97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know

Chapter 63. Responding to a Crisis

PMP. James Graham

AT 3:03 P.M. ON JANUARY 15, 2009, Northwest Airlines Flight 1549 lifted off the runway at New York's LaGuardia airport for the short flight to Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Airbus 320, commanded by Captain Chesley Sullenburger III, with 5 crew and 150 passengers onboard, encountered a flock of birds over Brooklyn, New York. Both engines suffered massive damage, causing a loss of thrust, or power.

Listening to the air-traffic audio tapes, two things stand out. First, one can almost hear Sullenburger's brain working as he quickly realizes that the unthinkable has happened. His years of experience and training kick in. Second, one can hear the equally rapid reaction of the air-traffic controller as he continually suggests options to help, in a nonintrusive way.

Over the next few minutes, Sullenburger realizes that his aircraft does not have the potential to reach LaGuardia, Newark, or nearby Teterboro Airport safely, and decides to set down on the Hudson River. It must have been tempting to try to "stretch" the glide to terra firma, but this professional captain weighed the risks of all of his options and chose the one that saw all on board safe.

This is an excellent example of crisis management in action.

Passengers will be comforted to know that airline pilots discuss their actions before every important phase of flight and use checklists ...