HONOLULU — “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Capt. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, who piloted US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York City’s Hudson River, will be this year’s guest speaker at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor’s 8th Anniversary Dinner Gala on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Themed “Destinations & Dreams,” the evening is the museum’s annual fundraiser for its education and restoration projects. Emcee for the evening will be actor, journalist and TV host David Hartman.
Honoree of the evening is the museum’s past Chairman of the Board Admiral Ronald J. Hays, whose dream was to make the museum a world-class destination. As chairman for the past 13 years, Hays has championed the work to restore the historic hangars, the Ford Island Control Tower, and the museum’s aircraft collection, with a vision toward sharing the history of Pearl Harbor and providing the backdrop for the educational programming that the Museum delivers to young and old.
The evening will be filled with camaraderie alongside military and community leaders, a book signing by Sullenberger, dining, and entertainment by Cathy Foy, all in the museum’s 89,000-square-foot World War II Hangar 79.
Sullenberger became internationally renowned on Jan. 15, 2009, for what has been dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson,” when he and his crew safely guided their US Airways plane to an emergency water landing in the Hudson River, New York City. The Airbus’ two engines had lost thrust following a bird strike. Sullenberger and his crew received international acclaim for their actions, including the passage of a Congressional resolution recognizing their bravery. Sullenberger was ranked second in Time magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009” and awarded the French Legion of Honor. Currently, he is an aviation safety expert and accident investigator, CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert, and founder and chief executive officer of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., a company dedicated to management, safety, performance, and reliability consulting.
For more information: PacificAviationMuseum.org