US Airways F/O here retelling ditching tale

By: Greg Polek

October 20, 2009
Accidents, People

Jeffrey Skiles, the first officer of the US Airways Airbus A320 that successfully ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, saving 155 lives, is appearing at the Phillips 66 Aviation booth (No. 2613) to regale attendees with compelling stories about that memorable day and other interesting experiences during his 23-year career at US Airways.

It so happens that Skiles, 49, who has flown since the age of 15, once served as a lineman for a Phillips 66 FBO. Skiles has agreed with his A320 ditching colleague Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger to serve as co-chairman of the EAA’s Young Eagles program, which since 1992 has given eight to 17-year-olds a chance to go flying in a general aviation airplane free of charge. A strong supporter of the program in its own right, Phillips 66 provides a $1-per-gallon avgas rebate to all EAA Young Eagles volunteer pilots.

More than 4,000 pilots have used Phillips 66 avgas to introduce more than 350,000 kids to flying. As a result of the avgas rebate, Phillips 66 has helped the Young Eagles program achieve its original goal of one million flights.

During a special promotion  that runs between August 1 and December 31, Phillips 66 is doubling the avgas rebate to $2.     

Back

Safety Board Rules on Colgan Q400 Crash February 04, 2010 The NTSB has ruled that last February’s crash of a Colgan Air Q400 on the outskirts of Buffalo, N.Y., was due to the captain’s inappropriate... [more]
Cessna Announces Leadership Changes February 01, 2010 Cessna Aircraft tapped Ron Alberti, senior v-p of integrated supply chain, to assume a new role responsible for the previously announced... [more]
Arlene Elliott Dies February 01, 2010 Elliott Aviation cofounder Arlene Elliott, 91, died on January 17 at her home in Naples, Fla., the business aviation sales and services company... [more]
Missing Son of NSF Owner Believed Dead February 01, 2010 Robert Wiles, the 26-year-old son of National Flight Services (NSF) owner Tom Wiles, is believed to be dead and a former coworker has been... [more]
Don Berlin Retiring from Universal Avionics February 01, 2010 Universal Avionics Systems on January 15 announced the retirement of senior vice president and board member Donald Berlin. He has held senior... [more]