NEW : Chesley B . ` ` Sully '' Sullenberger has been a pilot with US Airways since 1980 . NEW : Former Air Force fighter pilot has worked with NASA as an astronaut, and is now the director of flight operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NEW : Chesley B . `` Sully '' Sullenberger has been a pilot with US Airways since 1980 . NEW : Former Air Force fighter pilot has worked with NASA as safety consultant NYC mayor says pilot checked plane twice for passengers before leaving `` I 've flown in a lot of planes and that was a phenomenal landing , '' passenger said .