On January 15, 2009, about 1527 eastern standard time, US Airways flight 1549, an Airbus Industrie A320-214, N106US, experienced an almost complete loss of thrust in both engines after encountering a flock of birds and was subsequently ditched on the Hudson River about 8.5 miles from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York City, New York. The flight was en route to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, and had departed LGA about 2 minutes before the in-flight event occurred. The 150 passengers and 5 crewmembers evacuated the airplane via the forward and overwing exits. One flight attendant and four passengers were seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged beyond repair. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ingestion of large birds into each engine, which resulted in an almost total loss of thrust in both engines and the subsequent ditching on the Hudson River.

How can a 10 pound bird bring down a 150,000 pounds aircraft? How would you feel if you were the captain on that aircraft, responsible for 155 souls? What would you do to prevent the disaster? How would you communicate with other crew members and the passengers? How would you determine where to try to ditch the plane in an unprecedented situation? How would training and experience influence your decision? What lessons can we learn from Captain Sullenberger's calm actions which incredibly saved all lives onboard? Successful Ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 on Hudson River by Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles on January 15, 2009 - This edition provides all the details of this incredible event, transcripts of pilot's communications and the final results of a thorough investigation. They analyzed in great detail the aircraft, the accident, the damages; the personnel on board and on the ground, their training and their communications, their actions during the accident; the survival aspects, the birds, the meteorology and more. Finally they drew their conclusions and put together their recommendations based on the results of the examination, to prevent similar events in the future.

The Blame Machine describes how disasters and serious accidents result from recurring, but potentially avoidable, human errors. It shows how such errors are preventable because they result from defective systems within a company. From real incidents, you will be able to identify common causes of human error and typical system deficiencies that have led to these errors. On a larger scale, you will be able to see where, in the organisational or management systems, failure occurred so that you can avoid them. The book also describes the existence of a 'blame culture' in many organisations, which focuses on individual human error whilst ignoring the system failures that caused it. The book shows how this 'blame culture' has, in the case of a number of past accidents, dominated the accident enquiry process hampering a proper investigation of the underlying causes. Suggestions are made about how progress can be made to develop a more open culture in organisations, both through better understanding of human error by managers and through increased public awareness of the issues. The book brings together documentary evidence from recent major incidents from all around the world and within the Rail, Water, Aviation, Shipping, Chemical and Nuclear industries. Barry Whittingham has worked as a senior manager, design engineer and consultant for the chemical, nuclear, offshore oil and gas, railway and aviation sectors. He developed a career as a safety consultant specializing in the human factors aspects of accident causation. He is a member of the Human Factors in Reliability Group, and a Fellow of the Safety and Reliability Society.

Basic Science and Art of Aircraft Wreckage Reconstruction is a unique title which addresses important aspects of investigating crashes, who does this kind of work, and how a healthy attitude and open mind are required to properly perform investigations. It also discusses what to expect from the on-scene part of the investigation, and the fundamental approaches to common types of wreckage reconstruction. Written by Don Knutson, a veteran of this industry, Basic Science and Art of Aircraft Wreckage Reconstruction is intended for the practitioner, student, or those who are simply curious about how aircraft wreckage is reconstructed. Full references are provided in the various chapters for additional reading and research. Many examples of aircraft crash scenarios and circumstances are presented in a "generic" form but relate to actual investigations, which should prove as a useful investigative resource whether you are an apprentice or an experience professional with a government aviation agency (NTSB, AAIB, FAA, etc.), an aircraft/engine/component manufacturer, military branch, insurance company, law enforcement agency, or a law firm. Basic Science and Art of Aircraft Wreckage Reconstruction is a must-read book for all who are passionate about the subject and want to understand how this activity actually happens in the field.

How can a 10 pound bird bring down a 150,000 pounds aircraft? How would you feel if you were the captain on that aircraft, responsible for 155 souls? What would you do to prevent the disaster? How would you communicate with other crew members and the passengers? How would you determine where to try to ditch the plane in an unprecedented situation? How would training and experience influence your decision? What lessons can we learn from Captain Sullenberger's calm actions which incredibly saved all lives onboard? Successful Ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 on Hudson River by Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles on January 15, 2009 - This edition provides all the details of this incredible event, transcripts of pilot's communications and the final results of a thorough investigation. They analyzed in great detail the aircraft, the accident, the damages; the personnel on board and on the ground, their training and their communications, their actions during the accident; the survival aspects, the birds, the meteorology and more. Finally they drew their conclusions and put together their recommendations based on the results of the examination, to prevent similar events in the future.