Eight years to the day after the “Miracle on the Hudson” emergency water landing that captivated the world, Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger III comes to St. Petersburg, the birthplace of scheduled commercial aviation, to share his remarkable story. Sponsored by Sabal Trust and Smith & Associates, 208 Seconds: A Lifetime of Lessons will take place at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater Sunday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.
Capt. Sullenberger’s story is one of dedication, hope, and preparedness, revealing the important lessons he learned through his life, in his military service, and in his work as an airline pilot. In this riveting presentation, he shares details from the 208 seconds that put his entire career on the line. He reminds audiences, even in these days of conflict, tragedy and uncertainty, there are values still worth fighting for – that life’s challenges can be met if we’re ready for them.
Sullenberger is an aviation safety expert and accident investigator, serves as the CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert, and is the founder and chief executive officer of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., a company dedicated to management, safety, performance and reliability consulting.
Sullenberger became internationally renowned on January 15, 2009 when he and his crew safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York City’s frigid Hudson River. The Airbus A320’s two engines had lost thrust following a bird strike. Sullenberger and his crew received international acclaim for their actions that day, including the passage of a Congressional resolution recognizing their bravery.
Directed by Clint Eastwood, the recent motion picture Sully starred multuiple Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as Sullenberger.
He is The New York Times bestselling author of Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, and also wrote Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders.