Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
From Sunday's Daily News gossip page.
Quote:
“I’d like him to come fly for us,” Branson tell us. “We’ll make him the best-paid pilot at Virgin — we’ll give him double [the salary of] anybody else. He also can become one of the astronauts in my intergalactic spaceship company. The man can write his own ticket with me.”
Sullenberger sounded interested when we conveyed Branson’s offer.
“That’s amazing,” said the man who saved the lives of 155 people when he deftly landed a jetliner in the freezing Hudson River on Jan. 15. “I hadn’t heard that.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/ ... _ches.html
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
You know, I was thining about it before teh Branson announcement.....
Whenever and whereever this guy flies now and announces who he is prior to takeoff(assuming some pax listen to announcements), can you imagine the pax reactions? Clapping, etc?
Then I hear yesterday AM about Branson.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Cheap publicity stunt that will only serve to piss off the current Virgin flight crews.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirrodie
You know, I was thining about it before teh Branson announcement.....
Whenever and whereever this guy flies now and announces who he is prior to takeoff(assuming some pax listen to announcements), can you imagine the pax reactions? Clapping, etc?
Then I hear yesterday AM about Branson.
Trust me no one will remember his name Mario. Unless he introduces himself as the guy who landed an A320 in the Hudson he may get some claps but even then I'm people will be like "who are you?"
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by moose135
Cheap publicity stunt that will only serve to piss off the current Virgin flight crews.
I echo Moose's comment as welll...
If there is one way to piss off a pilot, & that is to let them know that a pilot with less senority is making double of what the senior guy is making.
Now, if Branson wants to put him on the Virgin Rocketship, then go for it, cheap publicity stunt, but, what the hell, it will draw some attention to the Virgin rocket....
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
True other pilots will be piseed and so true its typical Branson.
But that is what has made Branson, Marketing and publicity has done him well.
I wonder though if pax would forget who the world has come to know as Sully. I think his name recognition is similar to that of Joe Plumber.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
I doubt Virgin America pilots get paid very well being a new airline and all, so making double is probably what he makes now. :)
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by T-Bird76
Then I hear yesterday AM about Branson.
Trust me no one will remember his name Mario. Unless he introduces himself as the guy who landed an A320 in the Hudson he may get some claps but even then I'm people will be like "who are you?"[/quote]
Very true Mr. Tommy!
Now the die-hard aviation will remember his name, while a vast majority will only know him by the guy that landed the plane in hudson.
Perfect example of this is Al Haynes, somebody forget his name, but, mention Sioux City & they usually remember...
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
In the UK due to the deep recession he's put a pay freeze on every one in virgin for 12 month, if he got this pilot earning double the pay of any one else i feel virgin staff would be very cheesed off.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by Midnight Mike
Quote:
Originally Posted by moose135
Cheap publicity stunt that will only serve to piss off the current Virgin flight crews.
I echo Moose's comment as welll...
If there is one way to piss off a pilot, & that is to let them know that a pilot with less senority is making double of what the senior guy is making.
Now, if Branson wants to put him on the Virgin Rocketship, then go for it, cheap publicity stunt, but, what the hell, it will draw some attention to the Virgin rocket....
Somehow I get the feeling Sully was just amused and would never take it. He's appears to be genuinely too humble. At the Superbowl he still refused to take any credit himself, citing the entire crew saved lives. Not just one of them. He seemed really embarrassed anytime one of the interviewing reporters said otherwise.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by Planesntrains
Somehow I get the feeling Sully was just amused and would never take it.
Why not? It's not like US Airways is looking out for his best interests, or that US Airways is such a great company to fly for. I'm sure he's real happy about all the pay and benefit cuts he had to take at US Airways - not to mention management trying to fry him at every opportunity. If he can make probably triple what he makes now, fly less, and fly bigger jets to better places he'd be nuts not to seriously consider the job offer.
If he took the job at Virgin other pilots may become disgruntled. But, as an airline CEO, I'd imagine you want your best pilots flying your "flagship" aircraft. Taking an aircraft, turning it into a glider, and completing a successful water landing with 0 casualties and minimal injuries is a hell of a resume builder and isn't something that most could pull off.
Hiring and promotion at an airline shouldn't just be based on the number of years you've been with the company; experience and ability needs some consideration.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Are VA or VX pilots unionized? Seems unlikely this could happen if they are.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Sully's superhuman status proven further...he actually called his hometown library to ask for an extension on a book he checked out. The reason: it was in the belly of 1549. The subject: professional ethics. The library waived the late and lost book fees, and says the replacement book will have a dedication to the captain on the cover.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirrodie
You know, I was thinking about it before teh Branson announcement.....
Whenever and whereever this guy flies now and announces who he is prior to takeoff(assuming some pax listen to announcements), can you imagine the pax reactions? Clapping, etc?
Then I hear yesterday AM about Branson.
Somehow, I have to think otherwise...Sully on 60 minutes,
SUlly on NY magazine....the name is as recognizable as Joe the Plumber.
Further, while I feel that most ppl on an a/c listen to the pilot announcements, the fact that 1549's pax listened so well proves me otherwise.
I think that When Sully decides to fly again, he may be recognized by pax if announced.
Re: Branson Offers Capt. Sully a Job
Quote:
Originally Posted by USAF Pilot 07
Why not? It's not like US Airways is looking out for his best interests, or that US Airways is such a great company to fly for.
Just don't think with his modesty and presented personality, he would take it. He keeps crediting the entire crew, refusing to take any credit himself. It would just seem diametrically opposite from his morals for him to benefit and not the entire crew. It really seems like he's the real deal...selfless.
