<P> The pilots and flight attendants were awarded the Master's Medal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators in recognition of their "heroic and unique aviation achievement". </P> <P> On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 with callsign' CACTUS 1549' was scheduled to fly from New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Charlotte Douglas (CLT), with direct onward service to Seattle--Tacoma International Airport in Washington State . The aircraft was an Airbus A320 - 214 powered by two GE Aviation / Snecma - designed CFM56 - 5B4 / P turbofan engines . </P> <P> The pilot in command was 57 - year - old Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, a former fighter pilot who had been an airline pilot since leaving the United States Air Force in 1980 . At the time, he had logged 19,663 total flight hours, including 4,765 in an A320; he was also a glider pilot and expert on aviation safety . First officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, 49, had accrued 15,643 career flight hours, but this was his first Airbus A320 assignment since qualifying to fly it . There were 150 passengers and three flight attendants aboard . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> New York TRACON audio Air traffic control audio from about time of bird strike until ditching (3: 10 long) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

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