Pilot Sullenberger lands CBS reporting gig

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- Hero pilot and author Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, III has been named CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert, the U.S. network announced.

Sullenberger will provide analysis of aviation safety and contribute to CBS News broadcasts and platforms across the news division, it was announced Thursday by Jeff Fager, CBS News chairman and "60 Minutes" executive producer, and David Rhodes, president of CBS News.

Texas native Sullenberger, who has logged nearly 20,000 hours of service in the skies, became an international hero Jan. 15, 2009, when he and his crew safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency landing in New York City's frigid Hudson River after the plane's two engines had lost thrust following a bird strike. Sullenberger's quick thinking and decisive action enabled him to execute an emergency water landing that saved the lives of all 155 people aboard, CBS said.

"Sully is an American treasure and it is a real thrill to have him on our team at CBS News," Fager said in a statement. "I am a huge fan of Sully's. He is a remarkable person who has a great ability to turn his significant experience into useful insights. He will help our viewers better understand the stories involving safety and air travel that seem to pop up all of the time."

"Sully is a genuine hero -- everyone at CBS News is excited to have him as a colleague," Rhodes said. "He wants to share his insights not only on aviation but on a whole range of safety and leadership issues that confront us each day."

"I am very pleased to join the remarkable team at CBS News," said Sullenberger, "and I am eager to contribute to an organization I have long respected for its award-winning reputation of superior reporting."

Sullenberger is the author of the book, "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters."