Last Wednesday was one of the most memorable days in my career as I got to spend a good portion of it with "Sully" -- Captain Chesley Sullenberger -- the U.S. Air pilot who, together with his crew, safety landed flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15th.
Sully was the keynote speaker at the fifith annual International Auto Glass Safety Conference, sponsored by the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (the AGRSS Council) for which I serve as a volunteer leader this year. After a private breakfast with AGRSS-registered companies, Sully kept a crowd of about 4,000 glued to their seats and riveted by his recollection of his flight that day.
There's a lot parallels between the auto glass industry and the aviation industry, including the quest to reduce costs and the resulting ways this affects safety. (You can see one such example in the Daily Show http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-october-13-2009/chesley-sullenberger. I was struck by them as I read Sully's book. (You can read my opening at the Conference here.)
All industries, especially the glass industry, are under pressure to reduce costs. AGRSS-registered companies pledge safety as their paramount concern. And they not only pledge to do the job right, they allow independent, third party validators to come into their shops and audit that committment.
The Captain understood this. "The AGRSS Council must have felt like a tea bag in an ocean when it started," he said. "I applaud your efforts."
He also understood the importance of safety. "I will be known in my life for this one event but, in reality, that event was one I had trained for and had to anticipate for many years."
Sully is the living definition of hero. But he is also a regular guy--a reluctant celebrity who has had fame foisted upon him by one extraordinary action. It was an honor to meet him.
Sully was the keynote speaker at the fifith annual International Auto Glass Safety Conference, sponsored by the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (the AGRSS Council) for which I serve as a volunteer leader this year. After a private breakfast with AGRSS-registered companies, Sully kept a crowd of about 4,000 glued to their seats and riveted by his recollection of his flight that day.
There's a lot parallels between the auto glass industry and the aviation industry, including the quest to reduce costs and the resulting ways this affects safety. (You can see one such example in the Daily Show http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-october-13-2009/chesley-sullenberger. I was struck by them as I read Sully's book. (You can read my opening at the Conference here.)
All industries, especially the glass industry, are under pressure to reduce costs. AGRSS-registered companies pledge safety as their paramount concern. And they not only pledge to do the job right, they allow independent, third party validators to come into their shops and audit that committment.
The Captain understood this. "The AGRSS Council must have felt like a tea bag in an ocean when it started," he said. "I applaud your efforts."
He also understood the importance of safety. "I will be known in my life for this one event but, in reality, that event was one I had trained for and had to anticipate for many years."
Sully is the living definition of hero. But he is also a regular guy--a reluctant celebrity who has had fame foisted upon him by one extraordinary action. It was an honor to meet him.
Hats off to Sully, not only for the unorthodox plane landing but also because I saw him on TV touting the wares of... a Childrens Cancer Hospital. I am sure he has plenty of people wanting to have his good name rub off on them - for plenty of $ too - and he chose to put his time into children....a class act, every way you look at him. An inspiration for us all.
ReplyDeleteJim F
Sully was awesome. It was really amazing to see the parallels between the glass industry and the airline industry--pressure to cut costs. Hard to avoid not cutting safety. Deb did a really good job showing how similar they are. AGRSS Conference was great.
ReplyDeletePatty E.
I bet it was quite the honor to meet this Genrleman in the flesh. I wish I could have been there in person even though I would be the bump on a log guy.
ReplyDeleteanyway... good luck to all for a speedy and happy end for all,
Jim Fairley