NBAA Welcomes Senate Confirmation of Sullenberger as ICAO Ambassador

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, Dec. 3, 2021 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of aviation champion Capt. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III to serve as U.S. ambassador to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), noting the retired airline captain’s longtime support of business aviation.

“Capt. Sullenberger is one of the preeminent aviation figures of our time, someone whose name is synonymous with representative to ICAO, and we look forward to working closely with him in the months and years ahead,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.   

The ICAO Council is a permanent body composed of 36 member states, carrying out executive functions of the ICAO Assembly, administering air transport, air navigation, technical cooperation and other functions.

At its 2017 convention, NBAA recognized Sullenberger with its American Spirit Award. He also served as a keynote speaker at the association’s 2015 convention, detailing for attendees his “Miracle on the Hudson” water landing of a US Airways Airbus 320-200 in New York City’s Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, after multiple bird strikes disabled both engines. Famously, Sullenberger, first officer Jeffrey Skiles, and the cabin crew ensured the survival of all 155 passengers and crew.

With over 20,000 flight hours, Sullenberger advanced safety as a mentor pilot and accident investigator long before the 2009 incident. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he served as a fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force from 1975 to 1980. He advanced to become a flight leader and a training officer, attaining the rank of captain.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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