Sullenberger Nominated for Ambassador to ICAO
Joe Cortez June 16, 2021
After his name was floated for the head of the Federal Aviation Administration, pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger could get a federal appointment after all. President Joe Biden nominated the “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot to be the ambassador to the U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Years after successfully saving 155 souls by successfully landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, decorated pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger may be talking a new role on the international aviation stage. On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, president Joe Biden nominated Sullenberger to fill the role of ambassador and representative of the United States to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
ICAO Council Conducts Assembly Business, Selects Secretary General
The ICAO Council is comprised of 36 seats, occupied by member states “elected by the Assembly for a three-year term.” The Council’s duties include submitting annual reports to the Assembly, perform the duties as assigned by the Chicago Convention and appoint committees and members of the Air Navigation Commission.
In addition to his accomplishments with US Airways, Sullenberger has the resume to fulfill the duties of the job. In addition to being a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, he also served as an aviation safety research consultant to NASA and sat on the Air Line Pilots Association accident investigation committee. During his tenure with the ALPA, Sullenberger “participated in a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of a major airline accident, leading to improved airline procedures and training for emergency evacuation.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Sullenberger would replace the current Chargé d’Affaires, Chuck Ashley. Ashley is described as a “career Foreign Service Officer” who has worked in Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Switzerland.
Sullenberger Appointment Fills Ambassador Roles
Although the pilot was once floated as a potential leader to the Federal Aviation Administration, Sullenberger’s nomination is one of nine announced by the administration. In addition to the ambassador to ICAO, the White House also announced the nomination of an ambassador to Mexico, which was recently demoted to a Category 2 nation by the FAA.
GoldenArgosy - The article didn't harp on him being a hero. It did mention 155 are alive today because he know what he was doing. Are you against him being nominated for this position? If so, why?
Hopefully he will represent the interests of the US at ICAO, and be a check on implementing EU sponsored regs, procedures, etc. Case in point, for General Aviation pilots, look at the old style simple FAA flight plan, prior to US implementing the more complex, multi code letter, ICAO flight plan now mandatory. IACO license required in places with no real FAA reciprocity, among others.
I fail to see how appointing him to this position has anything to do with 'heroism,' nor what it takes away from anyone else to recognize that he was able to do all the right things to avoid a catastrophe when the engines failed. Sully has demonstrated a long interest in aviation safety and pilot working conditions and that commands my respect. (Also I think Sully himself prefers to avoid the hero label and has stated repeatedly he was just doing what he was trained to do.)
Although a UN agency, most Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meetings, like General Assembly meetings (with current exceptions for virtual meetings), are listed on their website as taking place at or near their headquarters in Montreal. Sully lives in the San Francisco area... Just about similar flight time as to NYC.
This is an outstanding choice and a perfect fit for his technical and diplomatic skills. He has always handled himself with professionalism, humility and grace.