Capt. 'Sully' mobilizes Facebook fans against FAA amendment

The pilot who landed a jetliner safely on the Hudson River in New York City has taken to Facebook to lobby against an amendment in the Federal Aviation Administration bill.

Former U.S. Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is opposing an amendment that he says would threaten airline safety.  

"ALL HANDS ON DECK," Sullenberger posted Wednesday on Facebook. "As I type, Congress is considering a law that will make it more difficult for the FAA to be able to adopt new regulations that improve safety."

The amendment to H.R. 658 would extend the FAA rulemaking process for creating regulations.

Sullenberger encouraged the 582,384 fans of his Facebook page to contact House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Aviation subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-Wis.) about the amendment.

He later thanked everyone who contacted Mica and Petri's office, even though the amendment was included in the bill that will go to the floor of the U.S. House Thursday.

"Thanks to everyone who contacted Congressmen Mica and Petri today. But we still need your help!" he posted later. "Unfortunately, the amendment was successfully added to the bill, so please continue to voice your opposition to Congress."

Sullenberger later issued a press release about his objections to the amendments.

“I have spent my entire 40-year career working to improve aviation safety for our pilots and the flying public,” he said in a statement. “I have been an aircraft accident investigator and safety instructor, and have helped develop flight procedures that make air travel safer. This amendment presents a significant challenge to FAA rulemaking that will put the lives of the flying public at risk.”

The amendment Sullenberger opposes is one of almost 50 filed for the FAA bill, which have largely obscured an effort to end a three-year delay in authorizing a long-term funding plan for the FAA. As Congress has debated the larger bill that would fund the FAA for four years, it has passed short-term authorizations, most recently through May 31.