Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters

There may be some tribesmen in outer Pradesh who haven’t yet seen the extraordinary footage of Captain Chesley Sullenberger landing Flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River but they would be the only ones. Flight 1549 lasted just a few minutes but the miraculous landing on the Hudson means this is one of those aviation stories that will go down in history - for all the right reasons. Seconds after takeoff, the plane under Sully’s control, hit a flock of birds and lost all engines. There wasn’t enough power to make it back to the airport and Sully knew the death toll would rise if he tried - and failed - to land somewhere in the city. With only seconds to make a life and death decision, Sully landed the plane on the Hudson with barely a ripple - some of the passengers didn’t even get their feet wet in the rescue operation. This is the story of how a meticulous, careful, professional man became the man for the moment. It’s not a crash bang pow kind of read - Sully’s not that kind of guy. His dad taught him to measure twice, cut once and that’s been the way he’s lived his life. Might not make him the most exciting of husbands but it makes for one hell of a pilot. Before you read this, do listen to one of the many interviews with him on You Tube. His voice is fabulous - calm, measured, authoritative and in control. Then when you read the story of Sully’s life, you’ll hear your captain speaking and it will add to the quality of the read. A remarkable book from a remarkable man.

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