Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters

This is an enthralling read and one I found hard to put down. I watched on TV in amazement as Capt Sullenberger and his crew executed the most spectacular emergency landing possible and then evacuated all their passengers safely in the heart of New York. Having undergone training myself as a private pilot many years ago, I was intrigued to hear Sully's story how he and the crew managed the emergency. This is crisis management of the highest order with strong leadership and teamwork demonstrated together with good resource management to achieve the best possible outcome. The book looks at all those learning experiences that he brought to bear from various times in his life. I believe he demonstrates total professionalism and this should be on the reading list for anybody who might find themselves managing a crisis situation in any line of work, not just aviation. Clear, calm and collective thinking is required - not panic. Understanding the situation you face and even though the manual or training hasn't prepared you for quite the set of circumstances you now face, you can analyse the problems and bring about a resolution. That's what Sully and his team did! For me, a key decision was his to start the APU on loss of the two main engines to maintain instruments and help keep the aircraft controllable. This wasn't on any check list but was a logical decision based on his analysis of the problems they faced. This was followed by his great situational awareness of his rate of descent in relation to his proximity to a safe landing area. His early commitment to the Hudson was a brave but radical decision. Like him I remember the horrible pictures of the previous attempt by a large passenger jet to make a water landing. Because he was a true professional he had studied and had taken some learning from that tragedy and he was able to use it to great effect. For me another startling learning point was the critical incident response from the airline in the immediate aftermath or, in my view, lack of. I hope the airline and others have reviewed this and now know where they could have performed better in supporting the crew and their welfare needs and those of their families. A super read and one business and management schools should have on their reading list as well as flight training schools. Some good stuff on the reality of the airline industry's workings today in the USA.

A beautiful, thoughtful, considered, open and personal account of Mr Sullenberger’s life and such a detailed account of Flight 1549. A must read for anyone whether interested in aviation or not. So many beautiful insights into life and living your best one, whilst always trying to maintain integrity however inconvenient that may be. So glad I found this book. A miracle yes, but only possible through a life time of learning, diligence, attention to detail and loving what you do.

Let me just first say, that I am an inspired pilot myself (student pilot atm). This is a man, that truly fits into the 'best character for pilot' description. And he wrote the book. His memories, and way he approaches things, is just highly valuable lesson to any pilot. On the downside, the book is filled with 'old ladies treats' , probably added by the editor. Also, I am well put off (but got immune over time) to all the 'america the greatest' lines. Let me state it clearly, americans are just like any other people - people. One of the things author describes, is the hill he goes to with his wife - to gain perspective on things. Well, we in the Europe here - are on such hill, looking at US, and we can see clearly that it isn't the country it used to be before 2nd WW. Maybe author still lives in this delusion, because he was raised in different times. But truth of the matter is, the values he stands for are long gone. At least in major cities, and in both domestic and foreign policy of US. I don't know where the book was printed, but they surely saved on glue. Some pages are randomly coming out, and you don't see any trace of glue on them. But I got the 'large print' one (by mistake I have to say), so maybe things are different with ordinary release. On the good side of things. I really hope this book will be read by many people, because it tries to reconstitute faith in pilots, and both the general aviation and commercial aviation. So a big plus for that to the author. Sully, if you read this - please, release a book addressed to pilots. With slightly more details directed to the pilots community. thanks. thanks.

As the holder of a UK Private Pilot's Licence, I have been "in awe" of what Sully Sullenberger achieved in landing his aircraft on the Hudson River , and to read this account of his growing up and formative years (not dissimilar to my own) I found this book riveting reading. Apart from his dedication to his family and flying, he comes over as a very kind, mannerly and caring "gentleman" - a dying breed today I fear. His skills on landing an aircraft on The Hudson River and the fact that all passengers and crew survived without serious injury, is a miracle in itself, and should not be underestimated by anybody. This will go down in the annals of aviation history. A wonderful achievement through the skills of a dedicated aviator !

Kindle version. Having watched the film I bought this book, and it didn't disappoint. Read the electronic version in five sittings. This is an extremely engaging true life story. It drew me into the world of aviation both civil and military. From the author's love of flying from age 16, his first flight in a biplane from a dusty airstrip to following his 'training' in the desserts of the USA in an F4 Phantom jet fighter. This leads us to the events of January 15 2009, and the truly heroic events displayed by the author before, during, and after the incredible incident, Written in an easy, modest style, I enjoyed the book immensely, and recommend it to all. Excellent!

Great read!!!

Every now and then, we hear about an airline disaster that reinforces our doubts about much heavier than air machines bringing us safely from one ground location to another. A story with a happy ending like Captain Sully's is the exception. Lesser incidents, still involving heroism, almost never make the media. This one was truly catastrophic, yet it ended in the Hudson River with no lives lost. Similar to the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, also known as "Lost Moon", in which three heroic astronauts guided the only intact part of their craft, the Lunar Module, safely back to earth. Captain Sully is a good and modest man, and truly a credit to the generation of which I also am a member. We are the children of parents from the "Greatest Generation" -- those who lived through the Great Depression and World War II. As a result, we are often seen as somewhat of a letdown. Not so with Sully. His story reads like that of sung and unsung aviation heroes from the dawn of the 20th century onward. Like that of Eddie Rickenbacker and Jimmy Doolittle during the World Wars, as well as Amelia Earhart and an unknown (to me) pilot/co-pilot team that brought a Boeing 737-200 that I was riding on safely back after a harrowing rudder mishap. Like the lost UA Flight 585 earlier in 1991, my incident read like a replay of that disaster. A 737-200 at low altitude near Colorado Springs, a sudden locking in position of the tail rudder, and the beginning of a roll-over leading to a nose dive and catastrophic impact. Only in my case, the pilot-copilot team righted the plane from its locked position and brought it safely down. Whew! Rather than spook me, that incident bolstered my confidence in commercial aviation. It began to dawn on me that commercial airline pilots offer a great service and are committed to very high standards. Captain Sully is among the best of the best of these professionals. He is also a very good man and his story will warm your heart. His treasured anonymity may have vanished forever, but he and his family live their new and very public lives knowing that they can make a difference for good. As Sully's wife Lorrie put it, "He's a pilot's pilot, and he loves the art of the airplane." Captain Sully continues to make a difference in the airline industry as a safety expert and spokesman. "Highest Duty" is deservedly a best seller and should be required reading for aviation cadets/candidates in the Civil Air Patrol, the military service academies and flight schools, and commercial aviation. It is good reading for anyone, especially for those who may have become a little jaded about American values and ideals. Fr. Dennis

Parece que o livro veio se uma sessão de usados, que ficam na prateleira. Algumas páginas velhas, misturadas com páginas novas, assinado e com marcas de uso. Escolhi por ser um produto novo, mas o que chegou pra mim foi totalmente diferente do que eu esperava!

Comparto la opinión de que, en el momento de tomar una decisión ó hacer una elección,todas las experiencias y vivencias anteriores, colaboran en ello. Se nota que tanto el libro,como el protagonista son americanos por ese toque de "merchandising" y el énfasis en el cumplimiento del deber

The book was very easy to read, enjoyable, and inspiring.