Beech Tree News Network

It doesn’t take a whole heck of a lot to remind me of my loathsome dislikes for bureaucrats and bureaucracies. Of course you know that, if you’re read my corner of the rag any at all over the last 29 so years. 

Recently I saw a TV excerpt of the new movie, Sully- the miraculous account of Captain Chesley Sullenberger’s landing an airline on the Hudson River in New York, saving the lives of all 150 people on board. 

Here are some of the accusative like questions put to Captain Sullenberger by the NTSB; National Transportation Safety Board of the federal Government: 

Qu. You say you got a bird strike into both engines at the same time, causing both to flame out, how do you know this? 

Sully: I saw them and heard them strike the front of the aircraft; the engine flamed out seconds later, so did my first officer see them. 

Qu. When is the last time you consumed any alcohol? 

Sully: Nine years ago.

Qu. How much sleep had you had the night before?

Sully: Eight hours.

Qu. Do you have any marital problems at home? 

Sully: No. 

Qu. Would you know the last time your first officer consumed any alcohol?

Sully: He doesn’t drink.

Qu. How do you know he doesn’t drink? 

Sully: He told me so. I have no reason to disbelieve him.

Qu. Captain you were apprised by the Kennedy control town, of the options of landing at Newark airport. Why did you reject that option? 

Sully: I knew I couldn’t make it.

Qu. How did you know you couldn’t make it?

Sully: Experience.

I suppose by this time, in a few choice words I would have given this bunch of jackasses a good John-Wayne-going-over something like: “Are you bunch of yokels glad I saved a hundred fifty lives doing what I did, or had you rather for me to have thrown up my hands and drive the airplane into the ground, killing all aboard, including myself…and no telling how many on the ground? Not Sully. He was overwhelmed to say, “They were just doing their job.” Sully would say that.

Kindest regards…..