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Hudson pilot warning on pay cuts | |
(20 minutes later) | |
The pilot of a plane that ditched into the Hudson River in New York has told a US Congress committee that pay cuts are hurting airline recruitment. | |
Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger said his own pay had been cut by 40% in recent years, and urged airlines to invest in recruitment and training. | |
"The single most important piece of safety equipment is an experienced, well-trained pilot," he said. | |
He was hailed as a hero after January's landing, which all on board survived. | |
At the hearing, an air traffic controller recalled the captain telling him he would land in the river, and thinking this was a "death sentence". | |
Controller Patrick Harten said it felt like hours before he heard of the plane's "heroic landing". | |
Earlier, Capt Sullenberger said he and other pilots had seen their wages cut, and that this was deterring potential recruits. | |
He said it was necessary for companies to refocus on the recruitment and training of pilots, and that this should be "at least as important as their bottom lines". |