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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Rich Galen :: Townhall.com Columnist
Doing What We're Trained to Do
by Rich Galen
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When you listen to the audio of the final 30-or-so seconds of the flight, pay attention to the voices of the three air traffic controllers. One was in contact with the pilot, the other two were (assumedly) in the control towers at LaGuardia and Teterboro.

In a matter of about 90 seconds Sullenberger was given options for (and directions to) specific runways at the two airports.

After Sullenberger told the flight attendants and the passengers to "prepare for impact" Stiles switched from the Engine Restart Checklist to the Evacuation Checklist. The flight attendants - Doreen Welsh, Sheila Dail and Donna Dent - called for the passengers to get their heads down and brace - but they didn't know that this was going to be an unscheduled water landing.

You know the rest. Everyone got out. Everyone was rescued. The crew has been honored from the Superbowl to New York City.

Here's the point, though. Larry King asked Jeff Skiles if that outcome was "a combination of miracles."

Skiles said, "No. We were doing what we're trained to do."

The cockpit crew. The cabin crew. The controllers. And, in the end, the dozens of boat captains who raced to the scene to get people out of the water, off the wings and away from the life rafts.

Everyone was saved because everyone did what they were trained to do.

Let's see if our elected and appointed officials in Washington, in state capitals, in county courthouses and city halls can do as well.

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About The Author

Rich Galen has been a press secretary to Dan Quayle and Newt Gingrich. Rich Galen currently works as a journalist and writes at Mullings.com

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(12 comments so Far)
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Reply # 1
Date: Feb 12, 2009 - 7:03 PM EST
The Political Bozos In DC
I’m at a point where I’m actually ashamed at the way the politicos are behaving: Feeding frenzy at taxpayers’ expense. I’ve fired off dozens of faxes and phone calls to my two senators and representative on the mindless spending, bailouts, the war, and illegal immigration but it seems it all falls on deaf ears or too many voters are not raising hell; too many are in the mode of deer staring at the headlights bearing down on them and only microseconds left to avert disaster. Uninvolved citizens equal loss of freedom and sure enslavement.

Two thumbs down to the clown that makes me frown. The pretender will surely render more than a fender-bender with all this wild squander of tender. For from debt we’ll all drown while this fool with a crown fiddles away in DC town.
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Reply # 2
Date: Feb 12, 2009 - 8:33 AM EST
Training, Practice, Drills and Exercises
WORK!!!

This was not somethings that was practiced once or twice in a career, these procedures are practiced, and evaluated very frequently. Those people pushing carts in the aisle are not waiters and waitresses, they are the professionals that WILL get you out of the plane alive. The "other stuff" is so you think they are there to "wait upon you." Oh they are waiting -- and hope that they never have to put that training to the test.
Sure the cockpit crew brought the plane down in one piece, but it was the three professionals that got the people out, along with the cabin crew.
Funny, as troubled as the airlines are, they can still do these trainings and drills.
Very few LOCAL governments can be brothered to do trainings and drills, or even send representatives to "table-top" exercises with other agencies, like FEMA.
That's why NOLA FAILED their "exam" in 2005.
And that's why the next "incident" we will fail.
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