within the aviation community. A civilian who observed the events from his office window remarked that the emergency landing looked more like a controlled descent. Two of the plane's flight attendants likened the event to a hard landing and nothing more. However, the most impressive praise came from Frank Ayers, chairman of the flight training department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, who said that landing a damaged aircraft safely into water is, "very, very difficult to do well and this pilot did it exceedingly well."
The exceptional piloting by Captain Sullenberger and the national attention given to this story has endowed the damaged aircraft with significant historical and educational value. It is a testament to the safety advances in aeronautic sciences. It demonstrates the value of a skilled pilot and how quick, decisive thinking can save lives. It also is a symbol of the altruism displayed by the ferry captains who followed the aircraft during its descent and arrived to rescue passengers just a few minutes after it set down in the Hudson. Therefore, it is essential that this aircraft be preserved and displayed so that it can inspire future generations as a representation of the heroic deeds that turned this potential tragedy into a miracle on the Hudson.
Currently, the aircraft is in Kearny, New Jersey in the custody and control of Chartis Insurance Company, which obtained it after US Airways determined that it was damaged beyond repair. At this time, Chartis is conducting due diligence on the aircraft. Once their assessment of the aircraft is completed, possibly as early as October 2010, Chartis will then determine its fate.
The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum has contacted Chartis to request that the aircraft be donated to the museum. The museum's directors have offered to cover the costs of transporting the aircraft to the museum. They are intent on displaying it as a tribute to the heroism of the flight crew and as a symbol of the advancement in aeronautic safety technology. Displaying the aircraft would fit perfectly within the museum's mission of educating the public on aeronautic science and honoring our exceptional military pilots, such as Captain Sullenberger. Therefore, the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is the ideal location to preserve and display the US Airways Flight 1549 aircraft which ditched into the Hudson River.
