US Airways Capt. Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger returns to cockpit

CNN 10/01/2009 19:38

Thursday's flight was Chesley Sullenberger's first in his new role as an active management pilot for US Airways.

US Airways Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles were reunited in the cockpit Thursday for the first time since Sullenberger safely landed a disabled passenger plane in the Hudson River in January.

"It was great to fly with Jeff again. Being back in the cockpit felt very familiar. It was like coming home," Sullenberger said of the flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina. "Even though several months had past since I've flown, it would seem like I had never left."

It was the first time Sullenberger had flown the New York to Charlotte route since the water on landing on January 15. A bird strike in the engines forced Flight 1549 to make an emergency landing in the icy waters between New York and New Jersey.

The landing made heroes of Sullenberger and the flight's crew, who managed to lead passengers to safety with only a few minor injuries.

Sullenberger has been honored with numerous awards, appeared on the "Late Show With David Letterman," spoke before a joint session of Congress and even went to the Super Bowl.

Sullenberger said that, after the incident, he wanted to be reunited in the cockpit with Skiles and complete the flight.

Cheers filled the cabin when Sullenberger introduced himself, adding he had "learned to wait" for applause to die down before giving preflight announcements.