Uses Media Spotlight To Ruminate On Changing Industry

US Airways Flight 1549 Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger appears to be growing increasingly comfortable with the public spotlight, granting interviews to major news networks in recent days about the January 15 ditching of his Airbus A320 in the Hudson River. And he's using that time before the camera to speak about a subject close to his heart.

In an interview with CBS News, Sullenberger expressed unease about the dwindling ranks of experienced pilots flying for major airlines.

"One way of looking at this might be that, for 42 years, I've been making small regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training," he said during a "60 Minutes" interview broadcast Sunday. "And on January 15, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."

Noting over 6,000 commercial pilots lost their jobs last year -- either through furloughs, or permanent layoffs -- interviewer Katie Couric asked Sullenberger for his opinion on what those losses represent to the industry.

"The airline employees have been hit by an economic tsunami. Pay cuts, loss of pensions, increased hours every day, days per week, days per month... I know some of our pilots, who have been laid off, have chosen not to return," Sullenberger said. "I can speak personally, for me and my family, that my decision to remain in this profession that I love has come at a cost to me and my family."

The demographic for US commercial airline pilots has changed radically over the past 17 years. In 1992, about 90 percent of commercial pilots flying for major airlines had military backgrounds; today, about 30 percent claim time in the military. Due to industry-wide cutbacks in pay, benefits and pensions, today's pilots also work more hours, and earn less money... a combination Sullenberger believes is driving older pilots out of airline service.

"I think that there will always be people who want to do this," Sullenberger, 58, said. "It just may not be the same people who are doing it now."

"Are you concerned that that means if another situation like this one comes up in the future, you won't have as qualified a pilot flying the plane?" Couric asked.

"That just follows doesn't it?" Sullenberger replied.

The Air Transport Association had no comment to CBS about the views expressed by Sullenberger, who is arguably the most famous pilot in the world right now.

FMI: www.usairways.com, www.airlines.org