If you haven't yet seen the Cactus 1549 cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, check this out. Being a stickler for detail, and learning that Captain Sullenberger is too, I was surprised when I first heard the ATC tapes that Sully didn't use the "distress emergency" (indicating life is presently in jeopardy) radio transmission of "Mayday. Mayday. Mayday." It turns out, I was wrong. He did use it, and I'm not surprised. The first part of his distress transmission was blocked by New York Departure, but it was captured by the CVR. A minor detail, but just one more piece of evidence to indicate Sully's impeccable airmanship.
Below I've listed a link to an NSTB video including the approximate flight path of the Airbus and the ATC audio overlaid with the CVR transcript. "HOT-1" is Sully, "HOT-2" is First Officer Skiles, "CAM" means "cockpit area microphone" (which means the voice was either Sully or Skiles), and "RDO-1" is Sully transmitting on the radio. You'll also see messages from "GPWS." These are aural alerts from the aircraft's Ground Proximity Warning System that automatically alert the crew to terrain threats when certain parameters are exceeded.
Both Sully and Skiles are the definition of honorable pilots. Notice that they kept working all the way down to the water. They didn't freeze, they didn't panic, they stayed present and in command until the airplane wasn't flying anymore. Notice Skiles running the QRH (Quick Reference Handbook--you'll see Sully mention this after the bird strikes), reading and responding to each checklist item in an orderly and thorough manner all the way down. I believe Skiles even selected the "ditch switch" at a mere one hundred feet above the Hudson. You'll see Skiles refer to "* * Switch" on the CVR, the asterisks indicating an unknown word. I believe this was Skiles confirming with Sully the need to activate the ditch switch before impact, which sends a command to close the aircraft's pressurization outflow valve, pack flow control valves, and a couple other systems in order to enhance the airplane's ability to float. Once in the water, Skiles remained alone on the flight deck running the evacuation checklist while Sully made his way to the cabin to assist with the evacuation.
Sully and Skiles stayed active and calm all the way down to the Hudson. They certainly have my respect, admiration, and gratitude for their handling of that difficult emergency and for saving all those lives. The cabin crew (flight attendants) did a wonderful job, too. When asked by an interviewer if the flight attendants called the cockpit to see what was happening, one of them said, "No. We knew they were very busy. We knew they'd let us know when and if they got the time." That's the kind of response that gives me goosebumps. These ladies definitely know how pilots operate. And the flight crew never did get time to explain. The only thing the cabin crew heard from the cockpit was Sully's brace command, and they immediately began yelling their verbal commands from their jumpseats, "Brace! Brace! Heads down, stay down!" They performed their duties admirably as well.
So, without further ado, here's the link to the video. An excellent display of superior airmanship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S5hRRio-E8
